Technical factors associated with competitive success in elite men’s free skating at the ISU World Championships (2023–2026)

Abstract

Problem Statement. The increasing technical complexity of elite men’s figure skating has increasingly prompted the need to identify the performance factors that contribute most substantially to competitive success under the International Judging System (IJS). Although prior studies have examined individual aspects of performance, including jump difficulty, judging scores, and biomechanical characteristics, evidence integrating multiple technical performance indicators remains limited. Many investigations have relied on data from a single competition or a restricted number of athletes, which limits the generalizability of their findings. Approach. A retrospective observational study was conducted using official International Skating Union (ISU) protocols from the World Figure Skating Championships held between 2023 and 2026. The sample comprised 96 free skating performances by all skaters who qualified for that segment. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was employed to assess the relationships between individual technical variables and the Total Segment Score (TSS). Multiple linear regression analysis was subsequently performed to identify the independent technical predictors of competitive success. Purpose. This study aims to determine the independent contribution of technical performance indicators to competitive success in elite men’s figure skating. Results. The final regression model explained 78.8% of the variance in the Total Segment Score (R² = 0.788). The number of clean quadruple jumps emerged as the strongest independent predictor of competitive performance, followed by the number of clean triple jumps, mean spin level, step sequence level, and the number of falls. Correlation analysis further demonstrated significant positive associations between the Total Segment Score and Base Value, Grade of Execution, clean quadruple jumps, mean spin level, and step sequence level. In contrast, falls and several execution errors were negatively associated with competitive performance. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that competitive success in elite men’s figure skating depends not only on technical difficulty but also on the consistent execution and quality of technical elements throughout the program. Clean execution of quadruple and triple jumps, high spin and step sequence levels, and avoidance of falls are key factors in success at the World Championship level. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for coaches and athletes in optimizing program composition, technical preparation, and training strategies, while also contributing to a fuller understanding of the technical factors associated with elite competitive performance.