Wikipedia

Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

For the speed skating event, see Four Continents Speed Skating Championships.
For the 2025 edition, see 2025 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The ISU established the Four Continents Championships to provide skaters from non-European countries with a similar competition to the European Figure Skating Championships. The first Four Continents Championships were held in 1999 in Halifax, Canada. Only eligible skaters from ISU member countries in Africa, Asia, North America, Oceania, and South America are allowed to compete.

Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
StatusActive
GenreInternational championship event
FrequencyAnnual
Inaugurated1999
Previous event2025 Four Continents Championships
Next event2026 Four Continents Championships
Organised byInternational Skating Union
The men's medalists at the 2009 Four Continents Championships
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the men's event at the 2009 Four Continents Championships: Patrick Chan of Canada (center), Evan Lysacek of the United States (left), and Takahiko Kozuka of Japan (right)
The women's medalists at the 2017 Four Continents Championships
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the women's event at the 2017 Four Continents Championships: Mai Mihara of Japan (center), Gabrielle Daleman of Canada (left), and Mirai Nagasu of the United States (right)
The pairs medalists at the 2011 Four Continents Championships
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the pairs' event at the 2011 Four Continents Championships: Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China (center), Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada (left), and Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers of Canada (right)
The ice dance medalists at the 2013 Four Continents Championships
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the ice dance event at the 2013 Four Continents Championships: Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States (center), Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada (left), and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States (right)

Patrick Chan of Canada holds the record for the most Four Continents championships won in men's singles (with three),[1] while Mao Asada and Fumie Suguri of Japan are tied for the most championships won in women's singles (with three each).[2][3] Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China hold the record for the most championships won in pair skating (with six).[4] Five teams are tied for the most championships won in ice dance (with three each): Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada;[5] Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States;[6] Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States;[7] Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada;[8] and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.[9]

The 2026 Four Continents Championships are scheduled to be held from January 19–24 in Beijing, China.[10]

History

edit

From 1923 to 1971, skaters from Canada and the United States competed at the biennial North American Figure Skating Championships. This allowed Canadian and American skaters the opportunity to compete at a comparable event to the European Figure Skating Championships. At this time, medal contenders at the World Figure Skating Championships and the Winter Olympics came from either Europe or North America. However, by the mid-1970s, skaters from Asia were also successfully competing at major international events. The last North American Championships were held in 1971, so skaters from Europe had the advantage of an ISU championship event that was not accessible to skaters outside of Europe.[11]

In order to provide equal opportunities for all skaters, the ISU established the Four Continents Championships in 1999. The name referred to the four continents outside of Europe where competitive figure skating took place: Africa, Asia, Australia (Oceania), and North America.[11] At this time, there were no ISU member nations in South America, although Brazil was admitted as the first South American member nation in 2002.[11]

The first Four Continents Championships took place in Halifax, Canada, in 1999. Takeshi Honda of Japan won the inaugural men's event, while Tatiana Malinina of Uzbekistan won the inaugural women's event. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China won the inaugural pairs event, and Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada won the inaugural ice dance event.[11] Skaters from all four of the founding continents have competed at all Four Continents Championships.[11] The Four Continents Championships have been held every year since, except for 2021, when the championships, which had been scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, were cancelled on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

The 2022 Four Continents Championships were originally scheduled to be held in Tianjin, China.[13] However, the Chinese Skating Association cancelled the event on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the ISU could not find a suitable replacement host among non-European nations, they asked the Estonian Skating Union to host the event, as Estonia would also be hosting the 2022 European Championships. The 2022 Four Continents Championships took place one week after the European Championships at the same venue, marking the first and only time that the Four Continents Championships were held in Europe.[14]

Qualifying

edit

Only those competitors who are "members of a non-European ISU Member" are eligible to compete in the Four Continents Championships.[15] Unlike the European Championships, where member nations are only entitled to enter one competitor or team per discipline, but with a complex chart then outlining how nations may be eligible to submit additional competitors, the Four Continents Championships allows member nations to enter up to three competitors or teams per discipline.[15]

Age restrictions have changed throughout the history of the Four Continents Championships. Until the 2023–24 figure skating season, skaters had to be at least 15 years old before July 1 of the previous year.[16] At the ISU Congress held in June 2022, members of the ISU Council accepted a proposal to gradually increase the minimum age limit for senior competition to 17 years old beginning from 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 years old during the 2023–24 season, and then to 17 years old during the 2024–25 season.[17]

As of 2025, the following countries are eligible to send skaters to the Four Continents Championships: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, North Korea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.[18]

Medalists

edit
 
 
 
 
The reigning Four Continents figure skating champions: Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan (men's singles); Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea (women's singles); Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan (pair skating); and Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada (ice dance)

Men's singles

edit
Men's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999   Halifax   Takeshi Honda   Li Chengjiang   Elvis Stojko [19]
2000   Osaka   Elvis Stojko   Li Chengjiang   Zhang Min
2001   Salt Lake City   Li Chengjiang   Takeshi Honda   Michael Weiss [20]
2002   Jeonju   Jeffrey Buttle   Takeshi Honda   Gao Song [21]
2003   Beijing   Takeshi Honda   Zhang Min   Li Chengjiang [22]
2004   Hamilton   Jeffrey Buttle   Emanuel Sandhu   Evan Lysacek [23]
2005   Gangneung   Evan Lysacek   Li Chengjiang   Daisuke Takahashi [24]
2006   Colorado Springs   Nobunari Oda   Christopher Mabee   Matthew Savoie [25]
2007   Colorado Springs   Evan Lysacek   Jeffrey Buttle   Jeremy Abbott [26]
2008   Goyang   Daisuke Takahashi   Jeffrey Buttle   Evan Lysacek [27]
2009   Vancouver   Patrick Chan   Evan Lysacek   Takahiko Kozuka [28]
2010   Jeonju   Adam Rippon   Tatsuki Machida   Kevin Reynolds [29]
2011   Taipei City   Daisuke Takahashi   Yuzuru Hanyu   Jeremy Abbott [30]
2012   Colorado Springs   Patrick Chan   Daisuke Takahashi   Ross Miner [31]
2013   Osaka   Kevin Reynolds   Yuzuru Hanyu   Yan Han [32]
2014   Taipei City   Takahito Mura   Takahiko Kozuka   Song Nan [33]
2015   Seoul   Denis Ten   Joshua Farris   Yan Han [34]
2016   Taipei City   Patrick Chan   Jin Boyang   Yan Han [35]
2017   Gangneung   Nathan Chen   Yuzuru Hanyu   Shoma Uno [36]
2018   Taipei City   Jin Boyang   Shoma Uno   Jason Brown [37]
2019   Anaheim   Shoma Uno   Jin Boyang   Vincent Zhou [38]
2020   Seoul   Yuzuru Hanyu   Jason Brown   Yuma Kagiyama [39]
2021   Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [12]
2022   Tallinn   Cha Jun-hwan   Kazuki Tomono   Kao Miura [40]
2023   Colorado Springs   Kao Miura   Keegan Messing   Shun Sato [41]
2024   Shanghai   Yuma Kagiyama   Shun Sato   Cha Jun-hwan [42]
2025   Seoul   Mikhail Shaidorov   Cha Jun-hwan   Jimmy Ma [43]

Women's singles

edit
Women's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999   Halifax   Tatiana Malinina   Amber Corwin   Angela Nikodinov [44]
2000   Osaka   Angela Nikodinov   Stacey Pensgen   Annie Bellemare
2001   Salt Lake City   Fumie Suguri   Angela Nikodinov   Yoshie Onda [20]
2002   Jeonju   Jennifer Kirk   Shizuka Arakawa   Yoshie Onda [21]
2003   Beijing   Fumie Suguri   Shizuka Arakawa   Yukari Nakano [22]
2004   Hamilton   Yukina Ota   Cynthia Phaneuf   Amber Corwin [23]
2005   Gangneung   Fumie Suguri   Yoshie Onda   Jennifer Kirk [24]
2006   Colorado Springs   Katy Taylor   Yukari Nakano   Beatrisa Liang [25]
2007   Colorado Springs   Kimmie Meissner   Emily Hughes   Joannie Rochette [26]
2008   Goyang   Mao Asada   Joannie Rochette   Miki Ando [27]
2009   Vancouver   Yuna Kim   Joannie Rochette   Mao Asada [28]
2010   Jeonju   Mao Asada   Akiko Suzuki   Caroline Zhang [29]
2011   Taipei City   Miki Ando   Mao Asada   Mirai Nagasu [30]
2012   Colorado Springs   Ashley Wagner   Mao Asada   Caroline Zhang [31]
2013   Osaka   Mao Asada   Akiko Suzuki   Kanako Murakami [32]
2014   Taipei City   Kanako Murakami   Satoko Miyahara   Li Zijun [33]
2015   Seoul   Polina Edmunds   Satoko Miyahara   Rika Hongo [34]
2016   Taipei City   Satoko Miyahara   Mirai Nagasu |   Rika Hongo [35]
2017   Gangneung   Mai Mihara   Gabrielle Daleman   Mirai Nagasu [36]
2018   Taipei City   Kaori Sakamoto   Mai Mihara   Satoko Miyahara [37]
2019   Anaheim   Rika Kihira   Elizabet Tursynbaeva   Mai Mihara [38]
2020   Seoul   Rika Kihira   You Young   Bradie Tennell [39]
2021   Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [12]
2022   Tallinn   Mai Mihara   Lee Hae-in   Kim Ye-lim [40]
2023   Colorado Springs   Lee Hae-in   Kim Ye-lim   Mone Chiba [41]
2024   Shanghai   Mone Chiba   Kim Chae-yeon   Rinka Watanabe [42]
2025   Seoul   Kim Chae-yeon   Bradie Tennell   Sarah Everhardt [43]

Pairs

edit
Pairs event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999   Halifax
[45]
2000   Osaka
2001   Salt Lake City [20]
2002   Jeonju [21]
2003   Beijing [22]
2004   Hamilton [23]
2005   Gangneung [24]
2006   Colorado Springs [25]
2007   Colorado Springs [26]
2008   Goyang [27]
2009   Vancouver [28]
2010   Jeonju [29]
2011   Taipei City [30]
2012   Colorado Springs [31]
2013   Osaka [32]
2014   Taipei City [33]
2015   Seoul [34]
2016   Taipei City [35]
2017   Gangneung [36]
2018   Taipei City [37]
2019   Anaheim [38]
2020   Seoul [39]
2021   Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [12]
2022   Tallinn [40]
2023   Colorado Springs [41]
2024   Shanghai [42]
2025   Seoul [43]

Ice dance

edit
Ice dance event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999   Halifax [46]
2000   Osaka
2001   Salt Lake City [20]
2002   Jeonju [21]
2003   Beijing [22]
2004   Hamilton [23]
2005   Gangneung [24]
2006   Colorado Springs [25]
2007   Colorado Springs [26]
2008   Goyang [27]
2009   Vancouver [28]
2010   Jeonju [29]
2011   Taipei City [30]
2012   Colorado Springs [31]
2013   Osaka [32]
2014   Taipei City [33]
2015   Seoul [34]
2016   Taipei City [35]
2017   Gangneung [36]
2018   Taipei City [37]
2019   Anaheim [38]
2020   Seoul [39]
2021   Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [12]
2022   Tallinn [40]
2023   Colorado Springs [41]
2024   Shanghai [42]
2025   Seoul [43]

Records

edit
 
 
 
 
From left to right: Patrick Chan of Canada holds the record for the most Four Continents championships won in men's singles (with three); Mao Asada and Fumie Suguri, both of Japan, are tied for the most Four Continents championships in women's singles (with three each); and Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China hold the record for the most Four Continents championships in pair skating (with six).
 
 
 
 
 
Five teams are tied for the most Four Continents championships won in ice dance (with three each). From left to right: Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada; Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States; Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States; Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada; and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States
Records
Event Most titles Medal sweeps
Men's singles 3 2009;
2012;
2016 		—
Women's singles 3 2009;
2012;
2016 		  Japan 2003;
2013;
2018
3 2001;
2003;
2005
Pairs 6 2012;
2014;
2016–17;
2019–20 		  China 2003
Ice dance 3 2004–06   United States 2005
3 1999;
2001;
2003
3 2019–20;
2023
3 2009;
2011;
2013
3 2008;
2012;
2017

Cumulative medal count

edit
Main article: Four Continents Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count
Total number of Four Continents Championship medals by nation[47]
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  United States283044102
2  Japan28241971
3  Canada23302477
4  China18141446
5  South Korea45211
6  Kazakhstan2103
7  Uzbekistan1001
8  North Korea0011
Totals (8 entries)104104104312

References

edit
  1. ^ "Competition Results – Patrick Chan". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  2. ^ "Competition Results – Mao Asada". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. ^ "Competition Results – Fumie Suguri". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  4. ^ "Competition Results – Wenjing Sui/Cong Han". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "Shae-Lynn Bourne: About". Shae-Lynn Bourne. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "Competition Results – Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "Competition Results – Meryl Davis/Charlie White". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  8. ^ "Competition Results – Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  9. ^ "Competition Results – Madison Chock/Evan Bates". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "2026 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e Hines, James R. (2006). Figure Skating: A History. University of Illinois Press. pp. 247–248. ISBN 978-0-252-07286-4.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Four Continents skating competition latest to hit COVID cancellation list". CBC Sports. The Associated Press. October 19, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  13. ^ "Cancellation of ISU Four Continents Championships 2021 and Provisional Allotments of ISU Championships 2022 and 2023". International Skating Union. October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "Communication No. 2431". International Skating Union. October 4, 2021. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Special Regulations & Technical Rules Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance 2024" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "China Eyed over Eight Athletes' Ages". ESPN. Associated Press. February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Nair, Aadi (June 7, 2022). "ISU to Raise Minimum Age for Senior Competitions to 17". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Communication No. 2657 – Entries for ISU Figure Skating and Synchronized Skating Championships 2025". International Skating Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  19. ^ "Four Continents Figure Skating Championships – Men" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d "Four Continents Championships 2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 13, 2002.
  21. ^ a b c d "2002 Four Continents Championships". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 16, 2002.
  22. ^ a b c d "2003 Four Continents Championships". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 27, 2003.
  23. ^ a b c d "2004 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 11, 2005.
  24. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005.
  25. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006.
  26. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007.
  27. ^ a b c d "Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008.
  28. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009.
  29. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010.
  30. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011.
  31. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012.
  32. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013.
  33. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014.
  34. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015.
  35. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016.
  36. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  37. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  38. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  39. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  40. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  41. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  42. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d "ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  44. ^ "Four Continents Figure Skating Championships – Ladies" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008.
  45. ^ "Four Continents Figure Skating Championships – Pairs" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008.
  46. ^ "Four Continents Figure Skating Championships – Dance" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008.
  47. ^ "Patinage artistique – Championnats des 4 continents : Statistiques". Les-sports.info. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Continents_Figure_Skating_Championships&oldid=1283435868"