Three ice skating sports are in the Olympics: figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. Figure skating is judged on skill and presentation, while both speed disciplines are races against the clock or other skaters.
The names sound similar, but each sport has its own events, rules, and style of competition. This guide explains what athletes do, how the events differ, and where ice hockey fits in the Olympic picture.
You’ll also learn which events to look for on a Winter Games schedule and why the exact program can change between editions.
what ice skating sports are in the olympics?
The Olympic skating sports are figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. Figure skating rewards technical elements and artistic performance. Speed skating and short track are racing disciplines, but they use different track layouts and race tactics.
In Olympic terminology, these are the three disciplines grouped under skating. The events inside each discipline are more specific: figure skating includes singles, pairs, and ice dance, while the two racing disciplines offer individual distances and relays. The full event lineup can vary by Games edition.
People sometimes use “ice skating sports” to mean every sport played on ice. That broader everyday meaning can include ice hockey and curling. However, those are separate Olympic sports, not skating disciplines. The distinction matters when you are looking at an Olympic sport list or event schedule.
How the three Olympic skating sports differ
| Sport | What athletes do | How results are decided | Best for viewers who enjoy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figure skating | Perform jumps, spins, steps, lifts, and other choreographed elements | Judges score technical elements and program components | Skill, choreography, and dramatic performances |
| Speed skating | Race around a large oval track, individually against the clock or in teams | Fastest time wins | Pacing, endurance, and close finishes |
| Short track speed skating | Race in a pack around a compact oval rink | Skaters advance through rounds; finish order decides the race | Fast action, tactical moves, and unpredictable races |
The quickest way to tell the racing sports apart is to look at the track and the format. Long-track speed skaters race on a large oval, often in pairs against the clock. Short-track skaters share a smaller rink, so they race directly against one another and must manage traffic as well as speed.
Figure skating: judged routines on ice
Figure skating combines athletic elements with choreographed movement. A skater or team performs to music, and judges award scores for both the difficulty and quality of the program. The sport has four main Olympic event types: men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.
Singles skating
In singles, one skater performs a short program and a free skate. The short program has required elements, while the free skate gives athletes more room to build a longer routine. Both programs include jumps, spins, and step sequences, but their requirements differ.
Jumps are among the most visible technical elements. Some take off from an edge, while others use a toe pick to help launch the skater. A jump’s base value reflects its planned difficulty, but execution matters too. A clean landing can earn positive marks; an under-rotation, fall, or other error can lower the score.
Spins and step sequences also count toward the technical score. Judges assess factors such as difficulty, control, and execution. Program components reflect qualities such as skating skills, composition, and performance. A program can be technically ambitious yet lose ground through errors, so consistency is important.
Pairs skating and ice dance
Pairs skating features two skaters performing together. Its elements may include side-by-side jumps and spins, lifts, throws, and pair spins. A throw jump begins when one partner launches the other into a jump; it calls for timing and a controlled landing. Pairs programs combine these demanding elements with transitions and choreography.
Ice dance is also performed by a pair, but it centers on rhythm, musical interpretation, and partnered skating. Lifts are more restricted than in pairs skating, and the discipline does not feature the same throw jumps or side-by-side jump content. The partners aim to move together with precise edges and close connection to the music.
The difference is not simply that ice dance is “less athletic.” The disciplines test different skills. Pairs skating emphasizes a mix of jumps, lifts, throws, and unison, while ice dance puts particular weight on rhythm, edges, and the quality of the partnership.
The figure skating team event
The Olympic figure skating team event brings together athletes from a country across several disciplines. Teams earn points based on their placements in the event segments. The format gives countries a chance to compete collectively, while individual medals are still awarded in men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.
The team event is not a separate skating style. It is a competition format that draws on performances in the existing figure skating disciplines. Check the schedule for the edition you are watching, since event formats and qualification details can change.
Speed skating: racing on the long track
Olympic speed skating, often called long-track speed skating, takes place on a large oval. Skaters race in pairs, usually in separate lanes, and the clock determines the result. Their opponents in a given heat are not necessarily the athletes they need to beat overall; each skater’s time is compared with the times from all other competitors.
The schedule generally includes a range of distances, from shorter sprints to longer endurance races. It can also include a team pursuit and a mass-start event. The specific distances and events depend on the Games program, so the event list for one Olympics should not be treated as a permanent template.
In a team pursuit, teams race around the oval and try to finish ahead of their opponents. Team members must work together and maintain formation. In the mass start, several skaters begin together, making positioning and timing part of the contest. These formats differ from the paired, time-based races that define many individual long-track events.
Speed skaters use a low, aerodynamic position to reduce air resistance. They push sideways against the ice and glide between strokes, aiming to conserve energy while maintaining speed. In longer races, smart pacing can matter as much as a fast start; a skater who spends too much energy early may struggle to hold pace late.
Short track speed skating: pack racing on a small oval
Short track speed skating takes place on a compact oval set up inside an ice rink. Several athletes race together, so they must judge when to pass, how to protect their position, and how to avoid contact. Unlike a long-track time trial, the result usually depends on who crosses the line first in each race.
Olympic short-track events include individual races over different distances and relay races. A typical competition moves through heats, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, though the exact progression depends on the event and program. Skaters must advance through the rounds to reach the medal race.
Pack racing makes short track especially tactical. A competitor may stay behind others to conserve energy, then make a move near the finish. A pass can happen on a turn or a straight, but crowded conditions leave little room for error. Falls and contact can affect a race, and officials can penalize rule violations.
Relays add another layer of coordination. Teammates take turns racing, with exchanges involving a physical push to send the next skater forward. A team must balance speed with clean, timely exchanges. A fast team can lose ground if an exchange is mistimed or disrupts its rhythm.
Short track and speed skating are separate Olympic disciplines. Both involve racing on blades, but the small shared track, pack tactics, and round-by-round format make short track feel very different from long-track competition.
Are ice hockey and curling Olympic skating sports?
No. Ice hockey and curling are Olympic ice sports, but they are not among the three skating disciplines. Ice hockey is a team sport in which players skate while trying to score with a puck. Curling is a team sport in which players slide stones across the ice toward a target area.
That distinction clears up a common source of confusion: “sports on ice” is a broad phrase, while “skating sports” refers to events built around skating. Hockey players certainly skate, but Olympic classifications place hockey in its own sport category. Curling involves movement on ice, but not competitive skating.
Other winter events may take place on ice or involve sleds, but they are separate sports too. Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton, for example, are sliding sports. They use ice tracks, but athletes ride sleds rather than compete as skaters.
How Olympic skating events are scored and organized
Each discipline has a different way to determine who wins. Figure skating uses judging, long-track speed skating compares times, and short track generally uses race placement to decide who advances and wins. Knowing the scoring system makes the competition easier to follow.
- Figure skating: Judges combine technical-element scores with program-component scores, with deductions for certain errors.
- Speed skating: The fastest time across the field wins an individual race, even if the skater’s pair finished second in its heat.
- Short track: Skaters compete in rounds, and finishing position usually determines advancement to the next round.
Olympic programs can change. The number and names of events, qualification rules, and competition formats are set for each edition, so a past schedule may not match a future one. The core distinction between figure skating, long track, and short track remains useful even when the event menu changes.
For a first-time viewer, it helps to identify the discipline before focusing on the rules. A judged figure skating performance, a clock-based long-track race, and a short-track pack race each reward different strengths. Once you know which format you are watching, the stakes become much clearer.
What to watch for in each skating discipline
In figure skating, watch for clean landings, strong edges, and how smoothly the skater connects one element to the next. A routine is not just a sequence of jumps. Transitions, spins, musical timing, and control all contribute to the overall impression and score.
In long-track speed skating, notice how athletes manage their pace and maintain an efficient position. Small differences in speed can add up over multiple laps. In team events, pay attention to how closely teammates hold formation and how they share the work.
In short track, watch the pack rather than only the leader. Positioning can change quickly, especially as skaters approach the final laps. A competitor who appears to be waiting may be saving energy for a late pass, while a leading skater has to defend a clean line without making an illegal move.
These viewing cues also explain why results can surprise newcomers. Figure skating combines technical and artistic judging; a race can hinge on pacing or tactics; and short track can change in a moment when the pack bunches together. The winner is determined by the rules of that discipline, not by a single universal measure of “best skating.”
Common misconceptions about Olympic skating
“Speed skating” means only one event
Speed skating is a discipline with multiple event formats. Long-track races can cover different distances, and the Olympic program may include team or mass-start competition. Short track is a separate discipline, not simply another name for a short-distance long-track race.
Ice dance and pairs skating are the same event
Both feature two skaters, but their technical content and judging emphasis differ. Pairs includes elements such as throw jumps and overhead lifts. Ice dance focuses more on partnered skating, musical rhythm, and precise movement across the ice.
The fastest skater in a heat automatically wins a medal
That is not how every Olympic race works. In long track, individual times are compared across the field. In short track, early races often serve as qualifying rounds, and skaters must advance to the final to contend for a medal.
Every ice sport is a skating sport
Ice hockey, curling, and sliding sports all take place on ice, but they are classified separately. If you are searching for Olympic skating disciplines specifically, look for figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating.
How to find the right Olympic events to watch
- Choose the kind of competition you like. Pick figure skating for judged performances, long track for time-based races, or short track for head-to-head pack action.
- Look up the event name, not just the sport. A schedule may list a distance, a relay, ice dance, or pairs rather than use a broad label such as “skating.”
- Check the format and round. A short-track heat is not the medal final, and figure skating includes separate program segments.
- Follow the event schedule for that edition. Programs and session times can differ between Games, so verify the current schedule before planning to watch.
A useful tip: if a result page shows a time, you are probably looking at a racing event; if it shows element scores and program components, it is figure skating. That quick check can prevent confusion when several Olympic skating events appear on the same day.
The answer to what ice skating sports are in the olympics is figure skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. Figure skating is judged, while the two racing disciplines test speed through different track layouts and formats.
For your next viewing session, choose the discipline that interests you, then check the specific event and round on the current Olympic schedule. That simple step will help you follow the rules and understand what each result means.