WINTER OLYMPIC SPECIAL: The Beauty and Drama of Figure Skating

26 snips

Feb 2, 2026

Jackie Wong, figure skating analyst and founder of Rocker Skating, and former coach and judge, takes listeners behind the curtain of elite skating. He discusses blade tech and sharpening, program music choices and mash-ups, the quad revolution and scoring mechanics. He also explains competition structure, rule cycles and who to watch for Milan 2026.

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ADVICE

Blend Tracks Intentionally For Rhythm Dance

You can mash multiple songs into one program to shape timing and audience reaction, but do it carefully for coherence.
Choose tempos that match required beats per minute and consider crowd impact on judges.

ADVICE

Rehearse Often And Secure Music Rights

Expect programs to be competed several times each season and rehearsed daily; change mid-season only if necessary.
Clear music rights early because licensing issues can force late program switches.

INSIGHT

Two-Part Scoring: Tech And Components

Scoring splits into a technical element score (base value + grade of execution) and a program component score for composition and skating skills.
A technical panel calls elements in real time so judges only rate execution and components.

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Figure skating is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics as it combines world-class athleticism with dance, choreography and music. Jackie Wong is one of the world's leading experts on figure skating and takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to be among the best in the world. From blade sharpening to music choice (the Back Street Boys will be the most popular band in Milan 2026!), figure skaters are defined by their ability to pull off daring manoeuvres with grace against the backdrop of judges watching for the smallest mistake. Wong shares some of his favourite stories from the ice, the routines and stars that have defined the sport and who, and what, to watch for in 2026. Wong is a figure skating analyst and blogs and tweets as Rocker Skating on both his website and podcast. He was a novice skater but has worked as both a judge and coach before covering the sport as an analyst and blogger from 2009.

SHOW NOTES

Jackie's website

Jackie's Podcast with co-hosts Michelle Ellis and Tara Nichols

Jackie Wong (born April 11, 1982) is a figure skating analyst.[1][2] He blogs, tweets and sells merchandise as Rocker Skating as well as hosting the Ice Talk podcast at Ice Network.[3] He is based in New York.[4]

Wong has worked for architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and is currently an associate consultant at McKinsey & Company.[5] A former novice skater who has passed the U.S. Figure Skating juvenile tests and worked as a coach and a judge, he began covering figure skating for Examiner.com in 2009.[6]

He created Rocker Skating as a graduate business school project at the University of Pennsylvania in 2015 and began attracting sponsorships.[7] His commentary ranges from offering technical play-by-plays[8] to sharing his opinions on a skater's choice of costumes and music.[9]

Wong has a bachelor's degree in economics and urban studies from Stanford University, a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design and an MBA from Penn's Wharton School.[6] He contributed to the University of Pennsylvania's biomedical research department by analyzing the movement and positions of the arms, legs and head of ice skaters and presenting them as 3D models.[10] He was selected to compete in Season 36 of "Jeopardy!"[11] and came in second place on the episode that aired May 19, 2020.[12]

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