Want to learn more about figure skating history? You are in the right place!

Created in 2013, Skate Guard is a blog that focuses on overlooked and underappreciated areas of the history of figure skating, whether that means a topic completely unknown to most readers or a new look at a well-known skater, time period, or event. There's plenty to explore, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and get lost in the fascinating and fabulous history of everyone's favourite winter sport!

Olympic Figure Skating History Hub

Figure skating has mesmerized audiences for more than a century, evolving from precisely executed school figures to today's modern, fresh and exciting style. The sport stands at a crossroads of tradition and transformation and there's no better time than the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics to look back at over a centuy of Olympic figure skating history.

From early Olympic pioneers to the sport's evolution over the decades, this hub brings together  stories, personalities, and moments that define Olympic figure skating history. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the sport, dive into the history will influence every twist list, toe-loop, throw jump and twizzle we'll soon witness in Italy.

Upcoming Olympic Figure Skating Blogs

(The following blogs are coming soon - check back soon to read as they go live!)

From Cortina to Milan: Italy’s Olympic Figure Skating Legacy

Italy has twice before welcomed the world to the Winter Olympics - first in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, and again in Torino in 2006. This feature traces Italy's Olympic figure skating journey across seven decades, from the romantic outdoor rinks of the post-war era to today's modern arenas. 

Italian Skating Legends: From Early Pioneers to Olympic Medallists

Long before Italy achieved Olympic success, its skaters were quietly carving a place in international competition. This article profiles the trailblazers who laid the groundwork for future success, the figures who carried Italian skating onto the Olympic stage, and the medal-winning performances that cemented Italy’s place in figure skating history. It’s a celebration of perseverance, artistry, and the slow-burn rise of a proud skating nation.

A Magician From Milan: The Carlo Fassi Story

Few figures loom larger in Italian skating history than Carlo Fassi - a world-class coach, colourful character and Italian figure skating pioneer. From his own competitive career to guiding champions and shaping generations of skaters, Fassi's influence reached far beyond Milan. This piece explores the life and legacy of a larger than life figure, whose ideas, mentorship, and passion helped transform the sport as we knew it.

Recommended Reading

Below are selected Skate Guard blogs that touch on the fascinating history of Olympic figure skating:

1924 Chamonix: Figure Skating’s First Winter Olympic Stage

Figure skating first appeared at the Olympic Games alongside the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics, but the 1924 Chamonix Games marked the sport's debut as part of the inaugural Winter Olympics. This retrospective looks back at the skaters, competitions, and legacy of the Games that firmly placed figure skating at the heart of the Winter Olympic tradition.

Belgian Gold: The Micheline Lannoy & Pierre Baugniet Story

This piece recounts how Belgium’s Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet - skating partners born just months apart - rose to become pairs champions at the 1948 Winter Olympics, marking Belgium’s first Winter Olympic gold in any sport. Their journey from war-torn Europe to Olympic champions captures the resilience and artistry of early Olympic figure skating.

Flying High: The Violet & Leslie Cliff Story

This biographical feature tells the tale of British pair skaters Violet and Leslie Cliff, who represented the UK in the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Their adventurous lives beyond the ice illuminate an era when skating and broader cultural daring intersected.

Sixes Across the Board: Skating’s Perfect Olympic Scores

GOE? No say we... If you're a 6.0 lover, you'll enjoy this fascinating historical look at the rare and remarkable instances where skaters earned perfect marks  at the Olympics - illustrating just how high the bar has been set throughout Olympic history.


2026 Milano Cortina Games - Where To Watch

In Canada, you can watch all figure skating events at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games live, free of charge, from the comfort of your living room with CBC Gem. You can stream online or download the app to your TV to watch. 

For easy reference, here are all competition times in Eastern Standard (Ottawa) time:

Friday, Feb 6 - 4:55 a.m.
Team Event – Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program, Women's Short Program

Saturday, Feb 7 - 2:45 p.m.
Team Event – Men's Short Program, Free Dance

Sunday, Feb 8 - 2:30 p.m.
Team Event – Pairs, Women's and Men's Free Skates

Monday, Feb 9 - 2:20 p.m.
Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance

Tuesday, Feb 10 - 1:30 p.m.
Men's Short Program

Wednesday, Feb 11 - 2:30 p.m.
Ice Dance – Free Dance

Friday, Feb 13 - 2:00 p.m.
Men's Free Program

Sunday, Feb 15 - 2:45 p.m.
Pairs Short Program

Monday, Feb 16 - 3:00 p.m.
Pairs Free Program

Tuesday, Feb 17 - 1:45 p.m.
Women's Short Program

Thursday, Feb 19 - 2:00 p.m.
Women's Free Program

📌 More Olympic-Related Resources

Want to learn more about Olympic figure skating history? Check out:

Bookmark this page and keep coming back as new Olympic figure skating history blogs go live, offering previews, profiles, deep dives, and celebration of the stories that make Olympic figure skating one of the most beloved events of the Winter Games.

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