[Winter Olympics] Make Figure Skating 100x More Fun: How Scoring Works and the Japanese Skaters to Watch

How to Make Figure Skating 100x More Fun

Figure skating is not just about whether a jump was landed or not.
Once you understand the basics of the scoring system and how to look at a program,
the sport suddenly becomes much more interesting to watch.

1) Figure Skating Is a “Sport of Points”

Figure skating scores are broadly divided into
Technical Element Score (TES) and
Program Component Score (PCS).

• Technical Element Score (TES): Jumps, spins and step sequences – their difficulty and quality of execution
• Program Component Score (PCS): Expression, choreography, skating skills and overall composition

Even with a mistake or two, a skater can still score highly if the overall performance is strong.
On the other hand, landing all the jumps does not guarantee a big score if the flow,
skating quality and expression are lacking.

2) If You Only Watch the Jumps, You’re Missing Half the Fun

Beginners often overlook spins and steps – but they are just as important
as jumps when it comes to scoring.

• Spins are judged by position, number of rotations, speed and difficulty
• Step sequences are evaluated on how well they match the music and use the ice
• Elements placed in the second half of the program receive a 1.1× bonus to their base value

3) Two Japanese Skaters to Know – Remember These Names

Kaori Sakamoto (Women’s Singles)

A consistent top contender at world level and the current ace of Japanese women’s skating.
Her precise jumps and powerful, fast skating make her programs stand out for their overall quality.

• Very few major mistakes – her consistency is a huge strength
• Explosive, driven skating with strong edges
• A skater who reliably delivers at the Olympics and World Championships

Yuma Kagiyama (Men’s Singles)

A leading figure in Japanese men’s skating who combines high-end technique with rich expression.
He is one of the rare skaters who can balance ultra-difficult jumps with a well-constructed, artistic program.

• Extremely high quality on his jumps – distance, height and clean landings
• Beautiful flow from start to finish with no “dead spots” in the program
• A genuine medal contender who can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s and North America’s best

4) Tips to Enjoy Worlds & the Olympics 100x More

• Rankings can change dramatically between the Short Program and the Free Skate
• Programs tend to become more polished in the second half of the season
• Notice how styles differ by country and region – Japan, Europe, North America, etc.

5) Official Info & Related Content

*This article is based on rule explanations and trends observed at official competitions.
For the latest information, please refer to official announcements from the ISU and the Japan Skating Federation.