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Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

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Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
StatusActive
GenreInternational championship event
FrequencyAnnual
Inaugurated1999
Previous event
2026 Four Continents Championships
Next event
2027 Four Continents Championships
Organized 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)

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.

Patrick Chan of Canada holds the record for winning the most Four Continents Championship titles in men's singles (with three), while Mao Asada and Fumie Suguri of Japan are tied for winning the most championships in women's singles (with three each). Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China hold the record in pair skating (with six). Five teams are tied for winning the most titles in ice dance (with three each): 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.

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 International Skating Union (ISU) championship event that was not accessible to skaters outside of Europe. 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. At this time, there were no ISU member nations in South America; Brazil was admitted as the first South American member nation in 2002.[1]

The inaugural Four Continents Championships took place in Halifax, Canada, in 1999. Takeshi Honda of Japan won the men's event, while Tatiana Malinina of Uzbekistan won the women's event. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China won the pairs event, and Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada won the ice dance event.[1] The Four Continents Championships have been held every year since, except for 2021, when the championships were cancelled on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The 2022 Four Continents Championships were originally scheduled to be held in Tianjin, China,[3] but 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 was also hosting the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn. 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.[4]

The 2027 Four Continents Championships are scheduled to be held from February 9 to 14 in Astana, Kazakhstan.[5]

Qualifying

[edit]

Only those competitors who are "members of a non-European ISU Member" are eligible to compete in the Four Continents Championships. Unlike the European Championships, where member nations are only entitled to enter one competitor or team per discipline, but with requirements that must be met in order to submit additional competitors, the Four Continents Championships allow member nations to enter up to three competitors or teams per discipline.[6]

Until the 2023–24 figure skating season, skaters had to be at least 15 years old before July 1 of the previous year. 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.[7]

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.[8]

Medalists

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Kao Miura at the 2024 World Championships
Yuna Aoki at the 2025 Skate Canada International
Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov at the 2025 World Championships
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik at the 2026 U.S. Championships
The reigning Four Continents figure skating champions: Kao Miura of Japan (men's singles); Yuna Aoki of Japan (women's singles); Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov of the United States (pair skating); and Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik of the United States (ice dance)

Men's singles

[edit]
Men's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999 Canada Halifax Japan Takeshi Honda China Li Chengjiang Canada Elvis Stojko [9]
2000 Japan Osaka Canada Elvis Stojko China Zhang Min
2001 United States Salt Lake City China Li Chengjiang Japan Takeshi Honda United States Michael Weiss [10]
2002 South Korea Jeonju Canada Jeffrey Buttle China Gao Song [11]
2003 China Beijing Japan Takeshi Honda China Zhang Min China Li Chengjiang [12]
2004 Canada Hamilton Canada Jeffrey Buttle Canada Emanuel Sandhu United States Evan Lysacek [13]
2005 South Korea Gangneung United States Evan Lysacek China Li Chengjiang Japan Daisuke Takahashi [14]
2006 United States Colorado Springs Japan Nobunari Oda Canada Christopher Mabee United States Matthew Savoie [15]
2007 United States Evan Lysacek Canada Jeffrey Buttle United States Jeremy Abbott [16]
2008 South Korea Goyang Japan Daisuke Takahashi United States Evan Lysacek [17]
2009 Canada Vancouver Canada Patrick Chan United States Evan Lysacek Japan Takahiko Kozuka [18]
2010 South Korea Jeonju United States Adam Rippon Japan Tatsuki Machida Canada Kevin Reynolds [19]
2011 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Daisuke Takahashi Japan Yuzuru Hanyu United States Jeremy Abbott [20]
2012 United States Colorado Springs Canada Patrick Chan Japan Daisuke Takahashi United States Ross Miner [21]
2013 Japan Osaka Canada Kevin Reynolds Japan Yuzuru Hanyu China Yan Han [22]
2014 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Takahito Mura Japan Takahiko Kozuka China Song Nan [23]
2015 South Korea Seoul Kazakhstan Denis Ten United States Joshua Farris China Yan Han [24]
2016 Taiwan Taipei City Canada Patrick Chan China Jin Boyang [25]
2017 South Korea Gangneung United States Nathan Chen Japan Yuzuru Hanyu Japan Shoma Uno [26]
2018 Taiwan Taipei City China Jin Boyang Japan Shoma Uno United States Jason Brown [27]
2019 United States Anaheim Japan Shoma Uno China Jin Boyang United States Vincent Zhou [28]
2020 South Korea Seoul Japan Yuzuru Hanyu United States Jason Brown Japan Yuma Kagiyama [29]
2021 Australia Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
2022 Estonia Tallinn South Korea Cha Jun-hwan Japan Kazuki Tomono Japan Kao Miura [30]
2023 United States Colorado Springs Japan Kao Miura Canada Keegan Messing Japan Shun Sato [31]
2024 China Shanghai Japan Yuma Kagiyama Japan Shun Sato South Korea Cha Jun-hwan [32]
2025 South Korea Seoul Kazakhstan Mikhail Shaidorov South Korea Cha Jun-hwan United States Jimmy Ma [33]
2026 China Beijing Japan Kao Miura Japan Sōta Yamamoto [34]

Women's singles

[edit]
Women's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999 Canada Halifax Uzbekistan Tatiana Malinina United States Amber Corwin United States Angela Nikodinov [35]
2000 Japan Osaka United States Angela Nikodinov United States Stacey Pensgen Canada Annie Bellemare
2001 United States Salt Lake City Japan Fumie Suguri United States Angela Nikodinov Japan Yoshie Onda [10]
2002 South Korea Jeonju United States Jennifer Kirk Japan Shizuka Arakawa [11]
2003 China Beijing Japan Fumie Suguri Japan Yukari Nakano [12]
2004 Canada Hamilton Japan Yukina Ota Canada Cynthia Phaneuf United States Amber Corwin [13]
2005 South Korea Gangneung Japan Fumie Suguri Japan Yoshie Onda United States Jennifer Kirk [14]
2006 United States Colorado Springs United States Katy Taylor Japan Yukari Nakano United States Beatrisa Liang [15]
2007 United States Kimmie Meissner United States Emily Hughes Canada Joannie Rochette [16]
2008 South Korea Goyang Japan Mao Asada Canada Joannie Rochette Japan Miki Ando [17]
2009 Canada Vancouver South Korea Yuna Kim Japan Mao Asada [18]
2010 South Korea Jeonju Japan Mao Asada Japan Akiko Suzuki United States Caroline Zhang [19]
2011 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Miki Ando Japan Mao Asada United States Mirai Nagasu [20]
2012 United States Colorado Springs United States Ashley Wagner United States Caroline Zhang [21]
2013 Japan Osaka Japan Mao Asada Japan Akiko Suzuki Japan Kanako Murakami [22]
2014 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Kanako Murakami Japan Satoko Miyahara China Li Zijun [23]
2015 South Korea Seoul United States Polina Edmunds Japan Rika Hongo [24]
2016 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Satoko Miyahara United States Mirai Nagasu [25]
2017 South Korea Gangneung Japan Mai Mihara Canada Gabrielle Daleman United States Mirai Nagasu [26]
2018 Taiwan Taipei City Japan Kaori Sakamoto Japan Mai Mihara Japan Satoko Miyahara [27]
2019 United States Anaheim Japan Rika Kihira Kazakhstan Elizabet Tursynbaeva Japan Mai Mihara [28]
2020 South Korea Seoul South Korea You Young United States Bradie Tennell [29]
2021 Australia Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
2022 Estonia Tallinn Japan Mai Mihara South Korea Lee Hae-in South Korea Kim Ye-lim [30]
2023 United States Colorado Springs South Korea Lee Hae-in South Korea Kim Ye-lim Japan Mone Chiba [31]
2024 China Shanghai Japan Mone Chiba South Korea Kim Chae-yeon Japan Rinka Watanabe [32]
2025 South Korea Seoul South Korea Kim Chae-yeon United States Bradie Tennell United States Sarah Everhardt [33]
2026 China Beijing Japan Yuna Aoki Japan Ami Nakai Japan Mone Chiba [34]

Pairs

[edit]
Pairs event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999 Canada Halifax
  • China
 [36]
2000 Japan Osaka
2001 United States Salt Lake City [10]
2002 South Korea Jeonju [11]
2003 China Beijing [12]
2004 Canada Hamilton [13]
2005 South Korea Gangneung [14]
2006 United States Colorado Springs [15]
2007 [16]
2008 South Korea Goyang [17]
2009 Canada Vancouver [18]
2010 South Korea Jeonju [19]
2011 Taiwan Taipei City [20]
2012 United States Colorado Springs [21]
2013 Japan Osaka [22]
2014 Taiwan Taipei City [23]
2015 South Korea Seoul [24]
2016 Taiwan Taipei City [25]
2017 South Korea Gangneung [26]
2018 Taiwan Taipei City [27]
2019 United States Anaheim [28]
2020 South Korea Seoul [29]
2021 Australia Sydney Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
2022 Estonia Tallinn [30]
2023 United States Colorado Springs [31]
2024 China Shanghai [32]
2025 South Korea Seoul [33]
2026 China Beijing [34]

Ice dance

[edit]
Ice dance event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1999 Canada Halifax [37]
2000 Japan Osaka
2001 United States Salt Lake City [10]
2002 South Korea Jeonju [11]
2003 China Beijing [12]
2004 Canada Hamilton [13]
2005 South Korea Gangneung [14]
2006 United States Colorado Springs [15]
2007 [16]
2008 South Korea Goyang [17]
2009 Canada Vancouver [18]
2010 South Korea Jeonju [19]
2011 Taiwan Taipei City [20]
2012 United States Colorado Springs [21]
2013 Japan Osaka [22]
2014 Taiwan Taipei City [23]
2015 South Korea Seoul [24]
2016 Taiwan Taipei City
  • Canada