Why is figure skating popular

OK, this will be the first of a few times we'll take the liberty of offering a skating two for one. In the realm of pairs skating, Gordeeva and Grinkov were among the best — and most tragic. The gold medalists at Lillehammer and four-time world champions were skating royalty when Grinkov collapsed during a training session in November and died from a massive attack. He was just 28 years old, and Gordeeva was 24 at the time, with a 3-year-old daughter. Perhaps the greatest female skater in U.

However, Kwan is a five-time world champion and her amazing nine national titles are tied for the most in U. Kwan has also done well for herself off the ice through commentary, endorsements, film work and speaking engagements — making her one of the most popular athletes in all of American sports.

Is it possible a year-old can be on this list? Looking at Medvedeva's skating resume, it's easy to see why she's worthy.

The young Russian took home a pair of silver medals singles, team at the Winter Games, and she's already won two world championships first to do so back-to-back since Michelle Kwan in and '01 and a pair of European Championship titles.

Medvedeva has also posted world record scores in the short program and free skate 13 times. Not only is Plushenko perhaps the greatest male singles skater in Russian history, but he also is right up there with the best in world.

He's a four-time Olympic medalist tied for second all time with singles gold in and team gold in ' Plushenko also brought home the silver medal at the and '10 Winter Games. He's a seven-time European champion, a three-time World champion, and even dabbled, though rather unsuccessfully, in politics in his homeland. Arguably the greatest pairs skater in the history of the sport, Rodnina was a force for the Soviet Union from the late s through the early s. Rodnina is the only skater to win 10 straight world championships and three consecutive Olympics gold medals , '76 and '80 for pairs skating.

Teamed with Alexei Ulanov then Alexander Zaitsev, Rodnina was the first pairs skater to win Olympic gold with two different partners. Rodnina has found a second career as a Russian politician. During the early portion of the 20th century, there were not many better than Sweden's Salchow. He won gold at the Olympics in London back when skating was held during the Summer Games , but his real claim to fame at the time were his 10 world championship gold medals in men's singles.

The latter is still a world record for men and shared with the great Sonja Henie and Irina Rodnina. When it comes to pairs skating, it does not get much better than Savchenko. She began her career skating for her native Ukraine, then under the German flag with Robin Szolkowy.

Together, the two won five world titles and a pair of Olympic bronze medals in and ' They netted The drop has also been noticeable in the viewership numbers for the U. The ladies' free skate competition is the most popular event. Data is limited from that time, but the U. Figure Skating Championships brought in at least 6. That same event in drew 4. Related: Why you won't see Olympics-themed McDonald's ads this year. Former figure skater and analyst Dick Button blames the drop in popularity on the sport's complicated scoring system.

Figure skating used to be judged with a 6. The newer system doesn't have a defined highest score. Instead it uses a complicated point system that can allow skaters to earn hundreds of points and "personal bests. Button said the new scoring system rewards people even if they make mistakes or fall during their routines. The Dorothy Hamills? Rule changes: The proposed changes; Reducing the length of programs, limiting the number of quad jumps, etc. What drives me insane is that the ISU is not looking at the root cause of the problem, the subjective nature of judging for example, PCS marks are inherently subjective.

Changing the minimum age is not a the key problem the ISU needs to address!!!! They are concerning that the young kids are scoring too high, well, take a look at the actual issue, the judging.

Issuing a high PCS score for a technically strong program that has no skating skill is the problem, not the age of the skater! If I was a new fan and not invested in the sport yet, these inconsistencies in judging would drive me to stop watching. Other major league sports have rule changes and those are controversial as well. But when a sport is fighting for a fan base, the impact of any changes are amplified. Changes need to make sense.

Moving Forward my venting is over for now : Bottom line — if you want to grow a sport, you have to make it accessible to the people you are trying to reach. Go Yuzu Go!!!

Doki Doki!! Share this: Twitter Facebook Email. Like this: Like Loading Like Liked by 2 people Reply. Tara Diane May 24, I got back into Like Liked by 2 people Reply. Henni May 24, When I look at the new scale of values, ISU has skipped steps Headbang Like Liked by 2 people Reply.

Janice May 26, Aaron March 23, But figure skating champions were household word famous from Peggy Fleming thru Michelle Kwan… and in the 90s almost every top skater was household word famous Like Like Reply.

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Blog Stats 1,, hits. Blog at WordPress. Follow Following. SportyMags Join other followers. Sign me up. There has been a trend toward more athleticism in free-skating events, adding more complicated and daring jumps. Pairs competitions are similar to singles, in that they are judged on shorter technical and longer free-skating performances. In pairs skating, the same jumps, spins, and twirls as in the singles events are used, along with lifts and partner-assisted jumps.

The partners must remain in unison as they perform their routines. Ice dancing differs from pairs skating in that lifts are prohibited and specific movements required. Ice dancers must perform two compulsory dances and an original dance, all to predetermined music or rhythms. The longer free dance uses more interpretive steps, as well as creative moves. Ice figure skating was popularized by Sonja Henie, who won numerous amateur competitions before turning professional in Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, and Dorothy Hamill also toured with ice revues after illustrious amateur careers.

The typical ice show is similar to a circus on ice skates and features costumes, trick skating, and gags to entertain the audience rather than to display true figure-skating expertise. Speed Skating. Formal competitions are usually held outdoors on large rinks. The skaters race two at a time, competing against the clock. Men who participate in major international meets may enter five events: m 1, ft , 1, m 3, ft , 1, m 4, ft , 5, m 16, ft , or 10, m 32, ft.

Women also may compete over five courses: m, 1, m, 1, m, 3, m 9, ft , and 5, m. Men's speed skating, as traditionally, remains dominated by Americans, Russians, Norwegians, and the Dutch. In women's speed skating, American, German, Dutch, and Japanese women have dominated in recent years. Short track speed skating takes place on a small rink with very tight curves. The skaters compete against each other in groups of four, rather than against the clock, with heats to eliminate slower skaters.

Men and women both compete at m and 1, m; the women's relay is at 3, m, while the men's relay is 5, m. The skaters wear helmets, gloves, and knee and elbow pads to prevent injury, and the skates are taller than regular speed skates, to prevent the boot from touching the ice when the racer leans sharply in the curves.