World Figure Skating Championships

The International Skating Union (ISU) was formed in 1892 to govern international competition in speed skating and figure skating. Since competitive skating was generally viewed as a male sport, the championships were presumed to be an exclusive male event. However, there were no specific rules barring women from competing. In 1902, Madge Syers of Great Britain entered the championships and won the silver medal. The 1930 World Championships in New York City were the first to be held outside Europe and combined all three competitions – men's singles, women's singles, and pair skating – into one event for the first time. Ice dance made its debut at the 1952 World Championships. As the Winter Olympics are usually held in February, every four years the World Championships occur roughly a month after Olympic events have ended. Historically, a number of Olympic medalists have chosen to skip the following World Championships; many skaters need time to rest due to physical and mental exhaustion, and some Olympic medalists chose to capitalize on their success by becoming professional skaters with companies such as the Ice Capades or Champions on Ice. Prior to 1993, professional skaters were barred from competing at the Olympics by the ISU, so choosing to pursue skating professionally had once meant the end of one's competitive career. The World Championships have been interrupted four times in the competition's history: from 1915 through 1921 due to World War I, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2027 World Championships are scheduled to be held from March 15 to 21 in Tampere, Finland. ==Qualifying==

Skaters may compete at the World Championships if they represent a member nation of the International Skating Union (ISU) and are selected by their federation. Member nations select their entries according to their own criteria. Some countries rely on the results of their national championships, while others have more varied criteria, which may include success at certain international events or specific technical requirements. All of the selected skaters must have earned the minimum total element scores, which are determined and published each season by the ISU, during the current or immediately previous season. Member nations may enter at least one competitor or team in each discipline; while a points system allows nations to enter additional competitors or teams, up to a total of three per discipline, based on the nation's performance in that discipline at the previous World Championships. Age restrictions have changed throughout the history of the World Championships. Originally there were no age restrictions. For example, Sonja Henie of Norway – a three-time Olympic champion and ten-time World Champion in women's singles – debuted at the World Championships in 1924 at the age of 11. However, the ISU allowed for two exceptions. Firstly, skaters younger than 15 who had already competed in senior-level international events could continue. For example, Tara Lipinski of the United States – the 1998 Olympic champion in women's singles who debuted at the World Championships in 1996 at the age of 13 – was allowed to participate at the 1997 World Championships, where she won a gold medal at the age of 14. That exception expired naturally after a couple of seasons. Secondly, skaters who had won medals at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships were permitted to compete as seniors at the ISU Championships. That exception lasted through the 1999–2000 season. At the ISU Congress held in June 2022, members of the ISU Council – the ISU's executive body responsible for determining policies – accepted a proposal to gradually increase the minimum age limit for senior competition to 17 beginning with the 2024–25 season. To avoid forcing skaters who had already competed in the senior category to return to juniors, the age limit remained unchanged during the 2022–23 season, before increasing to 16 during the 2023–24 season, and then to 17 during the 2024–25 season. == Medalists ==

Men's singles Women's singles Pairs Ice dance ==Records==

• Countries or entities that can no longer participate for whatever reason are indicated in italics with a dagger (). ;Notes ==See also==