In 2024, figure skating is not the sport it used to be: both in popularity, artistic ability, and pure athletic strength. In a digital age where audiences are drawn to high-stakes stunts and a storm of controversy (considering the impact of Beijing 2022), new viewers are used to the 'axel age' in which the best skater is whoever jumps highest and turns fastest. However, this debate raises questions about the sport’s balance between athleticism and artistry, sparking excitement and concern among fans and skaters alike.
The return of the backflip has ignited a fierce debate about the direction of figure skating. Many fans see it as an opportunity for the sport to modernize and attract new audiences. Arguing that allowing acrobatic stunts (like the backflip and cartwheel) will make routines more exciting and potentially bring in fans who might not otherwise be interested in skating’s traditional artistic elements. But traditionalists, who view skating as an art form, worry that focusing on acrobatic moves risks eroding the once expressive qualities that set figure skating apart from other sports. For them, the backflip represents a shift away from skating’s soul as a graceful, emotionally raw performance medium.
This shift is part of a larger trend in sports that emphasizes high-intensity, viral moments in hopes of rediscovering a once titan-like following. In recent years, figure skating has increasingly rewarded technically challenging jumps over intricate choreography, driven by scoring systems that prioritize points for difficulty: making Alexandra Trusova's five-quads world famous. As skaters aim to achieve more challenging tricks to stay competitive, the risk is that artistry becomes secondary to athletic spectacle.
The backflip, now reintegrated, has potential to set a new competitive standard that pushes skaters toward even more extreme elements, potentially at the cost of creative movement. The artistry embodied by figures like Yuzuru Hanyu and Yuna Kim, who are celebrated for transforming routines into works of emotional expression, risks being overshadowed by an emphasis on technical skills. This shift could move skating closer to a technical showcase, eroding its unique position as a blend of sport and art.
Yet, some are hopeful that the backflip might inspire a new fusion of athleticism and artistry. In the hands of an innovative skater, the backflip could be used to heighten dramatic moments, enhancing musical interpretation rather than serving as a mere acrobatic display. Skaters like Ilia Malinin, exemplify the potential to weave athletic feats into artistic storytelling, pushing the sport forward without abandoning its expressive roots.
As figure skating stands at this crossroads, the return of the backflip challenges the sport to harmonize its dual identity as both a competitive sport and performing art. Whether this decision will revitalize figure skating or steer it away from its artistry is still under consideration, but it is clear that this historic move has sparked a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of skating.
