The World Figure Skipping Championship is set to take place from March 24 to March 30, 2025, at the TD Garden arena in Boston. This prestigious event, often dubbed as the pre-Olympic tournament, will play a pivotal role in distributing the majority of the quotas for the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Milan. With 132 participants from various disciplines, the championship promises to showcase the best of figure skating.
The competition will include 39 men, 33 women, 23 pairs, and 37 ice dancing duets. To officially take part, athletes must first achieve specific technical minimum scores at any sanctioned ISU competitions prior to the championship, with all those scores being compiled from both the short and free programs. The technical minimums for participation are set at 104 points for men's singles, 90 points for women's singles, 88 points for pairs, and 94 points for ice dance.
All countries will be guaranteed one participant per discipline, with additional slots allocated based on the results of their athletes. Crucially, the maximum number of participants from any one country within any discipline is capped at three. To earn three slots for future tournaments, athletes must finish within the top two of their category; securing two slots necessitates placing within the top ten.
The tournament will be divided for each discipline, comprising two segments: the short program and the free program. Following the short program, the top competitors will advance to the free program: 24 from singles, 20 from ice dance, and 16 from pairs will make the cut. Judges will determine the winner based on the highest combined total scores from both segments.
Each short program is constrained to last no longer than 2 minutes and 50 seconds, with the rhythm dance restricted to 2 minutes and 40 seconds. The free program can extend up to four minutes, featuring mandated elements including jumps, spins, and sequence steps. The scoring structure takes two components—technical merit and presentation—into account. The first is assessed by two groups of judges; one evaluates the technical elements and identifies any mistakes, whilst the second measures the execution quality and assigns base scores accordingly. Components such as choreography, presentation, and skating skills make up the second scoring aspect and offer more subjective evaluations, rated from zero to ten points.
This year, all eyes will be on returning champion Ilia Malinin, who is gearing up to defend his title on home ice. Malinin has already made headlines this season by exceeding 310 points, and he has even attempted to execute seven quadruple jumps within one free program. His main contender, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, holds three silver medals from the World Championships, having finished as runner-up over the past few years, and he looks set to challenge Malinin once more.
On the women's side, Japan's Kaori Sakamoto is vying for her fourth consecutive title. Having won every championship since the exclusion of Russian athletes, her current season best stands at 231.88 points. American athlete Amber Glenn, known for her triple axel, is also poised to make her mark and has already proven successful by claiming two Grand Prix titles this season. Adding to the mix, Korean skater Kim Chae-eun emerged as the bronze medalist at last year’s World Championship and recently took home victory at the Four Continents tournament.
For pairs, the German duo of Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin are front-runners after dominating their season with victories across the board, including the Grand Prix Final and the European Championships, boasting the best combined score of 218.44 points. The reigning world champions, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, will present formidable competition, as they have had strong performances this season, securing silver at the Grand Prix Final and winning at the Four Continents Championships.
Meanwhile, the ice dancing category is expected to see tough competition as the American pair, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, have their eyes set on yet another title. Coming off two World Championship wins, they will enjoy the support of home crowds. Among their primary hurdles will be Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who finalized second last year and continue to improve significantly throughout the season.
It’s important to note the absence of Russian skaters at this year’s championship. The International Skates Union (ISU) has restricted all Russian athletes, allowing them only to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games set for Milan. This means participation will come mainly from former Russian skaters now representing other nationalities.
Viewership of the World Figure Skipping Championship will be available live on Okko, along with access to recording options within the sports section. A minimum subscription fee of 199 rubles monthly will be required for access, and discussions featuring expert analysis will be held after the performances. For those outside Russia or without official broadcasters, the ISU channel on YouTube will offer free live streams with English commentary, ensuring broader accessibility to this thrilling event.