Quiz

Olympics

BuzzFeed Staff

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Is it a flying camel or a jumping squirrel? (And, yes, one of these is an actual move.)

Figure Skating Is The Hottest Sport In The Olympics, But Can You Name Its Beginner Moves?

Naming Figure Skating Moves Olympic Quiz

Everyone Loves Watching Figure Skating At The Olympics — See If You Can Name Some Of Its Basic Moves

shot of a figure skater's boot with ice flying up

Before we get into it, a couple announcements: 1. I figure skated for a decade, and while I'm sure there are some regional/language differences between certain moves, these are the ones I grew up hearing, both in practice and at competitions. 2. There's, of course, rotation variations between jumps (for example, a triple vs. a quad), so I won't be judging you on your ability to guess the number of turns that occur within split seconds.

More specifically, it's a triple Axel! The jump is unique for its additional half rotation; skaters enter it while moving forward and land — as with all jumps — backward. It gets a lot of hate for its difficult entrance (and that pesky half rotation), but I, personally, will die on its hill!

Let's start with an easy one: What is the name of this jump? (Featuring the LOML, two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan.)

Mirai at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships

If you picked Salchow, don't sweat it too much. Both Salchow and loop jumps (usually) utilize a three-turn entrance (named for an edge move that literally looks like a 3 carved onto the ice). The main difference — Salchow jumps take off from the opposite leg you land on: If you're a righty, you'll take off on your left foot; if you're a lefty, you start with your right and land on your left. In addition, loop jumps take off from the blade's outside edge, whereas Salchows take off from the inside.

How about this jump? (Courtesy of Mirai Nagasu, the first American woman to land a triple Axel at the Olympics.)

gif of Nathan at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Nathan "king of quad jumps" Chen is shown here doing a 4F+3T, aka a quad flip plus triple toe loop jump. The base score for this element is literally enormous ( [15.07](https://usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/Scoring%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf) to be exact), and his effortless execution means that it'll likely be worth around 20 points total. If you see a jump combination where the skater vaults upward into the second jump via their toe pick (that spiky thing at the front of the blade), it's always a toe loop combo.

Let's turn up the difficulty level: What is the name for this jump combination? (That's American Olympian Nathan Chen, BTW.)

Yulia's signature spin, the hammer, is named after its literal resemblance to making a figure skater look like a hammer. Before you ask, yes, it is as painful as it looks regardless of how flexible you are (unless you're Yulia).

Let's get even more obscure: What spin is this? (Courtesy of Russian Olympian Yulia Lipnitskaya.)

No, I'm not pulling your leg: All of the [aforementioned](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ulQXlxoCB8) [answer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G34Pl-f_HAk) [choices](https://ice-blog.riedellskates.com/your-guide-to-figure-skating-spins/#:~:text=Pancake%20spin:%20Considered%20a%20higher,upper%20body%20bent%20over%20it.) are real spins except for the third one. A death drop distinguishes itself from a flying camel in that the jump entrance immediately transitions into a sitting position (aptly titled a sit spin) prior to landing on the ice, whereas a flying camel remains in the camel spin position upon landing.

How about this spin?

Alissa Czisny of the USA skates in the Ladies Free Skating during day four of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at Taipei Arena

Named after Swiss figure skater Denise Biellmann, the spin is an iconic one that usually closes out women's long programs. An ending variation of the layback spin (which often goes from the layback, to the haircutter, and finally to the Biellmann), it's a sight to behold and can make for a truly electrifying last move. Watch Alissa perform the spin around the 4:45 mark [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gvqVM3fh0).

What spin is this? (Courtesy of two-time U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, who has one of the best spinning capabilities of all time, don't @ me.)

Here's the rundown: Adam's signature jump was a triple Lutz performed with both arms above his head, called the [Rippon Lutz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spyhUMUEcaU). Meanwhile, Russia's [Adelina](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/41/16/31411684dd1e78ea451f9a21e2c38791.jpg) and South Korea's [Yuna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm8nM57U9DE) both had signature spins coined after them. While reigning Olympic champ Alina's name was lended to a figure skating term, it's actually not for a move; the powerhouse skater from Russia often backloaded her long program with jumps (frequently all seven of them) for the added 10% bonus, leading her to be unbeatable in competition. As a result, the International Skating Union (ISU) instituted the "[Zagitova Rule](https://www.ifsmagazine.com/new-season-new-rules/)" to limit the number of jumps performed in the latter half of the long program.

Certain figure skaters with signature flairs or innovative approaches to elements have moves named after them. Which of the following is NOT a figure skater that has a self-titled move?

The Shibutani ice dancing twins at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships

That's a [twizzle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiURy_UJoPI), courtesy of everyone's favorite Olympic sibling pair, Maia and Alex Shibutani of the U.S. It's described by the ISU as "a traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations which is quickly rotated with a continuous action," which is just a complicated way of saying it is ridiculously hard and has always been my personal nemesis. They sure are fun though — that is, when you don't trip and faceplant. (P.S. a "twirl" is not a figure skating move that exists, but a Mohawk is a [very real](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRyuif5OU74) footwork element.)

OK, you might know some spins and jumps, but let's test your footwork knowledge. This move is most prominent in ice dancing routines, but every skater does them. What's its name?

Miu Suzaki and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan compete at the 2018 Olympics

Clearly, whoever named this move (and most figure skating elements, honestly) is a troll. Yes, it is _actually_ called a death spiral. No, this fact apparently does not seem to deter pairs skaters (not that it really can, as it's a required element).

A common move seen in pairs skating, what's the name for this?

A flutz is a portmanteau of flip+Lutz, and can alternatively (read: incorrectly) be called a "lip." Flips and Lutz jumps are nearly identical, save for the fact that the former takes off from an inside edge and the latter from an outside one. That's what makes Lutzes harder to perform, and why the jump has a higher base value. Sometimes, a skater will do a flutz jump by accidentally reverting to the inside edge while performing a Lutz, which will result in a [deduction](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/23/sports/olympics/0223-downgrade.html?hp=#:~:text=The%20skater%20enters%20the%20jump,as%20much%20as%203%20points.) of up to three points.

Miraculously, the "donkey kick" is not a thing that exists in figure skating. However, a "mule kick" is very much a real thing. While not _technically_ a move, it's when a skater's leg reaches excessively high while getting ready to take off for a toe jump. An example can be seen in decorated Japanese figure skater Kanako Murakami's long program [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOTyn59-Ps), around the 1:20 mark.

Now, let's freestyle (LOL). Which of the following is NOT a real element in figure skating (whether a jump, spin, or footwork move)?

Most commonly referred to as a "popped" jump, doing a double (or single) rotation as opposed to a triple will result in a downgraded score (in both base value and execution). It's also a very clearly under-rotated jump. In this GIF, American Olympian Ashley Wagner was supposed to perform a triple loop-half-loop-triple-Salchow combo; she instead does a triple loop-half-loop-single-Salchow. (Hint: You can tell when most skaters pop a jump not only through the under-rotation, but through the way their arms and legs will "pop" out from their body.)

Lightning round: You're competing at the Olympics, and unfortunately had to pull out of a triple jump at the last minute, only succeeding in doing a double. What is NOT a term for this?

According to the ISU, skaters may not perform any "somersault-type jumps" since [1976](https://deadspin.com/no-the-backflip-was-not-banned-in-figure-skating-becau-1822904068). Of course, the most famous (and only skater) to perform a backflip in Olympic competition was France's Surya Bonaly, who did so [knowing](https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/surya-bonaly-backflips-figure-skating-fashion-discrimination) the element would negatively affect her score.

OK, so you might know \*some\* moves. But do you know which of the following is banned in competition?

gif of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir skating

Those are crossovers, courtesy of Canadian ice dancing legends Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir! It's the most common way skaters pick up their speed in routines. A good rule of thumb is to not have more than three of them in a row, to make sure one's routine remains artistic and interesting.

Finally, what is this called?

Oof, it's time to pick yourself up off of the ice and brush up on your figure skating glossary. You may be an Olympic enthusiast, but your knowledge stops short of more complex moves and rules.

gif of Adam Rippon walking and flashing a small smile

Preliminary

You definitely know (some of) your stuff! It's certainly not your first free skate, but you could stand to improve your skills. Hey, no one landed a triple on the first go around either!

still from Tom & Jerry with the former skating

Novice

Psh! You didn't even break a sweat! You either grew up with the sport or you are way, _way_ too invested. Regardless, I salute you and bestow upon you an imaginary gold medal worthy of your savvy.

gif of Mirai in the Kiss and Cry booth wiping sweat off of her forehead

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Figure Skating Is The Hottest Sport In The Olympics, But Can You Name Its Beginner Moves?

Hi, it's me, your trusty BuzzFeed staff writer, coming to interrupt your Olympic viewing with this figure skating-themed quiz. I know you've been obsessively watching everything from the team event to the men's short program, but can you actually name some of the sport's basic moves?

Alrighty, that's it, so let's jump right in!

To learn more about the ISU and figure skating competition rules, click here.

Figure Skating Is The Hottest Sport In The Olympics, But Can You Name Its Beginner Moves?

Hi, it's me, your trusty BuzzFeed staff writer, coming to interrupt your Olympic viewing with this figure skating-themed quiz. I know you've been obsessively watching everything from the team event to the men's short program, but can you actually name some of the sport's basic moves?

Alrighty, that's it, so let's jump right in!

To learn more about the ISU and figure skating competition rules, click here.

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