Figure Skating

Combining grace and rhythm with athletic strength and skill, figure skating has been a part of the Games since before there was an Olympic Winter Games. The disciplines of singles and pairs first appeared at the London 1908 Olympic Summer Games in an indoor ice rink. Ice Dance didn't join the Games until 1976.

At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, figure skating will consist of four disciplines adjudicated by a panel of 12 International Skating Union Championship judges.

Forty-five minutes before the start of each segment of the competition, a random and secret draw is conducted by computer to determine which nine of the 12 judges scores will be used to form the final result of that segment. All scores are displayed so judges do not know if their marks are contributing to the result.

Every element a skater performs is assigned a base value. Skaters can earn or lose grades of execution on the base value depending on the quality of the element. The judges don't take into account the degree of difficulty. Levels of difficulty of the elements are assigned by the technical panel. The judging panel only judges the quality of the elements, which takes into account difficult entrances and exits but they can't change the level of difficulty that has been assigned by the technical panel.

At the end of each performance, the judges assign additional program component scores that measure the overall technical and presentation abilities of the skater or team.

The individual or team with the highest total score is awarded the gold medal.

Skaters may compete in one of three categories:

Singles:

In singles skating, men and ladies compete separately. Skaters must complete both a short program of required jumps, spins and step sequences, and a longer free skating program, both set to music. The free skate allows the athletes to demonstrate their creativity, innovative moves and technical difficulty. Scores from both the short program and free skate are added together and the one who has the highest score is declared the winner.

Pairs:

The pairs event follows the same format as the singles, with a short program that contains required elements and a free skate. In this event, however, one male and one female skater work in unison, incorporating lifts, throws and synchronized jumps, spins and spirals linked harmoniously by steps and other movements.

Ice Dance:

Ice dance is performed by a couple and is based on their rhythm, interpretation of music and precise steps. Unlike pairs skating, ice dance does not include jumps. Ice dance is similar to ballroom dancing, as the skaters remain in contact throughout most of the program.

An ice dance competition is made up of three parts: one compulsory dance, an original dance and a free dance. Compulsory dance is the skating of prescribed patterns to music designated by the ISU of a pre-determined rhythm and tempo. There is no leeway with the music in the compulsory dance. There are 5 music options which are played in order 1-5 in the warmup and then the competition.

The skaters get to choose their music in the original dance but it must fit the rhythm or theme designated by the ISU for that season. Just like the short program, the original dance has required elements.

It is only the free dance where skaters can choose the music of their choice without real restriction. The only requirement is that it have an audible beat.

Fast Facts:

• Since 1984, no man has managed to win an Olympic gold medal after winning gold at the preceding World Championships. Scott Hamilton (USA) was the last man to do so, winning gold at the 1983 World Championships and repeating the feat at the 1984 Sarajevo Games.


• An American woman has reached the podium at every Olympic Winter Games since the 1964 Innsbruck Games.


• Canadian men have won gold at the World Championships on 11 different occasions, but have never won gold at the Olympic Winter Games.