World Figure Skating Championships

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The World Figure Skating Championships (commonly referred to as the Worlds) is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). The event determines the world champions in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The competition is considered one of the most prestigious events in the sport of figure skating.

History

The World Figure Skating Championships were first held in 1896 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Initially, the competition was only for men, but it expanded to include ladies' singles in 1906, pair skating in 1908, and ice dance in 1952. The event has been held annually, except during World War I, World War II, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Competition Format

The competition consists of two segments for each discipline: the short program (or rhythm dance for ice dance) and the free skating (or free dance for ice dance). Skaters accumulate points based on their performances in both segments, and the skater or team with the highest total score is declared the winner.

Qualification

Skaters qualify for the World Championships through their national championships and international competitions. Each country is allotted a certain number of entries based on their skaters' performances at the previous year's World Championships.

Notable Champions

Over the years, many skaters have achieved legendary status by winning multiple World titles. Some of the most notable champions include Sonja Henie, Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, Katarina Witt, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Alina Zagitova.

Venues

The World Championships are hosted by different cities around the world each year. Some of the notable cities that have hosted the event include London, New York City, Tokyo, Paris, and Milan.

Related Pages

• Figure skating
• International Skating Union
• Olympic Games
• European Figure Skating Championships
• Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
• Grand Prix of Figure Skating

See Also

• List of World Figure Skating Championships medalists
• List of ISU World Championships in figure skating