Topic summary

Synchronized skating

Synchronized skating

Synchronized skating (or synchronised skating), often called synchro, is an ice skating sport where between 8 and 20 skaters perform together as a team. They move as a flowing unit at high speed over the ice, while performing elements and footwork.

This complex sport originated in 1956 and was initially called "precision skating" due to its emphasis on the maintenance of intricate and precise formations and the requirement of precise timing from all members of the group. Synchronized skating is now well-established as an organized sport in several countries with several of them having produced teams who frequently win championships at the international level. As of 2022, there are more than 600 synchro teams in United States alone.

The new Synchro9 discipline, being debuted at the 2030 Winter Olympics, features a smaller team of 9 skaters, shorter high-impact performances, and a focus on speed, clarity, and visual impact.