Do you think in a sport, artistry can outrival technique? Or do you believe it should? In some sports artistry isn't a matter. You play by the rules, you win. However, in sports like ballet or dance; technique is not enough. Figure skating is one of those sports.
Figure skating has some very strict rules that skaters need to follow in every program. Every jump and spin are done by very clear instructions, and is graded by how perfectly the skater performed it. But skaters also earn a lot of points with the artistry of their program, which is where the arguments start. Some people believe that artistry should not be as important as technique, while others believe that figure skating programs have to be artistic.
Lately, figure skating has become more and more about jumps. Specifically about Quad Jumps, where the skaters jump and spin in the air for 4 times. These jumps were considered impossible just 30 years before, so skaters are putting everything they got to be able to land a quad jump. Since these jumps became so important, skaters started to focus on these so much more that they don't work on their artistry. This leaves us with programs that have nothing but quads.
Many believed that no women would ever be able to land or even attempt a quad. That was until a russian skater, Alexandra Trusova amazed everyone with her abilities. In the 2022 Winter Olympics, she wanted to win gold, so she didn't leave it to chance. Her program, Cruella, included 5 quads. Something that has never been seen before. It was something no male skater dared to even attempt. She was told that if she did land all the five quads, she would win gold with no doubt. So she went on ice and land all the quads planned. But there was something she forgot about. Artistry. Her program was amazing in strength and technique but it lacked any kind of artisrty. She landed the quads, but some weren't perfect.
On the other hand, Anna Sherbackova, another russian skater, amazed everyone with the artisry and emotions her program included. She only had 2 quads in her program. And even
some double jumps with a not so perfect technique. But her program was so artistic that you could feel all the emotions as you watchednlike Trusova, her jumps weren't as shaky.
All these reasons earned Anna the gold medal. Leaving Alexandra with silver. The news were devastating for Trusova, since everybody had told her that she'd win if she did five quads; and yet she couldn't. After that olympics, Trusova took a break from figure skating, not wanting to go on ice again. She didn't skate for over two years. Fortunately, though, she came back last year; being over the olympics. Hopefully, we will see her in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Even to this day, there are people who think Anna didn't deserve gold. I believe they are wrong, because Anna's performance was 100% worth the gold. However, I still believe that Cruella was one of the most powerful programs the women's figure skating has ever seen.
In men's figure skating, Ilia Malinin is the one that comes to mind when someone mentions quads. Since he is the only skater that can land all six quad jumps, including quad axel. He also holds the highest score record in figure skating with the program he performed in the World Championship 2024. He was also criticized about not being artistic, but in his last program I'm not a vampire it is easily seen that he has worked hard on his skating skills.
I personally believe that artistry and techique should be in a balance. Programs that only have quads to stand out are mostly boring to watch, and a program with perfect aristry wouldn't be able to win without some great jumps. When a skater combines both perfectly, you truly get amazed by their power. Artistry without technique is not professional, and technique without artisrty is not figure skating.
One of the biggest proofs to why artistry should be combined with technique to make a perfect program is Yuzuru Hanyu, the greatest figure skater of all time. He had incredible strength and technique, but also a bewitching artistry. When you watch his programs, you can see that he is absolutely in love with the ice, and yet his jumps are unbelievable. Even though Yuzuru left competitive skating a few years ago, he is still the best skater this sport has ever seen. No one performs programs that makes you feel the way his programs were making you feel.
What do you think? Do you think artistry should be important as much as technique or do you think skaters should just be graded by their jumps and spins?
For the ones that would like to watch:
Cruella - Alexandra Trusova
Black Swan - Anna Sherbackova (Gold Medal)
Ilia Malinin's World Record Program
I'm Not a Vampire - Ilia Malinin
Yuzuru Hanyu - Skate Canada 2019