Figure Skating: History, Disciplines, and Controversies

An Introduction to Figure Skating

Overview

Figure skating is a sport that involves individuals, pairs, or groups performing on figure skates on ice. It is one of the oldest winter sports, having been included in the Olympics since 1908. The sport comprises several disciplines, including men's and women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. These four individual disciplines are also combined into a team event, which was introduced at the 2014 Winter Olympics. In addition to these official Olympic events, there are also non-Olympic disciplines such as synchronized skating, Theatre on Ice, and four skating.

History

Figure skating originated in Europe around the late 18th century. The first recorded skating contest occurred in London in 1767, where spectators watched skaters perform figures, or set patterns, on the frozen Thames River. Over time, the sport evolved into a competitive activity, leading to the inclusion of skating competitions in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, making it the first winter sport to be featured in the Olympics.

Disciplines & Competition Structure

There are four official Olympic disciplines in figure skating: men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Each discipline involves different elements and skills, such as spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals, and other moves.

Skaters typically compete at various levels from beginner to senior (Olympic level) at local, regional, sectional, national, and international competitions. The International Skating Union (ISU) regulates international figure skating judging and competitions, including the Winter Olympics, World Championships, World Junior Championships, European Championships, Four Continents Championships, Grand Prix series (senior and junior), and ISU Challenger Series.

The team event was introduced at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where each team is composed of a men's and women's singles skater, a pair, and an ice dance duo. A maximum of ten teams can compete, with five eliminated after the short program.

Jumping Techniques

Figure skating features roughly half a dozen types of jumps. They differ by which part of the blade one jumps off of (the front, also called the "toe pick," or the inner or outer edge) and the number of revolutions made in the air (single, double, triple, or quad). Toe jumps include the flip, lutz, and toe loop, while edge jumps include the loop, Salchow, and Axel. Quad jumps have become common in the men's competition, with many top male and female skaters having landed them in competitions outside of the Olympics or in practice.

Quads require exquisite strength, speed, and grace. For example, Nathan Chen won the gold at the Beijing Olympics with short program and free skate performances packed with quadruple jumps and triple Axels. On May 1, 2018, Lee Cabell published Biomechanics in Figure Skating, discussing force measurement on skating blades. Most experts agree that landings are somewhere between five to six times body weight, up to maybe 10 to 12 times body weight, all happening on one foot. This highlights the incredible physical demands of the sport.

Controversies & Scandals

While figure skating is generally considered a relatively clean sport, it has had some notable controversies and scandals. In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, there were issues regarding Olympic governance, with Mike Tirico criticizing the Olympic movement for not protecting athletes and competitive integrity. Additionally, Kamila Valieva became the first woman to land two quadruple jumps in Olympic history but tested positive for a banned substance, the heart drug trimetazidine. These incidents demonstrate the complexities and challenges faced within the world of figure skating.