European Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count explained

See main article: European Figure Skating Championships. The European Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European champion. Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The event is sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and is the sport's oldest competition. Only skaters from ISU member countries in Europe are eligible to compete.

Ulrich Salchow of Sweden currently hold the record for the most gold medals won in men's singles (at nine), while Irina Slutskaya of Russia holds the record for the most gold medals won in women's singles (at seven). Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev from the Soviet Union hold the record for the most gold medals in pair skating (at seven), while Rodnina won another four gold medals with her previous partner Alexei Ulanov and thus holds the record for the most gold medals won by a skater in pair skating (at eleven). Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov, also from the Soviet Union, hold the record for the most gold medals won in ice dance (at six).

Men's singles

The first European Championships were held in 1891 in Hamburg, Germany, and featured one segment, compulsory figures.^[1] The 1893 European Championships were the first time the event was held under the jurisdiction of the International Skating Union (ISU), which was formed in the summer of 1892.^[2]

Ulrich Salchow from Sweden has won the most gold medals in the men's singles (at nine).^[3] The record for most back-to-back titles is held by Austrian Karl Schäfer with eight gold medals. Salchow and Schäfer also share the record for the most total medals won with Brian Joubert from France and Evgeni Plushenko from Russia (with ten medals each). Four skaters also share the record for the most silver medals won (with four): Gustav Hügel from Austria; Alain Giletti from France; and Vladimir Kovalyov and Vladimir Kotin, both from the Soviet Union. Three skaters share the record for the most bronze medals won (with four each): Karol Divín from Czechoslovakia, Vyacheslav Zahorodnyuk, who completed for the Soviet Union and then Ukraine, and Brian Joubert from France.

Total medal count by nation

• Countries that no longer participate are indicated in italics.

Most gold medals by skater

• If the number of gold medals is identical, the silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order).
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Period				Total
1	Ulrich Salchow		1898–1913	9	–	1	10
2	Karl Schäfer		1927–1936	8	1	1	10
3	Evgeni Plushenko		1998–2012	7	3	–	10
4	Javier Fernández		2013–2019	7	–	–	7
5	Willy Böckl		1913–1928	6	–	2	8
6	Alain Giletti		1953–1961	5	4	–	9
7	Ondrej Nepela		1966–1973	5	–	3	8
8	Jan Hoffmann		1973–1980	4	1	2	7
9	Alexandre Fadeev		1983–1989	4	–	2	6
10	Emmerich Danzer		1963–1968	4	–	1	5

Most medals by skater

• If the total number of medals is identical, the gold, silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order).
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Period				Total
1	Ulrich Salchow		1898–1913	9	–	1	10
2	Karl Schäfer		1927–1936	8	1	1	10
3	Evgeni Plushenko		1998–2012	7	3	–	10
4	Brian Joubert		2002–2011	3	3	4	10
5	Alain Giletti		1953–1961	5	4	–	9
6	Willy Böckl		1913–1928	6	–	2	8
7	Ondrej Nepela		1966–1973	5	–	3	8
8	Karol Divín		1954–1964	2	2	4	8
9	Javier Fernández		2013–2019	7	–	–	7
10	Jan Hoffmann		1973–1980	4	1	2	7

Women's singles

The women's event was first held in 1930 in Vienna, Austria. The first combined European Championships for men, women, and pairs took place in 1932 in Paris, France.

Irina Slutskaya from Russia has won the most gold medals in the women's singles (seven). Sonja Henie from Norway and Katarina Witt from East Germany share the record for most back-to-back titles (six each). The record for total medals won is held by Italian Carolina Kostner with eleven medals. The most silver medals were won by Regine Heitzer from Austria, Dagmar Lurz from West Germany and Kira Ivanova from the Soviet Union (with four each), while Anna Kondrashova from the Soviet Union, Viktoria Volchkova from Russia, and Carolina Kostner from Italy share the record for the most bronze medals (with four each).

Total medal count by nation

• Countries that no longer participate are indicated in italics.

Most gold medals by skater

• If the number of gold medals is identical, the silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the skaters receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Period				Total
1	Irina Slutskaya		1996–2006	7	2	–	9
2	Katarina Witt		1982–1988	6	1	–	7
3	Sonja Henie		1931–1936	6	–	–	6
4	Carolina Kostner		2006–2018	5	2	4	11
5	Surya Bonaly		1991–1996	5	1	–	6
	Sjoukje Dijkstra		1959–1964	5	1	–	6
7	Anett Pötzsch		1975–1980	4	1	1	6
8	Maria Butyrskaya		1996–2002	3	2	1	6
	Cecilia Colledge		1933–1939	3	2	1	6
10	Gabriele Seyfert		1966–1970	3	2	–	5

Most medals by skater

• If the total number of medals is identical, the gold, silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the skaters receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Period				Total
1	Carolina Kostner		2006–2018	5	2	4	11
2	Irina Slutskaya		1996–2006	7	2	–	9
3	Katarina Witt		1982–1988	6	1	–	7
4	Regine Heitzer		1960–1966	2	4	1	7
5	Sonja Henie		1931–1936	6	–	–	6
6	Surya Bonaly		1991–1996	5	1	–	6
	Sjoukje Dijkstra		1959–1964	5	1	–	6
8	Anett Pötzsch		1975–1980	4	1	1	6
9	Maria Butyrskaya		1996–2002	3	2	1	6
	Cecilia Colledge		1933–1939	3	2	1	6

Pairs

The first pair skating event was held in 1930 in Vienna, Austria. The first combined European Championships for men, women, and pairs took place in 1932 in Paris, France.

Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev from the Soviet Union hold the record for the most gold medals won (seven in a row). Due to missing at the 1979 European Championships in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Rodnina and Zaitsev shares the record for the longest winning streak at back-to-back events with Marika Kilius and Hans-Jürgen Bäumler from West Germany (with six victories each). Irina Rodnina won another four gold medals with her previous partner Alexei Ulanov and was undefeated at eleven European Championships in a row. The record for total medals won is shared by two pairs (eight each): Ludmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov from the Soviet Union, and Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov from Russia, while Rodnina holds the record for the most total medals won by a skater in pairs (eleven). Belousova and Protopopov also share the record for the most silver medals won with Marianna and László Nagy from Hungary (with four each), while Aljona Savchenko from Germany won five silver medals but with different partners. The record for the most bronze medals is held by Sarah Abitbol and Stéphane Bernadis from France (five). Franz Ningel from West Germany also won five bronze medals, but with different partners.

Total medal count by nation

• Countries that no longer participate are indicated in italics.

Most gold medals by pairs team

• Only pair results are included in the list. Individual results in case of partner changes are marked with a note or listed separately below the table.
• If the number of gold medals is identical, the silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the pairs receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order by the female partner's last name.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.
• If a skater or pair has competed for multiple countries, countries are listed in chronological order (from first to last).

! scope="col"

Female partner	Male partner	Nation	Period				Total
1				1973–1980	7	–	–	7
2				1959–1964	6	–	–	6
3				2001–2006	5	1	–	6
4				1935–1939	5	–	–	5
5				1962–1969	4	4	–	8
6				2006–2013	4	3	–	7
7				1969–1972	4	–	–	4
				2012–2016	4	–	–	4
9				1983–1987	3	2	–	5
10				1986–1994	3	1	–	4

Notes:One skater won three gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals in the pairs event, but with different partners:

• Artur Dmitriev won two gold medals and three silver medals partnered with Natalia Mishkutionok (1989–94) while representing the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Russia; and one gold medal and one silver medal partnered with Oksana Kazakova (1996–98) while representing Russia.

Most medals by pairs team

• Only pair results are included in the list. Individual results in case of partner changes are marked with a note or listed separately below the table.
• If the total number of medals is identical, the gold, silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order).
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Female partner	Male partner	Nation	Period				Total
1				1962–1969	4	4	–	8
2				1999–2007	2	2	4	8
3				1973–1980	7	–	–	7
4				2006–2013	4	3	–	7
5				1949–1957	2	4	1	7
6				2015–2022	2	3	2	7
7				1996–2003	–	2	5	7
8				1959–1964	6	–	–	6
9				2001–2006	5	1	–	6
10				1935–1939	5	–	–	5

Notes:Four skaters won a total of more than five medals in the pairs event, but with different partners:

• Artur Dmitriev won three gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals: two gold medals and three silver medals partnered with Natalia Mishkutionok (1989–94) while representing the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Russia; and one gold medal and one silver medal partnered with Oksana Kazakova (1996–98) while representing Russia.
• Maxim Trankov from Russia won four gold medals partnered with Tatiana Volosozhar (2012–16) and one silver medal and two bronze medals partnered with Maria Mukhortova (2008–10).
• Alexei Ulanov from the Soviet Union won four gold medals partnered with Irina Rodnina (1969–72) and one silver medal and a bronze medal partnered with Lyudmila Smirnova (1973–74).
• Franz Ningel from West Germany won one silver medal and five bronze medals: three bronze medals partnered with Marika Kilius (1955–57) and one silver medal and two bronze medals partnered with Margret Göbl (1960–62).

Ice dance

Ice dance is the most recent of the four disciplines at the European Figure Skating Championships. It was first held in 1954 in Bolzano, Italy.^[4]

Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov from the Soviet Union hold the record for the most gold medals won (six). Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron from France hold the longest winning streak at back-to-back events with five. Courtney Jones from Great Britain won five European Championships in a row as well, but with different partners. The record for total medals won is shared by three ice dance teams (with eight each): Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov, Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov, and Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, who all competed for the Soviet Union (although Klimova and Ponomarenko represented the Commonwealth of Independent States at their last competition in 1992). Klimova and Ponomarenko also shares the record for the most silver medals won with six other ice dance teams (with three each): Angelika and Erich Buck from West Germany, Irina Moiseeva and Andrei Minenkov from the Soviet Union, Maya Usova and Alexander Zhulin (who represented the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and then Russia), Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov from Russia, Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte from Italy, and Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev from Russia. British ice dancers Janet Sawbridge and Yvonne Suddick also won three silver medals, but each of them with different partners. The record for the most bronze medals is held by Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov from the Soviet Union (five).

Total medal count by nation

• Countries that no longer participate are indicated in italics.

Most gold medals by ice dance team

• Only teams' results are included in the list. Individual results in the case of partner changes are listed separately below the table.
• If the number of gold medals is identical, the silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the teams receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order by the female partner's last name.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.
• If a skater or team has competed for multiple countries, countries are listed in chronological order (from first to last).

! scope="col"

Female partner	Male partner	Nation	Period				Total
1				1969–1976	6	1	1	8
2				1982–1988	5	2	–	7
3				2015–2020	5	1	–	6
4				1984–1992	4	3	1	8
5				1981–1994	4	–	–	4
				1966–1969	4	–	–	4
7				1992–1998	3	2	1	6
8				2003–2006	3	–	1	4
9				1959–1961	3	–	–	3
10				1976–1982	2	3	2	7

Notes:

Most medals by ice dance team

• Only teams' results are included in the list. Individual results in the case of partner changes are listed separately below the table.
• If the total number of medals is identical, the gold, silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the team receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order by the female partner's last name.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.
• If a skater or couple has competed for multiple countries, countries are listed in chronological order (from first to last).

! scope="col"

Female partner	Male partner	Nation	Period				Total
1				1969–1976	6	1	1	8
2				1984–1992	4	3	1	8
3				1974–1981	2	1	5	8
4				1982–1988	5	2	–	7
5				1976–1982	2	3	2	7
6				2015–2020	5	1	–	6
7				1992–1998	3	2	1	6
8				2011–2018	1	3	2	6
				1989–1994	1	3	2	6
10				1998–2002	2	2	1	5

Two more skaters won a total of six medals in the ice dance event, but with different partners:

• Courtney Jones from Great Britain won five gold medals and one silver medal: two gold medals and one silver medal while partnered with June Markham (1956–58) and three gold medals while partnered with Doreen Denny (1959–61).
• Janet Sawbridge from Great Britain won three silver medals and three bronze medals: two silver medals and one bronze medal while partnered with David Hickinbottom (1963–65), one silver medal and one bronze medal while partnered with Jon Lane (1968–69), and one bronze medal while partnered with Peter Dalby (1972).

Overall

• The table only shows the period of the achievement, not all participation at the European Championships.

Achievement! scope="col"

Record	Skater	Nation	Discipline	Period
Most gold medals	align=center	11			Pairs	1969–1980
Most silver medals	5			Pairs	2006–2017
Most bronze medals	5			Pairs	1955–1962
			Ice dance	1974–1981
			Pairs	1996–2001
Most overall medals	11			Pairs	1969–1980
			Women's singles	2006–2018
Most wins at back-to-back events	10			Pairs	1969–1978

Total medal count by nation

• Countries that no longer participate are indicated in italics.

Most gold medals by skater

• If the number of gold medals is identical, the silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order). If all numbers are the same, the skaters receive the same placement and are sorted in alphabetical order.
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Discipline	Period				Total
1	Irina Rodnina		Pairs	1969–1980	11	–	–	11
2	Ulrich Salchow		Men's singles	1898–1913	9	–	1	10
3	Karl Schäfer		Men's singles	1927–1936	8	1	1	10
4			Men's singles	1998–2012	7	3	–	10
5	Irina Slutskaya		Women's singles	1996–2006	7	2	–	9
6	Javier Fernández		Men's singles	2013–2019	7	–	–	7
	Alexander Zaitsev		Pairs	1973–1980	7	–	–	7
8	Aleksandr Gorshkov		Ice dance	1969–1976	6	1	1	8
	Lyudmila Pakhomova
10	Katarina Witt		Women's singles	1982–1988	6	1	–	7

Most medals by skater

• If the total number of medals is identical, the gold, silver and bronze medals are used as tie-breakers (in that order).
• The table only shows the period from the first to the last won medal, not all participation at the European Championships.

! scope="col"

Skater	Nation	Discipline(s)	Period				Total
1	Irina Rodnina		Pairs	1969–1980	11	–	–	11
2			Women's singles	2006–2018	5	2	4	11
3			Men's singles	1898–1913	9	–	1	10
4			Men's singles	1927–1936	8	1	1	10
5			Men's singles	1998–2012	7	3	–	10
6	Ernst Baier	Germany	Men's singles	1931–1939	5	3	2	10
			Pairs
7			Men's singles	2002–2011	3	3	4	10
8			Women's singles	1996–2006	7	2	–	9
9	Marika Kilius		Pairs	1955–1964	6	–	3	9
10			Men's singles	1953–1961	5	4	–	9

Works cited

• Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. .
• Hines, James R. (2015). Figure Skating in the Formative Years: Singles, Pairs, and the Expanding Role of Women. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. .

See also

• World Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count
• Four Continents Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2019 . History of Figure Skating . 29 June 2024 . International Skating Union . Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. Hines (2015), p. 50
3. Web site: Ulrich Salchow . 26 March 2021 . Olympedia.
4. Hines (2011), p. 83