Science Friday Jump, Spin, Glide: The Science Of Figure Skating
Feb 18, 2026
Deborah King, a biomechanics professor who studies figure skating, breaks down the sport with scientific flair. She explores how skaters generate rapid rotation, the physics behind the quadruple axel, and the huge g-forces on landings. She also explains body shape, blade mechanics, and how on-ice skills transfer to other sports.
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Guest's Casual Skating Background
- Deborah King recalls skating casually on outdoor rinks and ponds but never competing.
- She contrasts that informal experience with the elite skills discussed in the interview.
Quadruple Axel's Unique Challenge
- The quadruple axle is unique because it takes off forward and requires four and a half revolutions to land backward.
- Skaters achieve this in about 0.8–0.9 seconds, demanding extremely fast rotation and body awareness.
Height Plus Snap Enables Faster Spins
- Ilia Malinin pairs exceptional vertical height with a fast, tight tuck to maximize rotation time.
- Rapidly snapping into a compact position minimizes wasted airtime and increases revolutions per second.