A winter Olympic sport in which athletes glide on ice performing jumps, spins, and choreographed routines judged on technical merit and artistry.
Origin and rules
Modern figure skating took shape in the United Kingdom and Vienna in the 19th century. American Jackson Haines popularised dance-influenced skating in the 1860s. Athletes perform programmes on a sheet of ice, combining technical elements with music and choreography.
How it plays
Olympic disciplines include men’s and women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. Skaters perform a short and free programme. Judges score technical elements such as jumps, spins, and lifts alongside component scores for performance and choreography.
Competition
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the Grand Prix circuit, and the Winter Olympics headline the season. Russia, the United States, Japan, Canada, and South Korea have produced many of the leading skaters. Figure skating has been Olympic since 1908.
Find more sports by letter
Figure Skating starts with F and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Figure Skating":