The Future of Figure Skating

Magdalena Tascher is the president of the Polish Figure Skating federation, and also commentates for Eurosport. You might have seen her in Team Poland’s box during the Olympics waving a pierogi plushie! In this conversation, we got into the challenges of growing figure skating’s popularity in Poland, which of the ISU’s proposals might help that goal, and the importance of maintaining joy as a part of the sport. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pb1JX8447yM

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cvbtk293C96qV8OKBxW9H4gaCZVvdayxNSYI00xa7E4/edit?tab=t.0

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFSPodcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to the Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Links:

Article on ISU’s proposed changes and athlete reactions: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

Interview with Ioulia Chtchetinina and Michal Wozniak:https://anythinggoe.com/ioulia-chtchetinina-and-michal-wozniak-if-you-dont-enjoy-it-dont-do-it/

Interview with Dasa Grm: https://anythinggoe.com/dasa-grm-2023/

Philip Hersh spent 28 years as Olympic sports writer for the Chicago Tribune and has gone on to write about the Olympics and figure skating for Ice Network and NBC Olympics. He has covered 21 Olympics, 13 winter and 8 summer, as well as 38 US figure skating championships, 21 world championships, and many other competitions in Olympic sports. Recently, Phil has been writing about the changes that the ISU has been proposing for the coming seasons, and the opposition from federations and many athletes to those changes.

In this episode, we get into how this is, and is not, the same as past times that the ISU has made a lot of changes. And we also talked a little bit about what we're both looking forward to with the coming 26-27 season.

YouTube:

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i14A8fcqcufgnzNQh5-t8IX7B6RJxFc-APFC_sul9Q0/edit?tab=t.0

You can read Phil's reporting at www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com.

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFS Podcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/future of figure skating. Remember to subscribe to the future of figure skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Links:

Phil’s articles on rule changes:

August: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/8/27/save-the-dates-skating-fans-but-which-dates-will-they-be

January 2026: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/1/16/figure-skating-officials-weigh-major-changes-in-rules-schedule

My article on proposed changes and athlete reactions:

https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

Coverage of Summer Sizzler:

https://anythinggoe.com/sizzler26/

K Eri Lee is a Ph.D. student in Feminist Studies with a focus on elite, national-team sport and the Asian diaspora. They are also a figure skating coach and former US national team synchronized skater with the Haydenettes. You might also know Eri through their fabulously informative instagram account, @LiberatingSkating.

Eri works to build sporting worlds where everyone, regardless of where they come from or who they are, can experience the joy of movement and community. We had a wide-ranging conversation about nationalism, belonging, synchro, coaching, putting research into practice, and how to communicate on the internet! 

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-SggOGDZYtB6QJD6lGZEZlL105UyK6PK8RkzyYkXcg/edit?tab=t.0

YouTube: https://youtu.be/APBoaHqyLfE

Learn more about Eri, and read their blog, at their website, www.eri-lee.com 

Their instagram is @liberatingskating 

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast 

You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating.

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Links:

I reference the post “Is Synchro a Feminist Sport?” 

https://www.instagram.com/liberatingskating/reel/DcG2bfiRLov/

Eri on “The End of Sport” podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-as-a-weapon-podcast/id1527375756

The International Workers’ Olympiads

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Olympiads

The Tucker Center for Research on Women and Girls in Sport

https://tuckercenter.umn.edu/

It’s an exciting time for synchronized skating, with the news in July that the sport - or at least the Synchro 9 variation - will be added to the 2030 Olympics. To talk about all things synchro, my guest today is Sabrina Snoad, co-host of the Synchro Skaters Club podcast. She joined me for an episode that is one part “Synchro 101” (for this figure skating fan), and one part a discussion of the future of the sport, and the changes, good and bad, that being in the Olympics could bring. 

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cMJUIPuoEC7IyB5pXc1q4dZKUUkKQ-ozDvr6bTmlZqE/edit?usp=sharing

Links:

Synchro Skaters Club:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3lvq8IvjB9us1vz83p1kVw

Episode with Synchro 9 pioneers:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Q0TILPhgJYbETmPwqzrDl?si=bba31e37dee34dbe

Episode on Body Image:

“Love thy Body, Part 1”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DAxmJthOCRucNKgVjdx7h?si=mr4aSSV0QlOktm8oVQQCgw

“Love thy Body, Part 2 with Marta Pietrasik” 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Hxk6dv81A6pjRjA8GVLl5

ISU Synchro Coverage: Blades in Harmony - Ep 1 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HM_W1eNL74&list=PLuiPiC1Hk8eIbRWrx0V-hec6Llr5iVLjA

Programs:

Synchro 9 Finland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmO3Hx-2B0Y

Synchro 9 USA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub51UhI_yv0

Nexxice

Short 2022 “Man I Feel Like a Woman”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB1lw_-SAWY

Team Unique 

Short 2019/2020 “Bad Guy”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5-7Lr1qiY

Demonstrating Intersection and Death Spirals

Helsinki Rockettes

2024-2025 FS at Worlds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISCw4iP4ac

You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast 

 You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating.

Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Jae Youl Kim was reelected as president of the International Skating Union at the federation's Congress which wrapped up Friday in Tenerife, Spain. In this exclusive interview, he talks about athlete compensation and the comments by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, as well as how the ISU leadership will try to communicate better and avoid misunderstandings with athletes and coaches when changes are introduced.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uvlq38wP3jrIpULakm7XjQRoF-e_4m0f1BZJZbjXV00/edit?tab=t.0

YouTube:

You can follow more about the ISU Congress in the daily reports and live-tweeting at AnythingGOEs

You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast @gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing!

Tatsuro Matsumura is a current member of the ISU Council, having served in that role since 2018. He was a competitive ice dancer and coach, before working with the Japanese Skating Federation and Japanese Olympic Committee. 

The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed.

However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress.

Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/SB_ZPFqd4aQ

Transcript:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yzFwfZCMT3e6VglLGzjSs6mdYIDZCxusqukeyI60YyA/edit?tab=t.0
My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals:
https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

 Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Jimmy Stryhn Meyer is a candidate for the ISU Council. He is the president of the Luxembourg Figure Skating Federation, and is also president of the Staff Committee at the European Court of Justice.

The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed.

However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RTEYFK_X0tOun-KPf7v4977OJF7MK_VkX89tRAiqlwc

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9qvTVP1F9VI

My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals:
https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

 Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Oleksandr Volkov is a board member of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation, and a lawyer specializing in cross-border litigation, international arbitration and sports and esports law. He spoke to me from his office in Kiev, and had to relocate to the basement mid-interview when Russian bombing began. 

The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed.

However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress.

Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/l5HrkLHP2cw

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-nVU-KMVLmqRdpE56PZAuxgqOh8SPS72-147XG6sGUs/edit?tab=t.0

My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals:
https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/

 Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Dr Susanna Rahkamo has been a member of the ISU Council since 2022. With her partner Petri Kokko she was the 1995 European Champion in Ice Dance, and was the originator of the Finnstep pattern dance. She has served as the President of Skate Finland, and in leadership roles with the Finnish and European Olympic Committees, and was previously the leader of the ISU Development Commission. Dr Rahkamo is running for a second term on the Council. 

International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed.

However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress.

And we hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues facing the ISU as well as the visions of the individuals who form part of that leadership.

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/L-_rsrqZvCg

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OdqScJ_Yuw2GdBT9z_gw87beVm8k4gPdCUVhEQZwf3I/edit?tab=t.0 ISU Council Interviews - Susanna Rahkamo

My writing about the ISU’s rule change proposals, in the episode description.

Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube! 

You can reach me at [email protected] or on Instagram at Future FS Podcast. 

You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating

Thanks for liking and subscribing! 

Robin Cousins is one of the candidates running for the ISU Council. The 1980 Olympic champion, he has served in many roles within figure skating as a choreographer, a professional skater, a also most recently has been the president of British ice skating. I also spoke with Robin for a full podcast episode at 2025 Europeans, which you can find in our playlists as Episode 54. https://youtu.be/jHgI5n_wdDw?si=KYIuGxV7q7b-dh9D

The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th. At this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed.

The Future of Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with candidates for the VP and Council positions in the lead up to the ISU Congress. I hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues that are facing the ISU and the visions of the individuals who form part of the leadership!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YausJpUZOxw

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BoNTOeu0larHbfVv7N06Gx_pPkOqh6vCQtRMbLbfcRM/edit?tab=t.0