It's been an exciting week of figure skating events at the Olympics, which concludes on February 23. There are a total of five different events: men’s, women’s, pairs, ice dance, and the team event. So far, Americans have won medals in ice dancing and the team event. But U.S. skaters have also set new records during their routines.
Each figure skating event consists of two parts: a short program and a free skate. The short program must be shorter than 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Athletes must perform seven different required elements, or moves, which vary depending on the event. They include jumps, spins, and step sequences that show off skaters’ fancy footwork on the ice.
The free skate—also called the long program—is about 4 minutes long. Jumps more than halfway through a free skate get bonus points from the judges. That's because big jumps are more difficult at the end of a routine when the skater is more tired. Learn more about Olympic figure skating from Scholastic MATH.