ISU

From bouncing back from illness and injury to grab glory on the biggest sporting stage of all to the most heart-breaking of podium tributes, it’s been a Short Track Speed Skating season crammed full of exhilarating #UpAgain moments. Here are five of the very best.

As the winter season comes to an end, a final celebration of the feats of the incredible athletes with the Figure Skating Greatest 5 #UpAgain Moments of the season have been selected.

The ISU Council recently approved the World Cup Speed Skating venues and dates for the season 2022/23 as follows.

Most athletes think in Olympic cycles and when an Olympic season ends, this is often the time Skaters choose to retire. They have reached their goals or they are just ready to move on. Not surprisingly, the end of the 2021/22 season marked the end of the career of many Skaters, some of which fans have followed for a very long time. Others might still ponder their decision or will announce their retirement later. In many cases, the Skaters stay connected to the Figure Skating world. Some will perform in shows and tours while others start a new career as coaches or choreographers.

The ISU was recently informed by the Chinese Skating Association (CSA), who originally planned to organize two World Cup Short Track Competitions as part of the ISU World Cup Short Track series on December 9-11, 2022, and December 16-18, 2022, in Beijing, that due to pandemic related implications, they are unable to hold these events during the season 2022/23.

The ISU Council approved a new ISU Athlete Safeguarding Policy and related updates to the ISU Code of Ethics. The Athlete Safeguarding Policy was drafted in close cooperation with the ISU Athletes Commission.

After a successful first four-year partnership, the cooperation between the International Skating Union and House of Sports has been extended for another four years. The agreement runs from 2022/23 until the end of the 2025/26 season and includes worldwide marketing, advertising and hospitality rights for the ISU Speed Skating Championships and ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series whereas title sponsor’s partnerships for these Events will be handled by the ISU directly.  

There is no „I“ in team -an age-old motto especially relevant in Synchronized Skating When coaches send a group of skaters onto the ice, they are sending out a team, not a group of individuals.

Olympic seasons are always special, but some are more special than others. The 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games marked the end of an era, and cast a light onto Speed Skating’s bright future at the same time.

For the first time, the Juniors concluded the Figure Skating season as the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, originally scheduled for the beginning of March in Sofia (BUL), were moved to mid-April and to Tallinn (EST) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

An epic spell that featured records being smashed, legendary status secured and some of the most competitive racing of all time, particularly at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, will ensure 2021/22 goes down as an all-time Short Track classic season.

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 in Montpellier (FRA) wrapped up a long and exciting Olympic season for the senior-level Skaters and provided many highlights. Olympic Champions and medalists shone again, but we saw new faces on the podium as well and history was made.

It is little wonder Vincent Zhou (USA) was momentarily paralyzed when asked on the latest edition of The Ice Skating Podcast – available to listen to now – to share how he is feeling.

It is with regret and sorrow that the ISU learned of the death of former Figure Skater, Mr. Karol "Karcsi" Emil Divín.

Nao Kodaira (JPN) will not be up for another full Speed Skating season next year, but she does not quite hang up her blades just yet. Japan's first female Olympic Speed Skating gold medalist said she wants to conclude her Speed Skating career after the Japanese single distance Championships in her hometown Nagano (JPN) on October 22-24th.