World Junior Figure Skating Championships
| World Junior Figure Skating Championships | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | International championship event |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Previous event | 2025 World Junior Championships |
| Next event | 2026 World Junior Championships |
| Organized by | International Skating Union |
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). The first World Junior Championships were held in 1976 in Megève, France, and the competition has been held every year since, except for 2021, when the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Skaters are eligible to compete at the World Junior Championships, provided they represent a member nation of the ISU and are selected by their respective federation, if they are at least 13 years old before July 1 of the respective season, but not yet 19 (for single skaters), 21 (for men and women in ice dance and women in pair skating), or 23 (for men in pair skating).[1] Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The corresponding competition for senior-level skaters is the World Figure Skating Championships.
Adam Rippon of the United States currently holds the record for winning the most World Junior Championship titles in men's singles (with two), while Mao Shimada of Japan holds the record in women's singles (with three). Natalia Krestianinova and Alexei Torchinski of the Soviet Union are tied with Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China for winning the most titles in pair skating (with three each), while Luka Berulava of Georgia has also won three World Junior Championship titles in pair skating, but with different partners. Elena Krykanova and Evgeni Platov of the Soviet Union hold the record in ice dance (with three).
History
[edit]The International Skating Union (ISU) adopted legislation in 1975 establishing the Junior Figure Skating Championships. The championships were established on a two-year trial basis with the understanding that if they were successful, they would be renamed the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. The inaugural World Junior Championships took place in Megève, France, in 1976. No skaters were permitted to compete who had previously competed at the European Championships, World Championships, or the Winter Olympics, nor could they have previously won a medal at any international senior-level competition. Those prohibitions were removed in 1980.[2] Mark Cockerell and Suzie Brasher of the United States won the inaugural men's and women's event, respectively. Sherri Baier and Robin Cowan of Canada won the inaugural pairs event, and Kathryn Winter and Nicholas Slater of Great Britain won the inaugural ice dance event.[2]
Controversy arose at the 1977 World Junior Championships when South Africa entered skaters in the competition. The Soviet Union filed a written protest with the ISU demanding that South African skaters be barred from competing in response to South Africa's apartheid policies. When the ISU refused, the Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania) boycotted the competition. In response, the ISU placed a "temporary restriction of not taking part in ISU championships" on skaters from South Africa, although South Africa was not expelled from the ISU.[2]
The competition was elevated to World status beginning in 1978 and the first official World Junior Championships were again held in Megève.[2] They were held without interruption until 2021. The 2021 World Junior Championships were originally scheduled to be held in Harbin, China;[3] however, the ISU announced the cancellation of the event on November 24, 2020, citing "the pandemic developments and related impact on the organizers and participants."[4] The World Junior Championships were the second ISU Championship event to be cancelled during the 2020–21 season, following the cancellation of the 2021 Four Continents Championships on October 16.[5] The 2020–21 ISU Junior Grand Prix series had also been cancelled earlier in the season, on July 20.[6] With the cancellation of the World Junior Championships, there was effectively no opportunity for junior-level skaters to compete during the 2020–21 season.[7]
The 2026 World Junior Championships are scheduled to be held from March 2 to 8 in Tallinn, Estonia.[8]
Qualifying
[edit]Skaters may compete at the World Junior Championships if they represent a member nation of the International Skating Union (ISU) and are selected by their federation. Member nations select their entries according to their own criteria. Some countries rely on the results of their national championships while others have more varied criteria, which may include success at certain international events or specific technical requirements. All of the selected skaters must have earned the minimum total element scores, which are determined and published each season by the ISU during the current or immediately previous season. Member nations may enter at least one competitor or team in each discipline; a points system allows member nations to enter additional competitors or teams, up to a total of three per discipline, based on the nation's performance in that discipline at the previous World Junior Championships.[9]
Skaters are eligible to compete on the junior-level circuit if they are at least 13 years old before July 1 of the respective season, and if they have not yet turned 19 (for single skaters), 21 (for both genders in ice dance and females in pair skating) or 23 (for males in pair skating).[10]
Medalists
[edit]
Not pictured: Noemi Maria Tali and Noah Lafornara of Italy (ice dance)
Men's singles
[edit]
Women's singles
[edit]Pairs
[edit]
Ice dance
[edit]Records
[edit]
| Discipline | Most championship titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skater(s) | No. | Years | Ref. | |
| Men's singles | 2 | 2008–09 | [40] | |
| Women's singles | 3 | 2023–25 | [41] | |
| Pairs | [a] | 3 | 2022; 2024–25 |
[42][43] |
| 3 | 1990–92 | [38] | ||
| 3 | 2010–12 | [44] | ||
| Ice dance | 3 | 1984–86 | [39] | |
- ^ Luka Berulava won one championship title while partnered with Karina Safina (2022) and two with Anastasiia Metelkina (2024–25).
Cumulative medal count
[edit]- Countries or entities that can no longer participate for whatever reason are indicated in italics with a dagger (†).
Men's singles
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States | 17 | 12 | 13 | 42 |
| 2 |  Soviet Union † | 8 | 8 | 4 | 20 |
| 3 |  Russia †[a] | 8 | 7 | 8 | 23 |
| 4 |  Japan | 7 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| 5 |  Canada | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 6 |  China | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 7 |  South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 |  Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Israel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 |  France | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 12 |  Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 |  Belgium | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Czech Republic | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Great Britain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 17 |  East Germany † | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 18 |  Italy | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 20 |  Sweden | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (20 entries) | 49 | 49 | 49 | 147 | |
Women's singles
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 15 | 12 | 12 | 39 |
| 2 | Russia †[a] | 15 | 12 | 9 | 36 |
| 3 | Japan | 10 | 6 | 9 | 25 |
| 4 | East Germany † | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Soviet Union † | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | South Korea | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Canada | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | West Germany † | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 10 |  Austria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Hungary | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 12 | China | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 14 |  Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (17 entries) | 49 | 49 | 49 | 147 | |
Pairs
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia †[a] | 12 | 14 | 17 | 43 |
| 2 | Soviet Union † | 12 | 9 | 8 | 29 |
| 3 | China | 7 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 4 | United States | 6 | 6 | 9 | 21 |
| 5 | Canada | 3 | 7 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Ukraine | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 7 |  Georgia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 |  Australia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| East Germany † | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 10 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Japan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Czechoslovakia † | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 South Africa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 | France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (14 entries) | 49 | 49 | 48 | 146 | |
Ice dance
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soviet Union † | 15 | 11 | 3 | 29 |
| 2 | Russia †[a] | 15 | 9 | 13 | 37 |
| 3 | United States | 12 | 8 | 10 | 30 |
| 4 | Canada | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| 5 | Great Britain | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Italy | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 |  Poland | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | France | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| 10 | Hungary | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 |  Estonia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Georgia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Israel | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| South Korea | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 15 | Germany | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ukraine | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Totals (16 entries) | 49 | 49 | 49 | 147 | |
Total medals
[edit]| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia †[a] | 50 | 42 | 47 | 139 |
| 2 | United States | 50 | 38 | 44 | 132 |
| 3 | Soviet Union † | 37 | 30 | 17 | 84 |
| 4 | Japan | 17 | 14 | 16 | 47 |
| 5 | Canada | 10 | 16 | 18 | 44 |
| 6 | China | 8 | 4 | 9 | 21 |
| 7 | East Germany † | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 8 | Ukraine | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 9 | Georgia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | France | 2 | 10 | 13 | 25 |
| 11 | South Korea | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
| 12 | Great Britain | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Italy | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 15 | Australia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 16 | Poland | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 17 | Israel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 18 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 19 | West Germany † | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 20 | Hungary | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 21 | Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 22 | Austria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 23 | Belgium | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Czechoslovakia † | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Estonia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Kazakhstan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| South Africa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 28 | Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 29 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (30 entries) | 196 | 196 | 195 | 587 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Communication No. 2655: Single & Pair Skating". International Skating Union. July 15, 2024. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hines, James R. (2006). Figure Skating: A History. University of Illinois Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-252-07286-4.
- ^ "Allotment of ISU Championships 2021". International Skating Union. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Update on ISU Event Calendar season 2020/21". International Skating Union. November 24, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Cancellation of ISU Four Continents Championships 2021 and Provisional Allotments of ISU Championships 2022 and 2023". International Skating Union. October 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022.
- ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix Series 2020/21 Cancelled". International Skating Union. July 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021.
- ^ McCarvel, Nick (November 24, 2020). "ISU announces cancellation of world junior figure skating championships". Olympic Channel. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021.
- ^ "2026 World Junior Figure Skating Championships". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on March 1, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Special Regulations & Technical Rules". International Skating Union. 2022. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024.
- ^ "ISA-03(b) ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships Selection Policy" (PDF). Ice Skating Australia/Official Website. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "World Junior Figure Skating Championships – Men" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "World Junior Figure Skating Championships". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 21, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2001". International Skating Union. September 16, 2001. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "2002 World Junior Figure Skating Championships". International Skating Union. March 9, 2002. Archived from the original on November 17, 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "2003 World Junior Championships". International Skating Union. February 25, 2003. Archived from the original on January 10, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "2004 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships". International Skating Union. March 2, 2004. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2005". International Skating Union. March 5, 2005. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2006". International Skating Union. March 11, 2006. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 15, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2024". International Skating Union. March 2, 2024. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- ^ "World Junior Figure Skating Championships – Ladies" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "World Junior Figure Skating Championships – Pairs" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "World Junior Figure Skating Championships – Dance" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- ^ "Competition Results – Adam Rippon". International Skating Union. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "Competition Results – Mao Shimada". International Skating Union. September 6, 2025. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "Competition Results – Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO)". International Skating Union. March 6, 2025. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^ "Competition Results – Karina Safina/Luka Berulava (GEO)". International Skating Union. June 18, 2024. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "Competition Results – Wenjing Sui/Cong Han". International Skating Union. May 12, 2022. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "ISU Statement on the Ukrainian crisis - Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus". International Skating Union. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- World Junior Championships at Skating Scores
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