Figure skating in the United States explained

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Figure skating in the United States
Union:U.S. Figure Skating
Sport:Figure skating
National List:U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Intl List:Winter Olympics
World Figure Skating Championships

Figure Skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. Although ice skating began in 3,000 BCE in Scandinavia, American Edward Bushnell's 1855 invention of steel blades and Jackson Haines bringing elements of ballet to figure skating were critical to the development of modern-day figure skating.[1] Since then, figure skating in the United States has grown to have 186,038 members as of the 2020–2021 season.[2]

Overview

The governing body of figure skating in the United States is US Figure Skating,"U.S. Figure Skating is a member of the International Skating Union (ISU), the international federation for figure skating; and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)."[3] U.S. figure skating, along with USA Hockey, endorses Learn to Skate USA, which provides lessons in the basics of skating, including for ice hockey, speed skating, multiple disciplines of figure skating, along with adaptive skating for skaters with disabilities.[4] U.S. Figure Skating also contains a series of levels and testing for skaters beyond Learn to Skate USA.[5] In addition, U.S. Figure Skating also governs collegiate skating, including intercollegiate competitions, collegiate championships, and collegiate synchronized skating.[6] The membership demographics of U.S. Figure Skating are 69% female and 27% male.[2] In addition, Ice Sports Industry "an international industry trade association" hosts competitions, runs learn to skate programs, and offers an alternate set of levels to US Figure Skating.[7]

Ice skating used to be a popular television sport in the United States but has fallen out of favor since the 1970s, and the number of medals they have won at the winter Olympics has declined.[8] [9] [10] This may be partially in response to the financial crisis, as figure skating has always been an expensive sport, as well as in response to the retirement of Michelle Kwan and decline in the international success of the United States with the growing success of the vastly different Russian program.

History

During the 1860s, Jackson Haines created and popularized figure skating in the United States.[11] [12]

In 1914, the first U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held.[13]

In 1928, Maribel Vinson set the record for most U.S. national championship titles at 9. Michelle Kwan has since tied this record.[14]

At the 1948 Olympics, 14-year-old American Dick Button became the first person to land a double axel in competition, having only landed it for the first time days earlier.[15] He then became the first to land a triple jump in competition at the Oslo 1952 Olympic Winter Games.[15]

In 1953, 15-year-old Tenley Albright became the first American woman to win a world championship title. In 1956, she became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.[16]

In 1956, synchronized skating was founded in Ann Arbor Michigan by Dr. Richard J. Porter. His team, the Hockettes began skating in between the periods at University of Michigan hockey games.[17]

In 1961, the United States national team was headed to the World Championships in Czechoslovakia when their flight, Sabena Flight 548 crashed, killing the entire world team.[18]

In 1976, Dorothy Hamill became the last female skater to win Olympic gold without including a triple jump.[19]

In 1984, the first United States Synchronized Skating Championships was held.[20]

In July 1990, the ISU stopped including figures as part of competitions, impacting American and International competitions.[21]

In 1992, Kristin Yamaguchi became the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating, and in 1998, she became the first Asian American to be inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.[22]

The 1994 Cobo Arena attack on Nancy Kerrigan increased nationwide interest in figure skating.[23] The controversy itself sparked public interest, as did the quality of women's skating at the time, and figure skating was very popular in the 1990s. Tonya Harding, whose ex-husband was charged with orchestrating the attack on Kerrigan, was the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition.[24] [25] The eventual Olympic competition between Kerrigan and Harding set ratings records.[24] Harding was eventually implicated in the attack, and forced to renounce her membership in U.S. Figure Skating and was barred from the organization.[26]

In 1996 Tara Lipinski became the youngest person to win the world championship, and in 1998, she became "the youngest winner of an individual event in the history of the Winter Games".[27]

From 1996 to 2005, Michelle Kwan won the U.S. national championships 9 times and won the World Championships 5 times. Although she never won Olympic gold, she did win a silver in 1998 and bronze medal in 2002.[28] She is the most decorated American woman in figure skating.[29]

Beginning in 2004 and fully implemented by 2006, the ISU implemented the ISU Judging system, a new code of points replacing the old 6.0 system and used in both American and international competition.[30]

In 2018, Mirai Nagasu became first ever U.S. woman to land the triple axel in Olympic competition.[31]

In 2019, then 13 year-old Alysa Liu became the youngest U.S. women's figure skating champion.[32]

As of the 2020 U.S. synchronized skating championships, synchronized skating team the Haydenettes have won a total of 28 US national titles, and have won the last 11 US championships at the senior level.[33]

MedalName(s)EventYear
Theresa Weld[34] Singles1920
Beatrix Loughran [35] Singles1924
Singles1928
Beatrix Loughran and Sherwin BadgerPairs1932
Maribel Vinson[36] Singles1932
Dick ButtonSingles1948
Colleen O'Connor and James Millns[37] Ice Dance1951
Dick ButtonSingles1952
Tenley AlbrightSingles1952
Karol Kennedy and Peter Kennedy[38] Pairs1952
James Grogan[39] Singles1952
Tenley AlbrightSingles1956
Carol Heiss[40] Singles1956
Hayes Allen Jenkins[41] Singles1956
Ronnie Robertson[42] Singles1956
David Jenkins[43] Singles1956
Carol HeissSingles1960
Barbra Roles[44] Singles1960
David JenkinsSingles1960
Nancy Ludington and Ronald Ludington[45] Pairs1960
Vivian Joseph and Ronald Joseph[46] Pairs1964
Charles Tickner[47] Singles1964
Peggy Fleming[48] Singles1968
Timothy WoodSingles1968
Janet LynnSingles1972
Dorothy HamillSingles1976
Linda FratianneSingles1980
Charles TicknerSingles1980
Scott HamiltonSingles1984
Rosalynn SumnersSingles1984
Kitty Carruthers and Peter CarruthersPairs1984
Debi Thomas[49] Singles1988
Brian Boitano[50] Singles1998
Jill Watson and Peter OppegardPairs1988
Kristi YamaguchiSingles1992
Nancy Kerrigan[51] Singles1992
Nancy KerriganSingles1994
Paul WileySingles1992
Tara LipinskiSingles1998
Michelle KwanSingles1998
Sarah HughesSingles2002
Michelle KwanSingles2002
Timothy GobelSingles2002
Sasha Cohen[52] Singles2006
Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto[53] Ice Dance2006
Evan Lysacek[54] Singles2010
Meryl Davis and Charlie White[55] Ice Dance2010
Meryl Davis and Charlie WhiteIce Dance2014
Jeremy Abbot, Jason Brown, Ashley Wagner, Gracie Gold, Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, Meryl Davis and Charlie White[56] Team2014
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani[57] Ice Dance2018
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, Adam Rippon, Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim, Mirai Nagasu, Bradie Tennell, Nathan Chen[58] Team2018
Nathan Chen[59] Singles2022
Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue[60] Team2022

Current Senior Team Representing the United States

Currently, the team of senior skaters representing the United States consists of Starr Andrews, Maxine Marie Bautista, Mariah Bell, Amber Glenn, Karen Chen, Gabriella Izzo Alysa Liu, Sierra

Venetta, Bradie Tennell, Audrey Shin and Paige Rydberg in the ladies category, Jason Brown, Nathan Chen, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Jimmy Ma, Maxim Naumov, Yaroslav Paniot, Camden Pulkinen, Andrew Torgashev, Dinh Tran and Vincent Zhou in the men's category, Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez, Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay, Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov, Chelsea Liu and Danny O'Shea, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson, and Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc in pairs, and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, Lorraine McNamara and Anton Spiridonov, and Eva Pate and Logan Bye in ice dance.[61] This includes skaters "includes athletes in the A, B and C team envelope, as well as athletes with international assignments". The current senior level synchronized skating teams are The Haydenettes, The Skyliners, Miami University, Adrian College, and the Crystallettes.[62]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Figure Skating History. 2021-09-29. www.rookieroad.com. en.
  2. Web site: Who We Are U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-09-30. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  3. Web site: About U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-09-24. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  4. Web site: USA. Learn To Skate. Home - Learn to Skate USA. 2021-09-29. learntoskateusa.com. en.
  5. Web site: Test Structure U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-10-02. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  6. Web site: Collegiate Skating U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-09-29. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  7. Web site: The Ice Sports Industry (ISI). 2021-09-25. ISI. en-US.
  8. Web site: Garcia. Ahiza. 13 February 2018. U.S. figure skating used to be wildly popular. What happened?. 11 March 2019. CNNMoney.
  9. Web site: 23 February 2018. The state of figure skating is strong ... except in the United States. 11 March 2019. ESPN.com.
  10. Web site: Longman. Jeré. 30 December 2017. Where Are the American Women in Olympic Figure Skating?. 11 March 2019. NYTimes.com.
  11. Web site: The Man Who Invented Figure Skating Was Laughed Out of America. Erin. Blakemore. HISTORY. 11 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating. www.usfsa.org. 11 March 2019.
  13. Web site: United States Figure Skating Championships® U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-09-30. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  14. Web site: The Thirties U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-10-01. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  15. Web site: 2019-07-19. Dick Button USOPMuseum. 2021-09-25. United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. en-US.
  16. Web site: 65 Years After Her Olympic Triumph, Dr. Tenley Albright is Still Blazing the Trail U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-09-29. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  17. Web site: Honoring a Legend: Dr. Porter Left Sport with a Mission to 'Push and Innovate'. 2021-09-25. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. en.
  18. Web site: In 1961 a Plane Crash Killed the Entire U.S. Figure Skating Team. 2021-09-25. Time. en.
  19. Web site: Dorothy HAMILL. 2021-09-29. Olympics.com.
  20. Web site: Synchronized Skating U.S. Figure Skating. 2021-10-02. www.usfigureskating.org. en.
  21. Web site: Tribune. Phil Hersh, Chicago. COMPULSORY FIGURES SKATE INTO HISTORY. 2021-09-30. chicagotribune.com. en-US.
  22. Web site: 2019-07-21. Kristi Yamaguchi USOPMuseum. 2021-09-29. United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. en-US.
  23. Web site: Jennings. Rebecca. 2021-02-18. Where have all the figure skaters gone?. 2021-09-25. Vox. en.
  24. Web site: Skater Nancy Kerrigan attacked. 2021-09-25. HISTORY. en.
  25. Web site: Tonya Harding on landing her history-making triple axel: 'Everything about life after that point became confusing'. 2021-09-25. ABC News. en.
  26. News: Brodesser-Akner. Taffy. 2018-01-10. Tonya Harding Would Like Her Apology Now. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-02. 0362-4331.
  27. Web site: Tara LIPINSKI. 2021-09-29. Olympics.com.
  28. Web site: Michelle KWAN. 2021-09-29. Olympics.com.
  29. Web site: Michelle Kwan : California Sports Hall of Fame. 2021-09-29. californiasportshalloffame.org.
  30. Web site: Abad-Santos. Alex. 2018-02-14. Figure skating scoring explained for people who don’t follow figure skating. 2021-09-30. Vox. en.
  31. Web site: Park. Madison. 2018-02-12. Mirai Nagasu leaps into history with Olympic triple axel. 2021-09-25. CNN. en.
  32. Web site: Alysa Liu, 13, becomes youngest U.S. women's figure skating champion in history. USA TODAY. 11 March 2019.
  33. Web site: Haydenettes Capture 28th Title to Close 2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. 2021-09-28. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. en.
  34. Web site: 2014-02-10. U.S. Figure Skating: From a Flooded Field in Cambridge to the Olympic Games. 2021-10-01. New England Historical Society. en-US.
  35. Web site: Beatrix LOUGHRAN. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  36. Web site: Maribel VINSON. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  37. Web site: Colleen O'CONNOR. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  38. Web site: Karol KENNEDY. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  39. Web site: James GROGAN. 2021-10-01. Olympics.com.
  40. Web site: 2019-07-20. Carol Heiss USOPMuseum. 2021-09-29. United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum. en-US.
  41. Web site: Hayes Allen JENKINS. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  42. News: Goldstein. Richard. 2000-02-17. Ronnie Robertson, 62, a Skater Who Entertained With His Spins. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-09-30. 0362-4331.
  43. Web site: David JENKINS. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  44. Web site: Barbara ROLES. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  45. Web site: Nancy LUDINGTON. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  46. Web site: Vivian Laureen JOSEPH. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  47. Web site: Scott ALLEN. 2021-10-01. Olympics.com.
  48. Web site: Peggy FLEMING. 2021-09-29. Olympics.com.
  49. Web site: Debra THOMAS. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  50. Web site: Brian BOITANO. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  51. Web site: Nancy KERRIGAN. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  52. Web site: Sasha COHEN. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  53. Web site: Tanith BELBIN. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  54. Web site: Evan LYSACEK. 2021-09-30. Olympics.com.
  55. Web site: Wilner. Barry. 'Always be grateful': Metro Detroit's Meryl Davis, Charlie White enter Figure Skating Hall of Fame. 2021-09-30. The Detroit News. en-US.
  56. Web site: XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014. 2021-10-01. www.isuresults.com.
  57. Web site: Alex SHIBUTANI. 2021-10-01. Olympics.com.
  58. News: Chappell. Bill. 2018-02-12. Nagasu And Rippon Wow Crowd As U.S. Figure Skating Team Wins Bronze. en. NPR. 2021-10-01.
  59. Web site: McCarthy . Simone . 2022-02-10 . Nathan Chen wins gold with figure skating master class . 2024-08-06 . CNN . en.
  60. Web site: 2022 Olympic Team Event Medal Ceremony . 2024-08-06 . usfigureskatingfanzone.com . en.
  61. Web site: 2021-22 Figure Skating Roster. 2021-09-25. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. en.
  62. Web site: 2020-21 Synchronized Skating Roster. 2021-09-30. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. en.

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