History Made: Synchronised Skating Earns Its Place at the Olympic Winter Games.

After decades of campaigning by the International Skating Union (ISU), synchronised skating has finally achieved what generations of athletes, coaches and fans have dreamed of; Olympic status.

Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that synchronised skating (Synchro9) will make its Olympic debut at the Alpes 2030 Winter Olympic Games. It marks the first time the discipline will feature on the world’s biggest sporting stage and is a landmark moment for one of the fastest-growing disciplines in figure skating.

For many within the sport, this is much more than just another event being added to the Olympic programme. It is recognition of the athleticism, precision, teamwork and artistry that synchronised skating has showcased for decades. While Olympic dreams have long existed for singles, pairs and ice dance, synchro athletes can now finally set their sights on competing for Olympic medals too.

The sport has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1950s, when Dr Richard Porter formed one of the first organised synchronised skating teams in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Originally known as “precision skating”, the discipline evolved rapidly before being officially recognised by the ISU in 1994. Today, thousands of skaters compete in synchronised skating across more than 20 countries, with annual World Championships showcasing the very best teams from around the globe.

Interestingly, synchronised skating’s Olympic debut will come in a new format known as Synchro9. Rather than the traditional teams of 16 skaters, the Olympic event will feature nine teams made up of nine skaters each, creating a faster-paced competition while making the discipline easier to accommodate within the Olympic programme. The inclusion of synchronised skating reflects the IOC’s continued focus on innovation while ensuring the Games evolve with modern sport.

For the synchronised skating community, however, the statistics only tell part of the story. Behind this announcement are decades of dedication from athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers who believed the sport deserved its place on the Olympic stage. Countless skaters have helped build synchronised skating into the spectacular discipline it is today, even knowing an Olympic opportunity might never come.

We are all very excited to see what the future holds now for competitive Synchro in the UK!