Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition organized by the International Skating Union (ISU). Skaters from Africa, Asia, North America, Oceania, and South America compete in four events: men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The competition was created to give skaters outside of Europe a chance to compete in a major event, similar to the European Figure Skating Championships.

The first Four Continents Championships took place in 1999 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Many talented skaters have won this competition multiple times. Patrick Chan of Canada has won the most men's singles titles, with three wins. In women's singles, Mao Asada and Fumie Suguri of Japan each have three titles. The pair skating record is held by Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, who have won six times. In ice dance, five teams share the record of three titles each.

History

From 1923 to 1971, skaters from Canada and the United States competed in the North American Figure Skating Championships. This let them compete in an event like the European Figure Skating Championships.

By the mid-1970s, skaters from Asia were also doing well in big international events. In 1999, the International Skating Union created the Four Continents Championships. This gave skaters from outside Europe a chance to compete in their own championship. The name came from the four continents outside of Europe where figure skating happened: Africa, Asia, Australia (Oceania), and North America.

The first Four Continents Championships were held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1999. Since then, the event has been held every year except in 2021. It was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Usually, the event is held in a non-European country, but in 2022 it was held in Estonia. This was after the planned event in China was cancelled for the same reason. This was the only time the event took place in Europe.

Qualifying

Only skaters from non-European countries that the International Skating Union (ISU) recognizes can compete in the Four Continents Championships. Unlike the European Championships, which allow only one skater or team per event from each country, the Four Continents Championships let countries send up to three skaters or teams for each event.

In the past, skaters had to be at least 15 years old before July 1 of the year before the competition. But starting in the 2024–25 season, the ISU changed the rule so skaters must be at least 17 years old to compete. This change happened step by step, raising the age to 16 in 2023–24 and then to 17 in 2024–25.

As of 2025, countries such as Canada, Japan, China, the United States, and many others can send skaters to the Four Continents Championships.

Medalists

The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships is a yearly contest for skaters from countries outside of Europe. The latest winners were Kao Miura from Japan in men's singles, Yuna Aoki from Japan in women's singles, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov from the United States in pair skating, and Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik from the United States in ice dance.

Men's singles

Women's singles

Pairs

Ice dance

Records

From left to right: Patrick Chan of Canada has won three Four Continents Championship titles in men's singles; Mao Asada and Fumie Suguri, both of Japan, have each won three Four Continents Championship titles in women's singles; and Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China have won six Four Continents Championship titles in pair skating.

Five teams are tied for winning the most Four Continents Championship titles in ice dance (with three each). From left to right: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada; Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States; Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States; Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada; and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.

Cumulative medal count