What in the World is the Olympic Figure Skating Team Event?

We’ve been getting some asks about this, so here are all your burning questions, answered! Remember to check out our info post for details on how to watch the Olympic figure skating competitions.

What is the background of the Team Event?

First introduced at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, the Figure Skating Team Event is still a relatively new addition to the Olympics, and doesn’t hold quite as much prestige as the individual events - yet. Since the Team Event takes place before the individual events, some top skaters will decide not to compete in both (or either) segments of the Team Event, in order to save their strength for the individual events. However, the existence of the Team Event encourages skating federations to develop all four of their disciplines - men’s singles, ladies’ singles, pair skating, and ice dance - because strength in all disciplines is absolutely necessary in order to have a chance at an Olympic team medal.

How is the Team Event scored?

10 countries compete in the short program in ladies’ singles, men’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. Each country is represented in each discipline by one skater or pair/dance team. Performances are scored normally, like in any figure skating competition. Skaters earn points for their placement in the short program:

• 1st place: 10 points

• 2nd place: 9 points

• 3rd place: 8 points

• 4th place: 7 points

• 5th place: 6 points

• 6th place: 5 points

• 7th place: 4 points

• 8th place: 3 points

• 9th place: 2 points

• 10th place: 1 point

After the short programs of all four disciplines have been completed, the top 5 countries in terms of point totals advance to the free skate. The format of the free skate is the same as the short program: Each country is represented by one skater/team per discipline. Skaters earn points for their placement in the free skate, starting from 10 points for first place, down to 6 points for 5th place. The point total after the free skates determines the final ranking. (For a chart of results from the 2014 Olympic Team Event, see here.)

What if there’s a tie between teams?

Tie-breaking rules are explained here.

Which countries have qualified for the 2018 Olympic Team Event?

In order of qualification: Canada, OAR (Russia), USA, Japan, China, Italy, France, Germany, Israel, South Korea.

Which skaters are allowed to participate in the Team Event?

Skaters who participate in the Team Event must have qualified for the individual events, unless a country qualified skaters in only 3 individual events. In that case, they are allowed to bring in one “extra” skater to complete their team, who only competes in the Team Event. For example, Israel qualified skaters in the individual events of men’s singles, pair skating, and ice dance, but not ladies’ singles. For the Team Event only, they can bring in a ladies’ skater to complete their team.

How does “substitution” work?

If a country has qualified more than one skater in an individual discipline, they may choose to switch skaters between the short program and free skate of the Team Event, but only in two disciplines. For example, in Pyeongchang, Team USA qualified 3 men, 3 ladies, 3 ice dance teams, and 1 pair team in the individual events. USA can choose to split two of the disciplines in which they have more than one skater between the Team Event SP and FS, but since they only have 1 pair team, that pair team must compete in both the SP and FS of the Team Event. Here is where some strategy is involved - which disciplines should be split, which skaters should do which segment, and so on.

Do skaters perform the same programs in the Team Event as in the individual events?

Yes, but their jump layouts might be slightly different.

What is the schedule for the Team Event?

The schedule and information on how to watch is covered in this post.

What are your predictions for the Team Event?

We can tell you right now that, barring major disasters, the Team Event podium will consist of Canada, OAR/Russia, and USA, in some order. The simple fact is that none of the other countries are as well-rounded in each discipline as these three. It would be a huge upset if any other country managed to win a team medal. More interesting than the podium is the battle for gold, and which 5 countries out of the 10 competing will be able to qualify for the free skate. Japan, Italy, France, and possibly China have a shot at qualifying for the free skate, depending on which skaters participate in the Team Event.

Which specific skaters will skate for their countries in the Team Event?

We don’t know yet. A list of potential skaters for the Team Event can be seen here. The exact lineups will not be announced until the day of the competition.

Can you tell me about some of the skaters in the Team Event?

Since we don’t find out who will actually skate in the Team Event until the last minute, it’s a little hard to write intros for the skaters there. Time willing, we will try to write previews for the individual events, where we will be able to give more in-depth info about the competitors.