Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating in which male and female skaters compete individually. Men's singles and women's singles are governed by the International Skating Union. Figure skating is the oldest winter sport contested at the Olympics, with men's and women's single skating appearing as two of the four figure skating events at the London Games in 1908.
Single skaters are required to perform two segments in all international competitions, the short program and the free skating program. Nathan Chen from the United States holds both the highest single men's short program and free skating scores; Russian skater Kamila Valieva holds both the highest single women's short program and free skating scores. Compulsory figures, from which the sport of figure skating gets its name, were a crucial part of the sport for most of its history until the ISU voted to remove them in 1990.
Single skating has required elements that skaters must perform during a competition and that make up a well-balanced skating program. They include jumps, spins, step sequences, and choreographic sequences. The ISU defines a jump element as "an individual jump, a jump combination or a jump sequence". The six most common jumps can be divided into two groups: toe jumps and edge jumps. A jump combination, defined as "two jumps performed in immediate succession". There are three basic positions in spins: the camel, the sit spin, and the upright spin. Step sequences have been defined as "steps and turns in a pattern on the ice". A choreographic sequence, which occurs during the free skating program in singles skating, "consists of any kind of movements like steps, turns, spirals, arabesques, spread eagles, Ina Bauers, hydroblading, any jumps with maximum of 2 revolutions, spins, etc.".
The required elements must be performed in specific ways, as described by published communications by the ISU, unless otherwise specified. The ISU publishes violations and their points values yearly. Deductions in singles skating include violations in time, music, and clothing. The ISU also describes regulations regarding falls and interruptions.
History
The first international figure skating competition was in Vienna in 1882. Skaters were required to perform 23 compulsory figures, as well as a four-minute free skating program, and a section called "special figures", in which they had to perform moves or combinations of moves that highlighted their advanced skills. The first World Championships, hosted by the newly formed International Skating Union, occurred in 1896 and consisted of four competitors, all men. The first woman to compete internationally in figure skating was Madge Syers from England, at the 1902 World Figure Skating Championships in London. There was no explicit rule against women competing; Syers came in second place, behind Ulrich Salchow from Sweden, who, according to legend, was so impressed by her skating that he gave his gold medal to her. The ISU responded by banning women from competing at Worlds, although they created a separate ladies' category in 1906. Women were referred to as ladies in ISU regulations and communications until the 2021–22 season.Figure skating is the oldest winter sport contested at the Olympics, starting at the London Games in 1908. It is also one of the first sport that had a separate category for female competitors, and the only women's winter Olympic sport until 1936.
Competition segments
- 1896–1973: FS + CF
- 1973–1990: SP + FS + CF
- 1990–Ongoing: SP + FS
Short program (SP)
Men must perform seven elements in their short program, and must include a double or triple Axel jump, one triple or quadruple jump, a "jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump or two triple jumps or a quadruple jump and a double jump or a triple jump", one flying spin, camel spin or sit spin with just one change of foot, a spin combination with just one change of foot, and a step sequence using the entire ice surface. Women must perform six elements, and must include a double or triple Axel, one triple jump, a "jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump or two triple jumps", either a layback/sideways leaning spin or a sit or camel spin without a change of foot, a spin combination with just one change of foot, and a step sequence using the entire ice surface. Junior single skaters also have seven required elements, which can be performed in any sequence, and comprise three groups that last over three seasons. Quintuple jumps are not allowed in the short program.
Free skating (FS)
Free skating, also called the free skate or long program, is the second segment in single skating, pair skating, and synchronized skating. Its duration, across all disciplines, is four minutes for senior skaters and teams, and three-and-one-half minutes for junior skaters. American skater Ilia Malinin holds the highest single men's free skating program score of 227.79 points, which he earned at the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships. Kamila Valieva from Russia holds the highest single women's free skating score of 185.29 points, which she earned at the 2021 Rostelecom Cup.According to the ISU, free skating "consists of a well balanced program of Free Skating elements, such as jumps, spins, steps and other linking movements executed with minimal two-footed skating, in harmony with music of the Competitor's choice, vocal music with lyrics is permitted". A well-balanced free skate consists of up to six jump elements, one of which has to be an Axel jump; up to three spins ; only one step sequence; and only one choreographic sequence. After the 2026–2027 season, the three required spins were a combination spin, a flying spin, and a choreographic spin.
Compulsory figures (CF)
Compulsory figures, also called school figures, are the "circular patterns which skaters trace on the ice to demonstrate skill in placing clean turns evenly on round circles". Until 1947, for approximately the first half of the existence of figure skating as a sport, compulsory figures made up 60 percent of the total score at most competitions around the world. After World War II, the number of figures skaters had to perform during competitions decreased, and after 1968, they began to be progressively devalued, until the ISU voted to remove them from all international competitions in 1990. Despite the apparent demise of compulsory figures from the sport of figure skating, coaches continued to teach figures, and skaters continued to practice them because figures gave skaters an advantage in developing alignment, core strength, body control, and discipline. Championships and festivals focusing on compulsory figures have occurred since 2015.Competition requirements
Jumps
The ISU defines a jump element as "an individual jump, a jump combination or a jump sequence". The six most common jumps can be divided into two groups: toe jumps and edge jumps. The Euler jump, which was known as a half-loop before 2018, is an edge jump. Jumps are also classified by the number of revolutions.According to the ISU, jumps must have the following characteristics to earn the most points: they must have "very good height and very good length"; they must be executed effortlessly, including the rhythm demonstrated during jump combinations; and they must have good takeoffs and landings. The following are not required, but also taken into consideration: there must be steps executed before the beginning of the jump, or it must have either a creative or unexpected entry; the jump must match the music; and the skater must have, from the jump's takeoff to its landing, a "very good body position". A jump combination is executed when a skater's landing foot of the first jump is also the takeoff foot of the following jump. All jumps are considered in the order they are completed.
The execution of a jump is divided into eight parts: the set-up, load, transition, pivot, takeoff, flight, landing, and exit. All jumps except the Axel and waltz jumps are taken off while skating backward; Axels and waltz jumps are entered into by skating forward. A skater's body absorbs up to 13–14 g-forces on landing a jump, which may contribute to overuse injuries and stress fractures. Factors such as angular momentum, the moment of inertia, angular acceleration, and the skater's center of mass determine if a jump is successfully completed. Skaters add variations or unusual entries and exits to jumps to increase difficulty.
Spins
There are three basic positions in spins: the camel, the sit spin, and the upright spin. There are two types of spins, the forward spin and the backward spin. Skaters also perform flying spins, which are the combination of a jump and a spin, as well as spin combinations. A spin consists of the following parts: preparation, entry, spin, and exit. Single skaters earn more points for performing difficult entrances into and exits out of their spins.Spins must have the following characteristics to earn the most points: they must have good speed and/or acceleration; they must be executed effortlessly; and they must have good control and clear position, even for flying spins, which must have a good amount of height and air/landing position. Also important but not required are the following characteristics: the spin must maintain a center; the spin must be original and creative; and the element must match the music. The New York Times says, when comparing spins and the more exciting jumps for single skaters, "While jumps look like sport, spins look more like art. While jumps provide the suspense, spins provide the scenery, but there is so much more to the scenery than most viewers have time or means to grasp". According to world champion and figure skating commentator Scott Hamilton, spins are often used "as breathing points or transitions to bigger things".