figure skating

U.S. and Russian figure skaters are among the victims of the D.C.-area plane crash

10:06am January 30, 2025

At least a dozen figure skaters, coaches and their family members were on the plane that crashed near Washington, D.C., including two teenage competitors and a Russian husband-and-wife coaching duo.

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva reacts in the women's team free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Beijing.

The Olympics will begin awarding medals to runner-ups after the Kamila Valieva ban

8:27am January 30, 2024

by Ayana Archie

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, 15, violated doping rules during the 2022 Winter Olympics and temporarily banned her from international competition.

Russia's Kamila Valieva reacts after competing in the women's free skate on Feb. 17. A doping scandal dominated headlines around figure skating.

9 moments that resonated at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

8:31am February 21, 2022

NPR's team in Beijing put together moments and storylines that stuck out — including those that showed immense inner strength, athleticism and grace.

Team USA's silver medalists pose during the flower ceremony of the figure skating team event last week. They had asked to have the medal ceremony before they leave Beijing.

U.S. figure skaters won't get their team medals before the Winter Olympics end

12:00pm February 19, 2022

The American team had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to rule they can receive their medals while they await the results of a wider investigation into the Kamila Valieva doping scandal.

Russia's Anna Shcherbakova won gold in the women's free skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

2 Russians medal at the Olympic figure skating final, but not Kamila Valieva

12:12pm February 17, 2022

Two skaters from the Russian Olympic Committee took the top two spots at the women's program at the Beijing Olympics. Kamila Valieva, who has been at the center of a scandal, took fourth place.

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Kamila Valieva of Team ROC skates during the women's short program at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 15, 2022 in Beijing, China.

Valieva takes No. 1 slot in a figure skating event that's clouded by doping saga

1:03pm February 15, 2022

With Kamila Valieva seizing the top spot, 25 skaters advance to the next segment. Normally, only the top 24 move on from the short program. But these Games aren't normal.

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Mariah Bell of Team United States talks with coach and former Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon during a practice session ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 1, 2022.

'They've ruined it for all of us,' Adam Rippon says of Russia's latest doping scandal

12:42pm February 12, 2022

by Tom Goldman

As the fate of 15-year-old Russian skating phenom Kamila Valieva is debated by lawyers, the athletes and coaches in Beijing say this year's Winter Olympics are now tainted by the specter of doping.

Nathan Chen won gold with his men's single skate program at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Nathan Chen wins gold in men's figure skating at the Beijing Olympics

9:58am February 10, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

The 22-year-old American topped a competitive field Thursday in Beijing. Figure skaters from Japan came in second and third.

USA's Nathan Chen competes in the men's single skating short program of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen sparkles in men's short program at Beijing Olympics

9:04am February 08, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

Majestic and composed, Chen exulted at the end — shaking off his terrible short performance four years ago at the Pyeongchang Olympics and setting him up to win gold after Thursday's free skate.

Vincent Zhou won a silver medal in the figure skating team event. But he's been knocked out of the competition for a men's individual medal after twice testing positive for COVID-19.

U.S. skater Vincent Zhou drops out of Olympics after his 2nd COVID test is positive

2:03pm February 07, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

"The enormity of the situation ... the pain of it all, is pretty insane," Zhou said in an emotional video posted to Instagram. A silver medalist in the team event, he was to compete again on Tuesday.