Figure Skating’s Olympic Journey

Ilia Malinin © Pinterest

Figure skating holds a unique place in Olympic history as the oldest sport on the Winter Games program. Interestingly, it actually began as a Summer Olympic sport, making its debut in London in 1908. It wasn’t until the first Winter Games in 1924 that it found its permanent home on the ice. Over the decades, the sport has evolved from “school figures”—where skaters painstakingly carved geometric patterns into the ice—into a high-flying, athletic spectacle dominated by triple and quadruple jumps.

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the competition is held at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The event features four main categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance.

Who to Watch in 2026

The 2026 Games represent a clash of generations. In the Men’s discipline, American “Quad God” Ilia Malinin is the heavy favorite to land the historic quadruple Axel, while Japan’s Kao Miura and Sota Yamamoto bring incredible speed and consistency. In Pairs, the story of the Games is Deanna Stellato-Dudek, who at 42 is making history for Team Canada alongside Maxime Deschamps. The Ice Dance field remains a battle of artistry and precision, with top teams from Italy, the USA, and Canada vying for the top of the podium.

Milano Cortina 2026 Figure Skating Schedule

Friday, February 6th

• Ice dance rhythm dance
• Pairs short program
• Women’s short program

Saturday, February 7th

• Men’s short program
• Ice dance free dance

Sunday, February 8th

• Pairs free skating
• Women’s free skating
• Men’s free skating

Monday, February 9th

• Ice dance rhythm dance

Tuesday, February 10th

• Men’s short program

Wednesday, February 11th

• Ice dance free dance

Friday, February 13th

• Men’s free skating

Sunday, February 15th

• Pairs short program

Monday, February 16th

• Pairs free skating

Tuesday, February 17th

• Women’s short program

Thursday, February 19th

• Women’s free skating

As the lights dim and the first notes of music play, the world watches to see who will etch their name into Olympic history on the ice of Milan.

Source: article on isu-skating.com, published February 1, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer