Index - Olympics Figure Skating

• 2006 Olympics Detail
• 2002 Olympics Detail
• 1998 Olympics Detail
• Olympic Medalists by Year

Skaters

There are two classes of figure skaters; Olympic eligible (the old "amateur" status) and not Olympic eligible (professionals). Olympic eligible skaters are restricted to skating in events that are sanctioned by their federation and/or the International Skating Union. Professional skaters can skate in anything *but* sanctioned events (with the exception of the occasional sanctioned pro-ams, such as the Hersheys Kisses or Ultimate 4 competitions). Shortly before the 1994 Olympics the ISU temporarily opened up reinstatement for professional skaters (which is why you saw Boitano, Browning, and others skating in Lillihammer), then closed it again in 1995.

The only skater who opted for reinstatement and remained Olympic eligible after the 1994 Olympics was Artur Dmitriev. He and partner Natalia Mishkutenok won the pairs competition at the 1992 Olympics and placed second at the 1994 Olympics. Mr. Dmitriev then returned with a new partner, Oksana Kasakova, to win the pairs title again at the 1998 Olympics.

At the 2002 Olympics the pairs team of Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze (RUS) wins the gold, but after allegations of judging irregularities the IOC awarded the seconded place team of Sale/Pelletier (CAN) dual gold medals.

During the 2006 Olympics, US pairs skaters Rena Inoue and John Baldwin land the first throw triple axel in international/Olympic competition.

The Olympics

The first Olympic figure skating events were held in London in 1908. Figure skating was not listed on Olympic programs until the first Winter Olympic games in 1924.

The 1940 Winter Games were originally scheduled for Sapporo, but Japan resigned as host in 1937 due to the Sino-Japanese war. The IOC then approached St. Moritz, but the Swiss felt that ski instructors should not be considered professionals and the IOC withdrew its offer. Finally, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is asked to serve again as host, but the Germans invade Poland in 1939. The 1940 Games were eventually canceled, and the 1944 Games as well.

The IOC granted the 1976 Winter Games to Denver, but in 1972 Colorado voters rejected a bond issue to finance the undertaking. Denver withdrew as host and the IOC selected Innsbruck to take over.

In 1994 the IOC moved the Winter Games' four-year cycle ahead two years in order to separate them from the Summer Games and alternate Olympics every two years.

The 2002 Olympics were the last games to use the 6.0 ordinal scoring system for figure skating.