Figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Figure skating
at the XXI Olympic Winter Games
Figure skating pictogram
VenuePacific Coliseum
Vancouver, Canada
Dates14–27 February 2010
No. of events4
Competitors146 (73 men, 73 women) from 31 nations
The Pacific Coliseum as seen from the outside
All of the figure skating events at the 2010 Winter Olympics were held at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.[1]

The figure skating events at the 2010 Winter Olympics took place from 14 to 27 February at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. Medals were awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Evan Lysacek of the United States won the men's event; Yuna Kim of South Korea won the women's event; Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China won the pairs' event; and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the ice dance event. In addition to her gold medal, Kim set new world record scores in the women's short program, free skating, and overall total. Likewise, Shen and Zhao set new world records in the pairs' short program and overall total, while silver medalists Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China set a new world record in the pairs' free skating. Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia drew criticism for their use of Australian Aboriginal music and costume in the ice dance event, which many found offensive.

Qualification

A total of 148 quota spots were available to athletes to compete in figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The results of the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships determined 83 total spots: 24 entries each in men's and women's singles, 16 in pair skating, and 19 in ice dance.[2] The remaining quota spots were allocated based on the results of the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy.[3][4]

Number of qualified skaters or teams per nation[2][4]
Nations Men's singles Women's singles Pairs Ice dance Total skaters
 Australia 01001
 Austria 11002
 Belgium 11002
 Canada 222212
 China 01319
 Czech Republic 20014
 Estonia 01115
 Finland 12003
 France 20128
 Georgia 01013
 Germany 11218
 Great Britain 01127
 Hungary 01013
 Israel 00012
 Italy 21129
 Japan 33018
 Kazakhstan 20002
 North Korea 10001
 Poland 11104
 Romania 10001
 Russia 223316
 Slovenia 11002
 Slovakia 01001
 South Korea 02002
 Spain 11002
 Sweden 10001
 Switzerland 11104
 Turkey 01001
 Ukraine 10217
 United States 322315
 Uzbekistan 01001
Total: 32 NOCs 30 30 20 teams 23 teams 146

Competition schedule

A total of four figure skating events were contested: men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. All events were held from 14 to 27 February at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.[1][5] All times are in local time (UTC-8).

Figure skating events schedule
Date Time Event
14 February 16:30 Pairs' short program
15 February 17:00 Pairs' free skating
16 February 16:15 Men's short program
18 February 17:00 Men's free skating
19 February 16:45 Compulsory dance
21 February 16:15 Original dance
22 February 16:45 Free dance
23 February 16:30 Women's short program
25 February 17:00 Women's free skating
27 February 16:30 Exhibition gala

Entries

Entries
Nation Men Women Pairs Ice dance Ref.
 Australia N/a Cheltzie Lee N/a [6]
 Austria Viktor Pfeifer Miriam Ziegler N/a [7]
 Belgium Kevin van der Perren Isabelle Pieman N/a [8]
 Canada Patrick Chan Cynthia Phaneuf
[9]
Vaughn Chipeur Joannie Rochette
 China N/a Yan Liu [10]
N/a N/a
 Czech Republic Michal Březina N/a [11]
Tomáš Verner N/a
 Estonia N/a Jelena Glebova [12]
 Finland Ari-Pekka Nurmenkari Kiira Korpi N/a [13]
N/a Laura Lepistö
 France Florent Amodio N/a [14]
Brian Joubert N/a
 Georgia N/a Elene Gedevanishvili N/a [15]
 Germany Stefan Lindemann Sarah Hecken [16]
N/a N/a
 Great Britain N/a Jenna McCorkell [17]
N/a
 Hungary N/a Júlia Sebestyén N/a [18]
 Israel N/a [19]
 Italy Paolo Bacchini Carolina Kostner [20]
Samuel Contesti N/a
 Japan Takahiko Kozuka Miki Ando N/a [21]
Nobunari Oda Mao Asada N/a
Daisuke Takahashi Akiko Suzuki
 Kazakhstan Abzal Rakimgaliev N/a [22]
Denis Ten
 North Korea Ri Song-chol N/a [23]
 Poland Przemysław Domański Anna Jurkiewicz N/a [24]
 Romania Zoltán Kelemen N/a [25]
 Russia Artem Borodulin Alena Leonova [26]
Evgeni Plushenko Ksenia Makarova
N/a
 Slovakia N/a Ivana Reitmayerová N/a [27]
 Slovenia Gregor Urbas Teodora Poštič N/a [28]
 South Korea N/a Yuna Kim N/a [29]
Kwak Min-jeong
 Spain Javier Fernández Sonia Lafuente N/a [30]
 Sweden Adrian Schultheiss N/a [31]
 Switzerland Stéphane Lambiel Sarah Meier N/a [32]
 Turkey N/a Tuğba Karademir N/a [33]
 Ukraine Anton Kovalevski N/a [34]
N/a N/a
 United States Jeremy Abbott Rachael Flatt [35]
Evan Lysacek Mirai Nagasu
Johnny Weir N/a
 Uzbekistan N/a Anastasia Gimazetdinova N/a [36]

Medal summary

Evan Lysacek at the 2009 Cup of China
Alina Zagitova at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at the 2010 Canadian Championships
The 2010 Olympic figure skating champions (from left to right):
Evan Lysacek of the United States (men's singles); Yuna Kim of South Korea (women's singles); Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China (pair skating);
and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada (ice dance)

Medalists

Yuna Kim became the first skater from South Korea to win an Olympic medal in figure skating and the first athlete from South Korea to win any medal at the Winter Olympics outside of speed skating.[37] Daisuke Takahashi became the first skater from Japan to win an Olympic medal in the men's individual event.[38] Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo won the first ever gold medal in figure skating for China and also ended the streak of Russian and Soviet Olympic victories in pair skating that stretched back to 1960.[39] Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir became the first team from Canada, as well as all of North America, to win gold in the Olympic ice dance event.[40]

2010 Winter Olympic medalists[41]
Discipline Gold Silver Bronze
Men's singles Evan Lysacek
 United States		 Evgeni Plushenko
 Russia		 Daisuke Takahashi
 Japan
Women's singles Yuna Kim
 South Korea		 Mao Asada
 Japan		 Joannie Rochette
 Canada
Pairs Shen Xue
Zhao Hongbo
 China		 Pang Qing
Tong Jian
 China		 Aljona Savchenko
Robin Szolkowy
 Germany
Ice dance Tessa Virtue
Scott Moir
 Canada		 Meryl Davis
Charlie White
 United States		 Oksana Domnina
Maxim Shabalin
 Russia

Medal table

Total number of Olympic medals in figure skating by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 China1102
 United States1102
3 Canada1012
4 South Korea1001
5 Japan0112
 Russia0112
7 Germany0011
Totals (7 entries)44412

Records

The following new record high scores were set during this competition.

Record high scores
Date Skater(s) Event Segment Score Ref.
14 February Pairs Short program 76.66 [42]
15 February Free skating 141.81 [43]
Total score 216.57
23 February Women Short program 78.50 [44]
25 February Free skating 150.06 [37]
Total score 228.56

Controversy

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia provoked controversy with their choice of Australian Aboriginal music and costume design for their original dance.

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia provoked some controversy with their original dance – set to Australian Aboriginal music – and their costume design, which many found garish.[45][46] The theme of the original dance was folk or country, and while it was recommended that couples should use traditional folk or country music and dance styles native to their own nations, this was not a requirement.[47] Domnina and Shabalin's routine was set to what they described as Australian Aboriginal music, complete with heavy drums, a didgeridoo, and vocal chanting; and their costumes consisted of dark flesh-toned bodysuits with red loincloths, decorated with white markings and faux green leaves, as well as face paint.[45] Bev Manton, chairwoman of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, found their depiction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture offensive, although she did not believe that was their intention.[46]

Upon hearing that Domnina and Shabalin intended to perform the same routine at the 2014 Winter Olympics, representatives of the First Nations, in whose traditional land the 2014 Winter Olympics were being held, offered to meet with them.[48] They recommended that Domnina and Shabalin contact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia for feedback before coming to the Olympics.[49] Ultimately, Domnina and Shabalin's costumes were slightly modified for the Olympics; Shabalin's bodysuit was a lighter color tan and neither he nor Domnina wore any face paint.[50]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pacific Coliseum". Vancouver2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Communication No. 1568: Entries/Participation 2010 Olympic Winter Games (OWG) – Single & Pair Skating/Ice Dance" (PDF). International Skating Union. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Olympic Qualifying Competition – Oberstdorf (GER) – Review". International Skating Union. 27 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Communication No. 1589: Olympic Winter Games 2010 – Entries/Participation Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance" (PDF). International Skating Union. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Competition Schedule" (PDF). Vancouver2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Siegel, Masada (1 February 2010). "Australian figure skater is helped by Israel's rules". The New York Times. p. B11. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Austria at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Belgium at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Pyette, Ryan (18 January 2010). "Young team's time is now". The Sun Times. p. B2. Retrieved 11 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "People's Republic of China at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Czechia at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Estonia in Figure Skating". Olympedia. Retrieved 11 June 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "France at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Georgia at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Germany at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Great Britain at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 9 August 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "A magyar csapat (16 sportoló)" [The Hungarian team (16 athletes)]. Új Szó (in Hungarian). 11 February 2010. p. 11. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via Arcanum Newspapers.
  19. ↑ Guzzardo, Jamie (18 February 2010). "Ice dancing team hopes to build winter legacy for Israel". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Italy at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Kazakhstan at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 27 November 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Poland at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Basescu, Mirela (4 January 2010). "Zoltan, ciocanul din Caufornia" [Zoltan, the hammer from California]. Pro Sport (in Romanian). p. 15. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via Arcanum Newspapers.
  26. ↑ "Состав сборной команды для участия на Олимпийских играх в Ванкувере" [Composition of the national team to participate in the Olympic Games in Vancouver]. Figure Skating Federation of Russia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  27. ↑ "A szlovák csapat (73 sportoló)" [The Slovak team (73 athletes)]. Új Szó (in Hungarian). 11 February 2010. p. 11. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via Arcanum Newspapers.
  28. ↑ "Slovenia at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Republic of Korea at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Spain at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Sysoev, Yevgeny (17 February 2010). "Our people in Vancouver". Russia Beyond. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Switzerland at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Türkiye at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  34. ↑ "Ukraine at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  35. ↑ Schwindt, Troy (March 2010). "Spokane proud" (PDF). Skating. Vol. 87, no. 3. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  36. ↑ "Uzbekistan at the 2010 Winter Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  37. 1 2 Macur, Juliet (26 February 2010). "Kim Yu-na wins gold in figure skating". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Russell, Susan D. (21 April 2020). "Daisuke Takahashi: Japan's superstar". International Figure Skating Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  39. ↑ Hersh, Philip (16 February 2010). "Fourth time is their charm". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  40. ↑ Armour, Nancy (23 February 2010). "Virtually perfect". Edmonton Journal. p. C4. Retrieved 12 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "2010 Olympic Winter Games". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  42. ↑ Armour, Nancy (15 February 2010). "Chinese pair notch skating world record". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The Associated Press. pp. C2. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ Hersh, Philip (16 February 2010). "Fourth time's the right time". The Los Angeles Times. p. V3. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ Macur, Juliet (24 February 2010). "Pressure is no problem for Kim Yu-na". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  45. 1 2 Longman, Jeré (3 February 2010). "Out-of-step ice dancing routine". The New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  46. 1 2 Manton, Bev (21 January 2010). "Russian ice dancers should rethink their routine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "Communication No. 1567: Ice Dance" (Document). International Skating Union. 8 March 2009.
  48. ↑ Hume, Mark; Smith, Beverley (23 January 2010). "Russian ice-dance routine falls out of step with natives". The Globe and Mail. p. A7. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ↑ "Routine a didgeri-don't?". The Toronto Star. 25 January 2010. p. S6. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ↑ Mihoces, Gary (22 February 2010). "Canada and USA spin past Russians". USA Today. p. 4D. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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