The World Figure Skating Championships ("Worlds") is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the categories of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Generally held in March, the World Championships are considered the most prestigious of the ISU Championships, which also include the European Championships, the Four Continents Championships, and the World Junior Championships. With the exception of the Olympic title, a world title is considered to be the highest competitive achievement in figure skating.
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands, in July 1892, making it one of the oldest international sport federations. The ISU was formed to establish standardized international rules and regulations for the skating disciplines it governs, and to organize international competitions in these disciplines. It is now based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating Union ("ISU"). Although the name of the organization is “the United States Figure Skating Association” it is now known as and conducts business under the name “U.S. Figure Skating.” Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions and all other figure skating related activities. U.S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits, and offering a wide variety of programs.
The European Figure Skating Championships ("Europeans") is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European champion. The event is sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), and is the oldest of the four annual figure skating competitions designated "ISU Championships". Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The competition is generally held in January.
Figure skating was first contested in the Olympic Games at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Since 1924, the sport has been a part of the Winter Olympic Games.
Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is hosted by U.S. Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. Medals may be awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels.
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international junior-level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The series was inaugurated in 1997 to complement the senior-level ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Skaters earn qualifying points at each Junior Grand Prix event and the six highest-ranking qualifiers meet at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, which is held concurrently with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany. It became part of the ISU Challenger Series in the 2014–15 season.
The Russian Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Russia. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior level. The senior competition is typically held in late December. The junior national competition is held separately, generally in February.
The Warsaw Cup is an annual international figure skating competition which is generally held in November in Warsaw, Poland. Its senior categories became part of the ISU Challenger Series in the 2014–15 season. Medals may be awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The event's junior and novice categories were discontinued after 2013.
The 2015 World Figure Skating Championships was an international figure skating competition in the 2014–15 season. Figure skaters competed for the title of World champion in men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs, and ice dancing.
Niki Wories is a Dutch figure skater. The 2015 Dutch national senior champion, she has won two senior international medals and qualified for the free skate at three ISU Championships.
Kyarha van Tiel is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 2017 Open d'Andorra champion. She competed in the final segment at the 2016 and 2018 World Junior Championships.
The 2018 World Figure Skating Championships were held in Milan, Italy from 19–25 March 2018, at the Mediolanum Forum.
The 2018–19 figure skating season began on July 1, 2018, and ends on June 30, 2019. During this season, elite skaters will compete on the ISU Championship level at the 2019 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships. They will also compete in elite events such as the Grand Prix series and Junior Grand Prix series, culminating in the Grand Prix Final, and the ISU Challenger Series.
The 2019 World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Saitama, Japan, from March 18–24, 2019.
