Today's most exciting figure skaters are spotlighted in this richly illustrated book, updated to include the 2003 Worlds competition. Photos.

The contemporary era has been the most revolutionary for women in sports, with more females involved in athletics than ever before, at all age and skill levels, largely due to the push to make school sports inclusive for girls and women. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to and historical overview of figure skating. It covers all aspects of participation in the sport and staying safe on the ice. Included are anecdotal and inspirational success stories of figure-skating luminaries, and special attention is paid to recent advances and trends in the sport.

Of all winter sports, none is so widely watched and commented upon by the media as figure skating, which is often considered the Winter Olympics' centerpiece. This critical text examines the ways in which media attention has gradually altered and affected the sport, from the early appearances of Sonja Henie, to skating's gradual audience growth via television, and to the ramifications of the scandals in the 1994 and 2002 Olympics. The topic is illuminated by more than 30 interviews with commentators, skaters, producers, directors and others. In addition to numerous photos, illustrations show the compulsory figures for which "figure skating" got its name, as well as a sample of the charted-out "camera blocking" for TV directors. Appendices include collected anecdotes from early broadcasting experiences; a profile of broadcaster Jim McKay; and commentary from Carol Heiss on her 1961 musical Snow White and the Three Stooges.

Introduces the history, equipment, jumps, spins, and competitions of the sport of figure skating.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, these figure skaters and other top competitors will show off their amazing jumps and spins-and perhaps join the ranks of America's medal winners from winters past.

Figure skating, which is the world's most popular winter Olympic sport, is the subject of this volume. Though figure skaters are often known for their theatrical and artistic performances, author Jennifer MacKay outlines for readers the complex physical and biomechanical properties at work in this beautiful and demanding sport. From the development of the indoor ice rink, to the application of Newton's laws of motion, to the psychological challenges faced by many skaters, MacKay explores how these athletes achieve amazing physical accomplishments and perfect their art.