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NEED TO KNOW
When competing in the Olympic Games, figure skaters follow strict guidelines set by the International Skating Union
Though somersault jumps like backflips were made legal in 2024, certain elements are still prohibited in certain skating disciplines
Skaters must also adhere to strict guidelines regarding their costumes and could receive deductions if they go against them
Figure skating may be a creative sport, but chasingOlympicgold leaves little room for bending the rules.
All five medal events — men's singles, women's singles, pairs, ice dance and team competition — must meet strict rules set by the International Skating Union (ISU). According to the Olympic Gameswebsite, divisions have different technical requirements and restrictions, which a panel of judges uses to determine each athlete's overall score.
Not following the rules can result in deductions that cost athletes that coveted gold medal. Though some skaters have gotten away with creative interpretations, the ISU has updated its guidelines to ensure future athletes don't follow suit.
For example, Russian skater Alina Zagitova famously back-loaded her jumps in the second half of her program to receive a base-value bonus in her scoring at the 2018 Games. The next year, the ISU implemented the "Zagitova rule," limiting second-half jumps to three, per the Olympicwebsite.
From costume requirements to other prohibited moves, here are the six most surprising rules skaters must follow at the Olympic Games.
Skaters can receive deductions for clothing falling off
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While on the ice, skaters are at risk of receiving deductions between 1.0 and 3.0 points for every move they make — including how well their costumes stay put.
According toNBC News, judges will take away points if a piece of clothing falls off the skater and onto the ice — even if it's unintentional.
Skaters must be at least 17 years old to compete
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Olympic hopefuls may not have to be old enough to vote to compete, but they do have to be old enough to drive. Though skaters as young as 15 were allowed to compete in senior figure skating competitions for years, the ISU officially began raising the minimum age in 2022,NBC Newsreported.
This decision followed a controversy at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where 15-year-old Russian figure skaterKamila Valievatested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance that's used to treat chest pain. Her team had to give up their gold medal after her results, which led to Team USA's win.
The ISU gradually raised the minimum age from 16 during the 2024-2025 skating season to 17 for the 2025-2026 season, which included the 2026 Winter Olympics. Specifically, skaters need to have turned 15 before July 1, 2024.
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Certain elements are prohibited in certain disciplines
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When it comes to how many and what kind of jumps skaters can include in their programs, there are different requirements for each of the five events.
Ice dancing, for example, is the only category in the sport where no jumps are allowed outside of single or assisted jumps. So skaters cannot do twist lifts, overhead lifts, throw jumps or any other kind of acrobatic move, per the Olympic Gameswebsite. Skaters who compete in pairs, on the other hand, are known for their high-level acrobatics.
There are strict time limits for programs
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The time athletes are allowed on the ice also depends on the discipline they're skating in, per NBC.
There are two programs for men's singles, women's singles and pairs skaters. One is the short program, which is limited to two minutes and 40 seconds. The other, known as the free skate, is four minutes long. Athletes can go over or under their time limits by no more than 10 seconds.
Ice dancing also has a short and long program. While their free skate adheres to the same time limitations, they get a slightly longer allowance for the short program: two minutes and 50 seconds.
Skaters' costumes can't give "the effect of excessive nudity"
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Figure skaters' costumes are almost as mesmerizing as the death-defying jumps they make on the ice. But if athletes aren't careful, judges could deduct rules from their outfits alone.
TheISUrequires that all Olympic skater outfits "not give the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for the discipline." Other than men being required to wear "full-length trousers," there are no specifics for following this guideline, other than a requirement to be "modest."
Though women were previously required to wear skirts during ice dance programs, pants became legal in the sport in 2004 after the ISU repealed its so-called "Katerina rule" that required female skaters to cover their "hips and posterior." The regulation was implemented following German figure skater Katarina Witt's controversial costume at the 1988 Games.
Skaters' costumes can't be too "theatrical"
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In addition to the nudity rule, athletes must also make sure their costumes aren'ttooover-the-top. The official ISU rule is that outfits "must be modest, dignified and appropriate for athletic competition — not garish or theatrical in design."
However, costumes — which tend to be colorful and covered in crystals — must also "reflect the character of the music chosen."
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