- Do you know how long figure skating has been around or which one of the sexes first dominated the sport?
Do you know all these fun facts about figure skating? How about that it’s been around for more than 1,000 years?
Controversial Costumes
Short skirts were once scandalous when it came to figure skating. Sonja Henie revolutionized skating fashion in the 1920s by wearing short skirts and ballet-style outfits throughout her programs.
First Olympic Winter Sport
Figure skating appeared in the Summer Olympics in 1908 and in 1920, before the Winter Olympics even existed.
Ice Dancers and Jumping
Ice dance focuses on rhythm, footwork, and musical interpretation, so big jumps are restricted or banned entirely from this type of skating.
Skaters Need Food
A competitive skating program can burn 500–700 calories in just four minutes! This is due to explosive power and sustained speed.
Figure Skating is an Old Sport
Figure skating dates back over 1,000 years. Early skates were made from animal bones that were tied to boots and used to glide across frozen lakes in Scandinavia. Is this one of your favorite fun facts about figure skating?
What Are Toe Picks For?
Those jagged teeth at the front of skates aren’t used to stop or break. Toe picks are used for jumps, spins, and footwork. Beginners who try to stop with them tend to fall forward.
Art and Science
Figure skating is one of the few sports where physics equations, musical timing, and emotional storytelling all play into who wins.
Quad Jumps Are Nightmares
A quadruple jump requires angular speeds so fast that skaters pull their arms in tightly to rotate. At the last second they extend them to slow down for landing.
Jump Height is Small
Even elite skaters usually jump only 2–3 feet off the ice, though it may seem higher to those of us watching. The difficulty comes from rotating up to four times before landing on one foot.
Ice Temperature Matters
Competition ice is kept around –5°C or 23°F. It needs to be this temperature to be hard enough for speed, but soft enough to ensure blade grip and landings.
Women Were First in this Sport
In the early 1900s, women often outperformed men. Some competitions even allowed mixed-gender events, which was rare for that era, yet still, the women were coming out on top. Is this one of your favorite fun facts about figure skating?
Spins and Jumps are Named
Many elements are named after the skaters who invented them. This goes for the Axel which is the only jump taking off forward and the Lutz.
Judging Was Once Secretive
Before 2004, judges only gave one score for “technical merit” and one for “presentation,.” This led to scandals and bias concerns.
Scoring Has More Math These Days
Modern scoring gives base values to each element. Added to that are bonuses and penalties, making figure skating one of the most technically judged sports.
Curved Blades
Figure skate blades aren’t flat but rather they rock from front to back. The curve allows skaters to shift their balance smoothly during steps and turns.
Figure Skaters Train Hard
Off-ice training includes extras like ballet, weightlifting, plyometrics, yoga, and cardio. These athletes often train six to eight hours a day at elite levels.
Pairs Skating is Dangerous
Throw jumps send skaters flying across the ice and more. Injuries from missed catches can be severe for either partner, which is why trust is everything in pairs skating. Is this one of your favorite fun facts about figure skating?
No Lyric Music Allowed
Lyrics were banned in competitions until 2014. The rule was then changed to reflect modern performance styles and integrating songs with words.
Spins Are Super Fast
Elite skaters can spin over 300 revolutions per minute. This generates force that rivals those experienced by astronauts during launch.
“Figures” Named This Sport
Skaters originally had to trace perfect geometric patterns, named figures, in the ice. These were once ranked as so important they made up 60% of competition scores.
What do you think the best fun fact about figure skating is? Tell us in the comments below!