Every figure skating competition is decided over two segments. Skaters first perform a short program with a fixed list of required elements, then a longer free skate with more freedom of construction. The two scores are added, and the highest total wins. There is no head-to-head play, no clock to beat and no opponent on the ice; the contest is entirely against a published scale of values and a panel of officials.
Since 2004 that panel has been split in two. A technical panel — a technical specialist, an assistant and a technical controller, with video review — identifies what was actually performed: which jump, how many rotations, what level of difficulty a spin or step sequence reached, and whether a jump was underrotated or launched from the wrong edge.
Pick two names from this sport’s all-time list. The larger number in each shared stat is highlighted.
| Stat | Yuzuru Hanyu | Sonja Henie |
|---|
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Every figure skating competition is decided over two segments. Skaters first perform a short program with a fixed list of required elements, then a longer free skate with more freedom of construction. The two scores are added, and the highest total wins. There is no head-to-head play, no clock to beat and no opponent on the ice; the contest is entirely against a published scale of values and a panel of officials.
Since 2004 that panel has been split in two. A technical panel — a technical specialist, an assistant and a technical controller, with video review — identifies what was actually performed: which jump, how many rotations, what level of difficulty a spin or step sequence reached, and whether a jump was underrotated or launched from the wrong edge.
Senior singles and pairs skate a short program of 2 minutes 40 seconds, plus or minus 10 seconds, containing seven required elements, and a free skate of 4 minutes containing up to twelve. Ice dance replaces these with a rhythm dance of 2 minutes 50 seconds, built on a rhythm and a pattern the ISU assigns each season, and a free dance of 4 minutes. Scores from both segments are added.
Every element has a published base value in the ISU Scale of Values. A quadruple Axel is worth 12.50, a quadruple Lutz 11.50, a quadruple toe loop 9.50, a triple Axel 8.00 and a double Axel 3.30. Spins, step sequences and dance elements are graded Level B or Levels 1 to 4 depending on how many difficult features the technical panel recognises, with each level carrying a higher base value.
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