SafekipediaFigure skating at the Olympic Games
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Figure skating has been a fun part of the Olympic Games for over 100 years. It started at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England and has been in the Winter Olympic Games since 1924. Skaters compete in events like men's singles, women's singles and pair skating. They do spins, jumps, and pretty moves on ice. New events have been added over time, like ice dance in 1976 and a team event in 2014.
The sport became more popular when the Winter Games were shown on TV, starting with the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. This let people everywhere see the skaters' skills. In 2004, a new scoring system called the ISU Judging System was created after some judging problems in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Figure skating at the Olympics is managed by the International Skating Union (ISU). They work with the International Olympic Committee to make sure everyone follows the rules and that the best skaters can compete. In 2022, during the Beijing Winter Games, they changed a rule to make sure competition was fair.
History
Figure skating became an Olympic sport at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. The events included men, ladies, pair skating, and special figures. This happened thanks to the work of the British figure skating community and having indoor ice in England. The games were planned to be in Rome, but after a big eruption made it impossible, England offered to host instead.
Since 1924, figure skating has been part of the Winter Olympic Games. The 1924 Paris Olympic Games were the first to split Summer and Winter Games, held at Chamonix in France. Over the years, new events like ice dance joined in 1976. Today, figure skating remains a favorite part of the Winter Olympics.
Qualifying
There are five figure skating events at the Winter Olympics: men's single skating, women's single skating, pair skating, ice dance, and the team event. Athletes are chosen to represent their countries by their National Olympic Committees. They select skaters based on their performance and Olympic rules.
For the 2026 Winter Games, there will be 24 spots for both men's and women's singles, 16 for pairs, and 19 for ice dance. Countries with skaters who have earned enough points can enter two or three skaters in each event. Other spots are filled based on results from international competitions the year before the Olympics. Skaters must have certain scores from recognized competitions to qualify. The host country can also enter one skater per event if they meet the score requirements.
Judging
In figure skating, each move such as jumps and spins has a set point value. Judges give scores from -5 to 5 for how well each move is done. These scores are averaged to give a final point for each move. All the move points are added up for a total.
Judges also score how the skater moves, presents themselves, and puts together their program. These scores are added to the move points, and any small mistakes are taken away to find the final score.
| Discipline | Short program or Rhythm dance | Free skate or Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 1.67 | 3.33 |
| Women | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Pairs | 1.33 | 2.67 |
| Ice dance | 1.33 | 2.00 |
Events
Figure skating first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1908 in London, England. Since 1924, it has been part of the Winter Olympic Games. The main events are men's singles, women's singles, and pair skating. These events have been in the Olympics since 1908.
Participating nations
The number in each box shows how many figure skaters each country sent to the Olympic Games. Figure skating began at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. It has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1924. The main events are men's singles, women's singles, and pair skating. All three have been Olympic events since 1908.
| Nation | '08 | '20 | '24 | '28 | '32 | '36 | '48 | '52 | '56 | '60 | '64 | '68 | '72 | '76 | '80 | '84 | '88 | '92 | '94 | '98 | '02 | '06 | '10 | '14 | '18 | '22 | '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Armenia | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Australia | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
 Austria | 4 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||||
 Azerbaijan | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Belarus | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Belgium | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
 Brazil | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Canada | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 12 | ||
 China | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
 Chinese Taipei | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Croatia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Czechoslovakia | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Czech Republic | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Denmark | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 East Germany | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Estonia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
 Finland | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
 France | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 9 | ||
 Georgia | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Germany | 3 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||
 United Team of Germany | 4 | 11 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Great Britain | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
 Hungary | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Individual Neutral Athletes | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Israel | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Italy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | ||||||
 Japan | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | |||||||
 Kazakhstan | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Latvia | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Lithuania | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Luxembourg | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Malaysia | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mexico | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
 North Korea | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Norway | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Philippines | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Poland | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||||
 Romania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
 Russia | 1 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Olympic Athletes from Russia | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ROC | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Serbia and Montenegro | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Slovakia | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Africa | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Korea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||
 Spain | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
 Sweden | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||
 Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
 Turkey | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Soviet Union | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Ukraine | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unified Team | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 United States | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
 Uzbekistan | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| West Germany | 11 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Yugoslavia | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ref. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total skaters | 21 | 26 | 29 | 51 | 39 | 84 | 64 | 63 | 59 | 71 | 88 | 96 | 67 | 105 | 83 | 112 | 128 | 133 | 129 | 145 | 143 | 147 | 146 | 149 | 153 | 117 | |
| Total nations | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 37 | 31 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | |
| Nation | '08 | '20 | '24 | '28 | '32 | '36 | '48 | '52 | '56 | '60 | '64 | '68 | '72 | '76 | '80 | '84 | '88 | '92 | '94 | '98 | '02 | '06 | '10 | '14 | '18 | '22 | '26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 20 | |||||
| Belgium | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Canada | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | – | 1 | 30 | ||
| China | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| East Germany | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Finland | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | |||||||||
| France | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | ||
| Georgia | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany | 2 | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| United Team of Germany | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Great Britain | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15 |
| Hungary | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6 | ||||||
| Italy | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 3 | ||||||
| Japan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 17 | |||||||
| Kazakhstan | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Netherlands | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Norway | 3 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic Athletes from Russia | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROC | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russia | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Korea | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Soviet Union | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Spain | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Sweden | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10 | |||||
| Switzerland | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 3 | ||||
| Ukraine | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unified Team | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 57 |
| West Germany | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ref. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall medal table
Main article: List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
Figure skating has been in the Olympic Games since 1908. The sport has been at both Summer and Winter Olympics. The main events are men's singles, women's singles, and pair skating. The table shows the total medals won by countries in figure skating up to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 19 | 17 | 21 | 57 |
| 2 | Russia | 15 | 9 | 3 | 27 |
| 3 | Soviet Union | 10 | 9 | 5 | 24 |
| 4 | Austria | 7 | 9 | 4 | 20 |
| 5 | Canada | 6 | 11 | 13 | 30 |
| 6 | Germany | 5 | 4 | 4 | 13 |
| 7 | France | 5 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
| Great Britain | 5 | 3 | 7 | 15 | |
| 9 | Sweden | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 10 | Japan | 4 | 8 | 5 | 17 |
| 11 | East Germany | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 12 | Norway | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Unified Team | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | ROC | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| 15 | China | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 17 | Czechoslovakia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 18 | Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 20 | Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 23 | Hungary | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 24 | Switzerland | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 25 | Georgia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Italy | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 27 | West Germany | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 28 | Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (28 entries) | 101 | 100 | 100 | 301 | |
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Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Figure skating at the Olympic Games, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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