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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Englishman Robert Jones was credited with one of the first accounts of figure skating back in 1772. In the early 1900s, figure skating made its way across the pond and was introduced to American audiences.
Digging into the ice to get going is important, but so is stopping. One of the weird things about learning to skate is telling your brain to bend your feet properly. Whether it’s pushing off or coming to a stop, your skate blade can’t be at a perfect 90-degree angle to the ice. Balancing on ice requires a lot of agility and core strength.
When it comes to figure skating choreography, the conservation of angular momentum is very important. Angular momentum is a combination of the weight of the skater, the size of the circle they’re spinning in, and the speed at which the spin is happening. That’s why when figure skaters tuck their arms and legs in, they begin to spin faster and within a much tighter circle.
Executing a jump requires the body to become completely synchronous. During the approach, skaters build their momentum. The back edge of their blade digs into the ice, creating torque, which is a twisting force that causes rotation. As they launch, their momentum from spinning carries them into the air.
Since Team USA began competing in figure skating, they’ve medaled 54 times, with 17 of those being gold medals. As Team USA looks to add to their medal count in the 2026 Winter Olympics, you’ll know more about the science behind this artistry on ice.
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