U.S. Figure Skating will ask ISU to review system that led to ice dance judging controversy

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U.S. Figure Skating will ask ISU to review system that led to ice dance judging controversy

U.S. Figure Skating intends to send a letter to the International Skating Union for a review of the judging system that essentially allowed one judge to determine the outcome of the 2026 Olympic ice dance competition, a person familiar with the situation told me Friday.

The result was a narrow victory (1.43 points) for French couple Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron over U.S. team Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

“We don’t expect a reversal,” the person said.  “We are doing this in support of our athletes.”

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Figure skating officials weigh major changes in rules, schedule

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Figure skating officials weigh major changes in rules, schedule

nternational figure skating federation officials are weighing changes in competition rules that would alter the sport radically, including a potentially dramatic reduction in jumps in singles events.

And the federation’s governing board, the International Skating Union (ISU) council, has already supported significant changes to the figure skating season schedule and Grand Prix format to take effect in the 2027-28 season.

All this is still in discussion stages but moving forward. Under the new ISU Constitution, the 14-member council (rather than the biennial ISU Congress) has the “ultimate authority to adopt, amend or repeal” competition and event regulations and sports rules.

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Amber Glenn aims to defend Grand Prix Final title, free of fear

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Amber Glenn aims to defend Grand Prix Final title, free of fear

The old Amber Glenn might have come undone by what happened during the six-minute warmup for the short program at the Finlandia Trophy Grand Prix event.

Glenn competed in Finland just eight days after undergoing a root canal procedure. And she still was getting antibiotics for a sinus infection that had lingered since summer, with the medicine making her feel tired.

And then she popped her two attempts at her most difficult jump, the triple Axel, in the warmup. Popping – doing a single rotation rather than three - can shake any figure skater’s confidence.

About 45 minutes later, Glenn took the ice for her short program, opened by nailing the triple Axel and went on to win that phase of the competition with her season-best score.

“That was 100% the new Amber,” said Damon Allen, her coach, via telephone.

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Despite twists and turns, U.S. ice dancers Zingas and Kolesnik stay in fast lane

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Despite twists and turns, U.S. ice dancers Zingas and Kolesnik stay in fast lane

There are a lot of unexpected plot twists in the story of how Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik got here.

Not the least of those surprises simply is what “here” means to them this week.

The U.S. ice dancers are in Helsinki, Finland, where they will compete beginning Friday in the Finlandia Trophy event on the Grand Prix circuit, with a chance to make the Grand Prix Final and/or simply build their case for getting one the three U.S. ice dance spots at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Who would have imagined a convert from singles skating in 2022 and an ice dancer from a war-ravaged city in Ukraine could be a team in this position so quickly?

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Oh my quadg0d: Ilia Malinin crushes the Skate Canada field - and even tops himself

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Oh my quadg0d: Ilia Malinin crushes the Skate Canada field - and even tops himself


 There comes a point in the careers of some extraordinary athletes when they are competing against only themselves and the record books.

And, ipso facto, given that the athlete has to be extraordinary to face such a challenge, he or she finds it harder and harder to top past achievements.

At his best (or near it), two-time reigning world champion Ilia Malinin of the U.S. now is in that position at age 20, competing only against himself in men’s singles figure skating.

That should be clear from his winning margin over runner-up Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia in the Skate Canada Grand Prix that ended Sunday in Regina, Saskatchewan.

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