| Figure skating is a sport in which | | | | include: |
| individuals, mixed couples, or groups | | | | Synchronized skating, for mixed-gender |
| perform spins, jumps, and other moves on | | | | groups of 12 to 20 skaters. This |
| ice, often to music. Figure skaters | | | | discipline resembles a group form of ice |
| compete in multiple levels, from novice | | | | dance with additional emphasis on |
| to elite, and at national and | | | | precise formations of the group as a |
| international competitions. The | | | | whole and complex transitions between |
| International Skating Union (ISU) | | | | formations. |
| regulates figure skating judging and | | | | Compulsory figures, in which skaters use |
| competitions. Figure skating is an | | | | their blades to draw circles, figure 8s, |
| official event in the Winter Olympic | | | | and similar shapes in ice, and are |
| Games. In languages other than English, | | | | judged on the accuracy and clarity of |
| figure skating is usually referred to by | | | | the figures and the cleanness and exact |
| a name that translates as "artistic | | | | placement of the various turns on the |
| skating". | | | | circles. Figures were formerly included |
| Major international competitions are | | | | as a component of singles competitions |
| sanctioned by the ISU. These include the | | | | but were eliminated from those events in |
| Winter Olympic Games, the World | | | | 1990. Today figures are rarely taught or |
| Championships, the ISU Grand Prix of | | | | performed. The United States was the |
| Figure Skating, the European Figure | | | | last country to retain a separate test |
| Skating Championships, and the Four | | | | and competitive structure for compulsory |
| Continents Figure Skating Championships. | | | | figures, but the last national-level |
| The sport is also associated with show | | | | figures championship was held in 1999. |
| business. Major competitions generally | | | | Moves in the field (known in the UK as |
| include exhibitions at the end in which | | | | field moves), which have replaced |
| the top-placing skaters perform for the | | | | compulsory figures as a discipline to |
| crowd. Many skaters, both during and | | | | teach the same turns and edge skills in |
| after their competitive careers, also | | | | the context of fluid free skating |
| skate in ice skating exhibitions or | | | | movements instead of being constrained |
| shows which run during the competitive | | | | to artificially precise circles. |
| season and the off-season. | | | | Fours, a discipline that is to pairs as |
| Olympic sports in figure skating | | | | pairs is to singles. A fours team |
| comprise the following disciplines: | | | | consists of two men and two women who |
| Single competition for men and women | | | | perform singles and pairs elements in |
| (who are referred to as "ladies" in ISU | | | | unison as well as unique elements that |
| rulebooks), wherein skaters perform | | | | involve all four skaters. |
| jumps, spins, step sequences, and other | | | | Theatre on ice, also known as "ballet on |
| elements in their programs. | | | | ice" in Europe. This is a form of group |
| Pair skating teams consist of a woman | | | | skating that is less structured than |
| and a man. Pairs perform singles | | | | synchronized skating and allows the use |
| elements in unison as well as | | | | of props and theatrical costuming. |
| pair-specific elements such as throw | | | | Adagio skating, a form of pair skating |
| jumps, in which the man 'throws' the | | | | most commonly seen in ice shows, where |
| woman into a jump; lifts, in which the | | | | the skaters perform many spectacular |
| woman is held above the man's head in | | | | acrobatic lifts but few or none of the |
| one of various grips and positions; pair | | | | singles elements which competitive pairs |
| spins, in which both skaters spin | | | | must perform. |
| together about a common axis; death | | | | Special figures, the tracing of |
| spirals, and other elements. | | | | elaborate original designs on the ice, |
| Ice dancing is again for couples | | | | common in the early days of skating. |
| consisting of a woman and a man skating | | | | Acrobatic skating, also known as |
| together. Ice dance differs from pairs | | | | "Acrobatics on ice" or "Extreme |
| in focusing on intricate footwork | | | | Skating", is a combination of circus |
| performed in close dance holds, in time | | | | arts, technical artistic gymnastics |
| with the music. Ice dancers do not | | | | skills, and figure skating. Acrobatic |
| perform the acrobatic jumps, throws, and | | | | skating merges many sporting worlds and |
| lifts of pair skating. | | | | has become popular worldwide. |
| Other disciplines of figure skating | | | | |