33 figure skating quiz questions with answers, on jumps and spins, the scoring system, the disciplines and the champions who changed the sport.
Every question has three options and hides the correct one behind a button, so you can keep score honestly. The answer key under the scoring table brings all 33 figure skating trivia questions and answers together in order, which is useful if you want the whole set at a glance. It also works as a round of figure skating quiz questions to read out at a club night, and several of the questions about figure skating cover the jump names that viewers mix up most.
1. Which skater won Olympic gold in ladies' singles in 1928, 1932 and 1936?
- A) Katarina Witt
- B) Sonja Henie
- C) Peggy Fleming
2. How many jump types are recognized in singles figure skating?
- A) Four
- B) Five
- C) Six
3. Where were the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships, in which the US team perished in a tragic plane crash, held?
- A) Paris, France
- B) Lausanne, Switzerland
- C) Prague, Czech Republic
4. Which figure skater was the first to land a quadruple jump in a competition?
- A) Kurt Browning
- B) Elvis Stojko
- C) Brian Boitano
5. In which year did the International Skating Union (ISU) allow professionals to compete in the Olympics?
- A) 1988
- B) 1994
- C) 2002
6. How many revolutions are required in a single Axel jump?
- A) One and a half
- B) Two and a half
- C) Three
7. Which figure skater won the Olympic gold medal in the Ladies’ Singles competition in 1988, marking a “Battle of the Carmens”?
- A) Katarina Witt
- B) Debbie Thomas
- C) Elizabeth Manley
8. What replaced the 6.0 scoring system in figure skating in 2004?
- A) The Grand Prix system
- B) The International Judging System
- C) The Olympic ranking system
9. In which year did the first World Figure Skating Championships take place?
- A) 1896
- B) 1908
- C) 1924
10. Which figure skater was the first to land a triple jump in competition, at the 1952 Olympics?
- A) Kurt Browning
- B) Alexei Yagudin
- C) Dick Button
11. What is the move called in which a skater glides on one foot with the free leg extended behind at hip height or above?
- A) Spread eagle
- B) Spiral
- C) Ina Bauer
12. Who was the first woman to land a triple axel in competition?
- A) Midori Ito
- B) Tonya Harding
- C) Kimmie Meissner
13. Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in pair skating?
- A) Canada
- B) United States
- C) Russia, including the Soviet Union
14. What type of figure skating involves two people skating together as a team?
- A) Synchronized skating
- B) Pair skating
- C) Ice dancing
15. Which skater popularized the layback spin, which became her signature move?
- A) Michelle Kwan
- B) Sasha Cohen
- C) Peggy Fleming
16. In which Olympic Games did ice dancing become an official competition?
- A) 1960
- B) 1972
- C) 1976
17. What is the name of the jump that Yuzuru Hanyu was the first to land in a competition?
- A) Quadruple Lutz
- B) Quadruple Flip
- C) Quadruple Loop
18. Which skater won the Olympic ladies' singles gold medal in Vancouver in 2010?
- A) Mao Asada
- B) Kim Yuna
- C) Joannie Rochette
19. In which year was the first United States Figure Skating Championships held?
- A) 1914
- B) 1920
- C) 1929
20. What is the spin position called in which the skater pulls the free leg up behind the head?
- A) Camel spin
- B) Sit spin
- C) Biellmann spin
21. What is the name of the rule which restricts skaters from performing certain moves in figure skating?
- A) ISU Zayak Rule
- B) ISU Axel Rule
- C) ISU Ina Bauer Rule
22. Which figure skating discipline requires the partners to perform close together while skating to the beat of the music?
- A) Pair skating
- B) Synchronized skating
- C) Ice dancing
23. Which figure skater is known for his famous backflip on ice in competition?
- A) Brian Boitano
- B) Scott Hamilton
- C) Surya Bonaly
24. Who was the youngest ladies’ singles figure skating Olympic champion?
- A) Tara Lipinski
- B) Sonja Henie
- C) Nancy Kerrigan
25. What is the term for the basic pushing motion skaters use to gain speed across the ice?
- A) Twizzling
- B) Spiraling
- C) Stroking
26. Which skater won three straight Olympic gold medals in men's singles between 1920 and 1928?
- A) Karl Schäfer
- B) Gillis Grafström
- C) Dick Button
27. What is a twizzle?
- A) A one-footed spinning movement, used in ice dancing
- B) A spin with at least two different positions
- C) A leap with a one-footed landing
28. Which country is known for dominating synchronized skating competitions?
- A) Russia
- B) Finland
- C) United States
29. Who was the first figure skater to land a triple axel in an Olympic competition?
- A) Midori Ito
- B) Tonya Harding
- C) Kimmie Meissner
30. What is an additional figure skating event called, where skaters can perform a routine without the pressure of competition?
- A) Rehearsal
- B) Showcase
- C) Exhibition gala
31. Which country is credited with the invention of figure skating?
- A) United Kingdom
- B) Austria
- C) Russia
32. Which figure skating jump takes off from a forward outside edge?
- A) Salchow
- B) Loop
- C) Axel
33. What is the name of the special maneuver used only in pair skating and ice dancing, where the man lifts the woman above his head while skating?
- A) Aloft lift
- B) Overhead lift
- C) Star lift
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Ice NoviceArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Skate SpecialistRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Spin ExpertMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Jump MasterAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Figure Skating ChampionLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Figure Skating Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this figure skating quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of figure skating trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which skater won Olympic gold in ladies' singles in 1928, 1932 and 1936? | B) Sonja Henie |
| 2 | How many jump types are recognized in singles figure skating? | C) Six |
| 3 | Where were the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships, in which the US team perished in a tragic plane crash, held? | C) Prague, Czech Republic |
| 4 | Which figure skater was the first to land a quadruple jump in a competition? | A) Kurt Browning |
| 5 | In which year did the International Skating Union (ISU) allow professionals to compete in the Olympics? | B) 1994 |
| 6 | How many revolutions are required in a single Axel jump? | A) One and a half |
| 7 | Which figure skater won the Olympic gold medal in the Ladies' Singles competition in 1988, marking a "Battle of the Carmens"? | A) Katarina Witt |
| 8 | What replaced the 6.0 scoring system in figure skating in 2004? | B) The International Judging System |
| 9 | In which year did the first World Figure Skating Championships take place? | A) 1896 |
| 10 | Which figure skater was the first to land a triple jump in competition, at the 1952 Olympics? | C) Dick Button |
| 11 | What is the move called in which a skater glides on one foot with the free leg extended behind at hip height or above? | B) Spiral |
| 12 | Who was the first woman to land a triple axel in competition? | A) Midori Ito |
| 13 | Which country has won the most Olympic gold medals in pair skating? | C) Russia, including the Soviet Union |
| 14 | What type of figure skating involves two people skating together as a team? | B) Pair skating |
| 15 | Which skater popularized the layback spin, which became her signature move? | C) Peggy Fleming |
| 16 | In which Olympic Games did ice dancing become an official competition? | C) 1976 |
| 17 | What is the name of the jump that Yuzuru Hanyu was the first to land in a competition? | C) Quadruple Loop |
| 18 | Which skater won the Olympic ladies' singles gold medal in Vancouver in 2010? | B) Kim Yuna |
| 19 | In which year was the first United States Figure Skating Championships held? | A) 1914 |
| 20 | What is the spin position called in which the skater pulls the free leg up behind the head? | C) Biellmann spin |
| 21 | What is the name of the rule which restricts skaters from performing certain moves in figure skating? | A) ISU Zayak Rule |
| 22 | Which figure skating discipline requires the partners to perform close together while skating to the beat of the music? | C) Ice dancing |
| 23 | Which figure skater is known for his famous backflip on ice in competition? | C) Surya Bonaly |
| 24 | Who was the youngest ladies' singles figure skating Olympic champion? | A) Tara Lipinski |
| 25 | What is the term for the basic pushing motion skaters use to gain speed across the ice? | C) Stroking |
| 26 | Which skater won three straight Olympic gold medals in men's singles between 1920 and 1928? | B) Gillis Grafström |
| 27 | What is a twizzle? | A) A one-footed spinning movement, used in ice dancing |
| 28 | Which country is known for dominating synchronized skating competitions? | B) Finland |
| 29 | Who was the first figure skater to land a triple axel in an Olympic competition? | A) Midori Ito |
| 30 | What is an additional figure skating event called, where skaters can perform a routine without the pressure of competition? | C) Exhibition gala |
| 31 | Which country is credited with the invention of figure skating? | A) United Kingdom |
| 32 | Which figure skating jump takes off from a forward outside edge? | C) Axel |
| 33 | What is the name of the special maneuver used only in pair skating and ice dancing, where the man lifts the woman above his head while skating? | B) Overhead lift |
And who invented figure skating? Do you know?
How about the best figure skating athletes of all time?
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FAQ
How many questions are in this figure skating quiz?
There are 33. Each question comes with three options, and the correct answer stays behind the reveal button until you tap it.
Where are the figure skating trivia questions and answers listed together?
In the answer key under the scoring table. It repeats all 33 questions with their correct answers in the same order as above.
Are these figure skating trivia questions hard?
They are mixed. The questions on disciplines, jumps and famous champions are approachable, while the ones on scoring rules, spin positions and early Olympic history are demanding.
What are good questions to ask about a figure skater?
Ask which jumps they land, which discipline they compete in, which spin is their signature and which competitions they have won. Those are the same categories the questions in this quiz are built from.
Can I use these questions for a club night or a class?
Yes. Read the question with its three options, let everyone note a letter, then work through the answer key at the end.
What is a good score on this figure skating quiz?
More than half correct is a good result. The scoring table turns your total into a rank, from Ice Novice at the bottom to Figure Skating Champion at the top.
Which figure skating jump takes off from a forward edge?
The Axel. It is the only jump entered facing forward, which is why a single Axel contains one and a half revolutions rather than one.
What are the six jumps in figure skating?
Toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, Lutz and Axel. The toe loop, flip and Lutz are toe jumps, launched with a pick, and the Salchow, loop and Axel are edge jumps.
Who was the first woman to land a triple Axel in competition?
Midori Ito of Japan, in 1988. She went on to land one at the Olympic Games in 1992, the first skater to do so at the Olympics.
