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Figure skating is one of the most beautiful athletic sports, yet it is also grueling, dangerous, and extremely competitive. Every four years, hundreds of figure skaters around the world compete at the highest levels of their sport for a chance to represent their country at the Olympics, and dream of winning Olympic Gold. And every four years, millions of viewers watch these events to cheer for their favorite competitors. But watching figure skating can be confusing. How does this new scoring system work? Why did the skater that fell on a jump earn a higher score than the one that didn't? How did the athletes get chosen to be on their Olympic teams? You will find answers to these questions and many more in this book. You will learn about the different jumps, spins, and other elements skaters use in their performances. You will find extensive information about the International Judging System (IJS), which has been in use for 15 years but is still referred to as the "new" system. You will learn about the long road skaters take to fight their way up the competitive ranks for the chance to be the best figure skater in the world. This book will give you all the information you need to get the most enjoyment from watching the beauty and heartbreak of competitive figure skating.
