9 Scandals That Shook the World of Figure Skating

Beneath the dazzling costumes and graceful routines lies a world of controversy. Figure skating has seen its fair share of scandals. Here are nine of the most infamous.

1. Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and the Hitman with a Club // 1994

In 1994, a shocking clubbing incident thrust the world of figure skating into the public eye. National champion Nancy Kerrigan was attacked at the 1994 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, her painful cries echoing worldwide. Allegations surfaced that her primary rival, Tonya Harding, might have been involved in orchestrating the attack.

The tale goes like this: Kerrigan, vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team heading to Lillehammer, Norway, is attacked in the knee outside the locker room after practice. Forced to withdraw, Kerrigan's absence gives Harding the gold. Details soon surface revealing that Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, hired the hitman who carried out the assault. Harding denies any involvement, but performs poorly at the Olympics the following month. She later pleads guilty to obstructing the prosecution of Gillooly, his accomplice Shawn Eckhart, and the hitman, Shane Stant. Harding is banned from the sport for life.

Nearly three decades later, questions about Harding's involvement persist, and the incident remains a highly discussed topic. The saga was revisited in an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary and the Oscar-nominated film I, Tonya, showing how the scandal still captivates audiences.

2. Ashley Wagner selected for the Olympics by choice // 2014

Typically, the top three finishers at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships secure spots on Team USA for the Winter Olympics every four years. But in 2014, gold medalist Gracie Gold, silver medalist Polina Edmunds, and fourth-place finisher Ashley Wagner made their way to Sochi.

So, what happened to the bronze medalist? Despite out-skating Wagner by a wide margin and having prior Olympic experience (she finished fourth in Vancouver in 2010), Mirai Nagasu was forced to watch the Olympics from home. The decision by U.S. Figure Skating, the sport’s governing body, sparked major division within the skating world and among fans, putting the selection process under intense scrutiny.

Team USA selections are based on several factors, such as performance in international competitions, the difficulty of technical elements, and a skater’s appeal to a global audience. Nagasu wasn’t the first to be overlooked—Nancy Kerrigan was chosen for the 1994 Games despite her knee injury, and Michelle Kwan, the U.S. silver medalist that year, was named as an alternate. Nagasu had the option to appeal the decision, with many fans urging her to do so, but she chose not to.

3. Judges manipulate pairs competition at the Salt Lake City Olympics // 2002

This scandal rocked the very foundation of competitive figure skating. After a flawless free skate performance at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Canadian pairs team Jamie Salé and David Pelletier found themselves in second place, while the Russian duo of Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze claimed the gold despite making several technical errors.

An investigation uncovered that judges had conspired to fix the results in the pairs and dance events—a French judge admitted to being pressured to vote for the Russian team in exchange for giving a boost to the French dance team of Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat, who won that event. In the end, both pairs teams were awarded gold medals, and the entire figure skating judging system was overhauled.

4. Jackson Haines introduces flair to figure skating // mid-1800s

Jackson Haines, an American figure skater from the mid-1800s, had some wild ideas about the sport. He proposed skating to music (yes, music!), waltzing on ice, and adding ballet-like movements, athletic jumps, and spins to competitions. His innovative approach clashed completely with the rigid, traditional style of simply tracing figure-eights on the ice. The American skating world essentially rejected Haines, forcing him to take his talents to Europe.

Haines' “international style” eventually gained popularity worldwide, and today, he is celebrated as the father of modern figure skating. He also invented the sit spin, an element that is now essential at nearly every level and discipline of the sport.

5. Madge Syers outshines the men at their own game // 1902

At the dawn of the 20th century, figure skating competitions were considered a men's domain. Women didn’t compete individually at the highest levels (though they did take part in pairs events). But British skater Madge Syers broke that tradition by entering the World Figure Skating Championships in 1902. Her bold move caused a stir, but she was ultimately allowed to compete, finishing second and beating all the men except one, claiming the silver medal.

Her defiant actions sparked controversy, leading the International Skating Union to establish a separate competition for women in 1906. Madge went on to win that event twice, and later became Olympic champion at the 1908 Summer Games in London—the first Winter Olympics didn’t take place until 1924 in France, several years after Madge’s death in 1917.

6. Sonja Henie’s hemlines scandalize the skating world // 1920s

Sonja Henie, a Norwegian skater, was the star of figure skating in the early 20th century. This charming blonde was a three-time Olympic champion, a movie star, and an inspiration for many aspiring skaters. She brought glamour to the sport—well, she practically invented it. Henie was the first skater to wear scandalously short skirts and white skates. Before her, women wore long, conservative skirts and black skates. During WWII, a fabric shortage led to even shorter skirts than Henie’s usual daring length, and figure skating costume designers have never looked back since.

7. Katarina Witt’s costumes too provocative for the ice // 1980s

A stunning beauty from East Germany, Katarina Witt dominated women’s figure skating in the 1980s. A two-time Olympic champion in 1984 and 1988 and a six-time world champion, Witt was infamous for her sexy image. She often wore revealing costumes (one of which caused a wardrobe malfunction during a performance), and some critics even accused her of attempting to flirt with the judges to secure higher marks.

The ISU swiftly put a stop to the controversial costumes, instituting a rule that all female skaters must ensure their outfits 'do not give the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for an athletic sport.' The backlash forced Witt to add more fabric to her competition attire by the late '80s. But a decade later, she went the opposite direction, posing nude for the 1998 issue of Playboy.

8. Russian team sparks anger among Indigenous groups // 2010

The ISU selected 'country/folk' as the theme for the original dance segment (which has since been replaced by the 'short dance') in the ice dancing competition. Skaters were required to craft routines that reflected some aspect of country or folk dance through their music, costumes, and choreography. Unfortunately, the Russian pair of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin chose to depict Aboriginal tribal dance in their performance, wearing full bodysuits covered with their misguided version of Aboriginal body paint (and a loincloth).

Their performance at the European Championships sparked intense criticism from Aboriginal groups in both Australia and Canada, who were understandably outraged by the inaccuracy of both the costumes and the routine. Domnina and Shabalin toned down the outfits and improved the accuracy of their portrayal for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but the judges remained unimpressed. They ultimately received the bronze medal.

9. Mysterious plane crash claims U.S. team’s lives // 1961

In February 1961, the American figure skating team embarked on a flight from New York to Belgium, heading to the World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Tragically, the plane crashed during its attempt to land in Brussels, claiming the lives of all 72 people on board. Among the deceased were America's top skaters and coaches, including nine-time U.S. champion-turned-coach Maribel Vinson Owen and her 16-year-old daughter Laurence Owen, who had just won the U.S. ladies' national championship. The exact cause of the crash remains unclear.

Upon hearing the news of the crash, the ISU called off the competition, and the U.S. lost its long-standing dominance in figure skating for several years. In response, the United States Figure Skating Association set up a memorial fund to aid young athletes pursuing skating careers, including future Olympic champions like Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton.