Figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Qualification explained

See main article: Figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The following is about the qualification rules and allocation of spots for the figure skating events at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Qualification system

A total of 148 quota spots are available to athletes to compete at the games. A maximum of 18 athletes can be entered by a National Olympic Committee, with a maximum of 9 men or 9 women. An additional six quota spots were made available for the team event. A further ten team trophy quotas (two in each discipline) will be distributed to countries qualifying for the team event, but not the discipline itself. This means up to a maximum of 158 athletes can partake.[1]

Skater qualification

There is no individual athlete qualification to the Olympics; the choice of which athlete(s) to send to the Games is at the discretion of each country's National Olympic Committee. Each country is allowed a maximum of three entries per discipline, resulting in a maximum of 18 athletes (nine men and nine women) possible per country.

Country qualification

The number of entries for the figure skating events at the Olympic Games is limited by a quota set by the International Olympic Committee. A total of 148 quota spots are available to athletes to compete at the games. There will be 30 skaters in the disciplines of men's and ladies' singles, 20 pair skating teams, and 24 ice dance teams. Additionally, ten nations qualified for the team event.

Countries were able to qualify entries to the 2014 Winter Olympics in two ways. Most spots were allocated based on the results of the 2013 World Championships. At the event, countries were able to qualify up to three entries in each discipline according to the usual system in place; countries which earned multiple spots to the Olympics also earned multiple spots to the 2014 World Championships. Every discipline qualified separately.

At the World Championships, the system was as follows:

Number of skaters/teams
entered at Worlds
To earn 3 entries
to the Olympics
To earn 2 entries
to the Olympics
1Place in the top 2Place in the top 10
2Total placements is equal to or less than 13Total placements is equal to or less than 28
3Top two placements is equal to or less than 13Top two placements is equal to or less than 28

Qualification spots available per tournament

The results of the 2013 World Championships determined 83 total spots: 24 entries in each singles discipline, 16 in pairs, and 19 in ice dance. The available spots were awarded going down the results list, with multiple spots being awarded first.

The remainder of the spots were filled at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in late September 2013. Countries which had already earned an entry to the Olympics were not allowed to qualify more entries at this final qualifying competition. Unlike at the World Championships, where countries could qualify more than one spot depending on the placement of the skater, at the Nebelhorn Trophy countries could earn only one spot per discipline, regardless of placement. A total of six spots per singles event, four spots in pairs, and five in ice dance were available at the Nebelhorn Trophy.

If a country declined to use one or more of its qualified spots, the vacated spot was awarded using the results of the Nebelhorn Trophy in descending order of placement.

For the team trophy, scores from the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons were tabulated to establish the ten top nations. Each nation compiled a score from their top performers in each of the four disciplines. The Grand Prix Final, taking place in early December 2013, was the final event to affect the Team Trophy score.

Qualification timeline

Event Date Venue
March 10 to 17, 2013 London
September 25 to 28, 2013 Oberstdorf

Qualification summary

Men's singles

Event LocationAthletes
per NOC
Qualified Total
3
24
2



1






1




6
TOTAL 30

Ladies' singles

Event LocationAthletes
per NOC
Qualified Total
3

24
2


1





1




6
TOTAL 30

Pair skating

Event LocationPairs
per NOC
Qualified Total
3
15
2



1
1




5
TOTAL 20

Ice dance

Event LocationPairs
per NOC
Qualified Total
3

19
2

1


1



5
TOTAL 24

Team event

    Qualified to Olympics    Reserve nation for Olympics    Not eligible for Olympics
rankwidth=165Team2012–20132013–14Total
1 3826 2227 6053
2 2911 2548 5459
3 3142 2132 5274
4 2009 2053 4062
5 2475 1232 3707
6 2218 1408 3626
7 2062 1547 3609
8 2143 1453 3596
9 1424 528 1952
10 1283 324 1607
11 1080 517 1597
12 991 537 1528
13 679 645 1324
14 776 485 1261
15 650 284 934
16 505 426 931
17 572 191 763
18 451 284 735
19 671 0 671
20 357 241 598

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olympic Winter Games 2014 Entries/Participation . October 1, 2013 . . December 23, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112119/http://isuprod.blob.core.windows.net/media/107588/1821-owg-fs-qualified-entriesandjudges-after-qual-comp.pdf . December 24, 2013 .
  2. http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-206192-223415-177357-0-file,00.pdf ISU special rules and technical rules
  3. Web site: Estonia stops Russian figure skater's Sochi hopes . Yahoo! Sports.
  4. http://www2.isu.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,4844-130127-131435-nav-list,00.html ISU communications with confirmation of teams invited to team trophy competition