The union between sport and art finds one of its greatest examples in figure skating. This sport, one of the oldest in history, leads the audience at the Winter Olympics, attracting a vast global audience. Keep reading to find out all about figure skating!
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All about Figure Skating: history
The practice of ice skating is believed to have begun around 3,000 years ago, with the Dutch pioneering it in the 13th century;
However, figure skating, which mixes elements of skating and art, only emerged in the 19th century, thanks to two Americans;
In 1850, Edward Bushnell, from Philadelphia, revolutionized the practice by introducing skates with steel blades, making more complex maneuvers and turns possible;
Jackson Haines, a ballet expert who lived in Vienna in the 1860s, incorporated elements of ballet and dance, giving the sport its characteristic elegance.
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The World Championship was established four years later and is still held today;
With the creation of the Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924, the sport became an exclusive part of this event.
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All about Figure Skating: categories
The Olympic program included men’s and women’s individual competitions, as well as doubles, until the Sapporo Games in 1972;
From 1976, the Ice Dance was introduced as the fourth event and became a great success.
Individual (Male and Female)
They consist of a short program with seven compulsory movements and a free program. Both must balance jumps, pirouettes and steps.
Pairs
Similar to the individual competitions, the skaters present a short program (with seven moves) and a free program. Synchrony between the partners is one of the main criteria assessed.
Dancing on Ice
It is the only category that allows the use of music with vocals. It also has a short program and a free program, but it doesn’t allow jumps of more than half a turn or pirouettes.
The athletes must remain together almost the entire time. The judges assess the difficulty of the footwork, the interaction and the harmony of the couple.
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All about Figure Skating in Brazil
In Brazil, the practice of figure skating began in the 1960s with the installation of ice rinks in shopping centers and events;
In the 1980s, local athletes organized several national championships for training and competition.
International membership was achieved in 2006 and the following year Brazil took part in its first international competitions;
Since then, the Brazilian skaters have competed in various international tournaments, world championships, continental competitions and, with Isadora Williams, in two editions of the Winter Olympics.
Currently, the Brazilian Ice Sports Confederation (CBDG) has a permanent rink at its Training Center, Arena Ice Brasil, in São Paulo, offering specific programs for each level of athlete development, from beginners upwards.
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All about Figure Skating: main moves
Footwork
The English term “footwork” is often used to describe the series of movements performed by skaters as they glide across the ice;
These sequences can be performed in a straight line, in circles or in meandering patterns (‘S’). Movements can include foot changes, two-foot spins and one-foot spins.
The footwork covers various figures, which are the names given to each movement, such as jumps, spins and leaps, including variations such as picadinho, turn of three, cruzado, among others.
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Spins
Pirouettes, also known as spins, are maneuvers performed by the skater in which the body rotates around its own axis;
The pirouette can be done using one or two feet, forming small circles on the track.
There are different types of pirouettes, differentiated by the position of the body, the technique of the foot used on the track and the direction of the foot movements.
Classifying by body position, we highlight the stretch pirouette, or standing pirouette (upright), where the skater spins upright;
The sit-spin occurs when the skater “sits” on the support foot, keeping the other leg straight;
The camel is characterized by forming a horizontal line with the body, keeping one of the legs free.
With regard to the movement of the feet, the pirouettes can be performed backwards or forwards, depending on the direction of movement of the supporting foot (forwards or backwards) during the execution of the circles;
They can be internal or external, depending on whether the movement is directed towards the inner or outer side of the supporting foot.
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Jumps
Jumps are the most impactful movements in a performance. A jump occurs when the skater rises from the ground and moves horizontally, turning on their own body;
They differ from pirouettes in that they involve a period in which the skater is completely disconnected from the ice.
Jumps are classified according to the position of the feet, direction (forward or backward), type of curve (inward or outward) and the foot used (right or left);
Another aspect considered is the number of laps, which can vary from half a lap to four, with the maximum number currently recorded being the highest.
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Lifts
When in pairs, the man performs the lift, lifting the woman above his head. This movement is appreciated for its aesthetics and complexity.
Figures
This discipline dates back to the origins of the sport, when artistic drawings were made on ice using skates;
It consists of performing a series of movements on circles drawn on the surface;
A set of such movements is widely recognized and accepted in official competitions, but athletes are free to use their creativity to create new movements;
In roller skating, circles are painted on the floor and the skaters follow these designs as a guide.
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All about Figure Skating: rules, regulations and competition elements
The rules of a figure skating competition are determined by the International Skating Union (ISU) and may vary slightly depending on the specific competition. Here are the main ones:
Subjects and programs
- Individual Male and Female: includes a short program and a free program. The short program contains compulsory movements, while the free program allows for greater freedom of expression.
- Pares: involves a short program and a free program, with an emphasis on synchrony and the execution of movements in pairs.
- Ice dance: consisting of a short program and a free program, focusing on harmony and footwork, with no jumps of more than half a turn or pirouettes. The use of music with vocals is permitted.
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Technical elements
- Jumps: include various types, such as axel, loop, salchow, toe loop, among others. Each jump has a score based on its difficulty and execution.
- Spins: vary according to the position of the body and the use of the feet, such as stretched pirouettes, sit-spin and camel spin.
- Footwork: movements performed in a straight line, circles or meandering patterns, assessed for complexity and execution.
- Lifts: in pairs competitions, the lift is a manoeuvre where one skater lifts the other above their head.
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Evaluation
- Judging: the skaters are evaluated by a panel of judges, who score the technical elements and the artistic execution. The scores are based on the difficulty, quality and execution of the elements.
- Total score: the final score is the sum of the technical and artistic scores, and may include penalties for errors or faults.
Time and music
- Duration: each program has a specific duration, which varies according to the discipline (for example, the short program and the free program have defined maximum and minimum times).
- Music: the choice of music must follow ISU guidelines, especially for ice dancing, where music with vocals is allowed.
Penalties and rules of conduct
- Mistakes: penalties are applied for mistakes such as falls, incorrect execution of elements or failure to execute compulsory movements.
- Conduct: skaters must follow a sporting code of conduct, maintaining respect and integrity during competitions.
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All about Figure Skating: curiosities
The oldest sport
Figure skating is the oldest sport on the Winter Olympics program;
It was part of the competitions at the London Games in 1908 and was played again in 1920 in Antwerp. Until 1972, the competitions included men’s and women’s individual events, as well as pairs;
From 1976 onwards, ice dancing was added as the fourth event on the program, making it a great success.
Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie made her Olympic debut in Chamonix in 1924, aged just 11, and, so nervous that she had to consult her coach during the performance, she nevertheless won the gold medal at the next three Olympic Games;
She gained a vast legion of fans and later pursued a career in film, where she contributed significantly to the popularization of her sport.
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