The 2022 Beijing Olympics Women’s figure skating events take place on the 15th and 17th of February. The short program on the 15th and free skate on the 17th.
Thirty skaters from twenty three countries are scheduled to take part in the event. Here we will introduce all of the competitors.
Australia
Kailani Craine
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 61.62 | Heart of Glass by Blondie |
| 111.64 | Gangsta's Paradise |
| 167.84 |
Kailani Craine represents Australia and is 23 years old. This will be her second Olympics after placing 17th in 2018. Craine is a 6-time National champion and trains most of the time in California. Craine failed to make the free skate at 2021 Worlds and had to attend Nebelhorn Trophy to secure an Olympic quota, doing so by less than a point. Australia confirmed their Olympic athletes after Four Continents, Craine achieving a higher technical score than rival Victoria Alcantara over two competitions. Craine is the 2017 Nebelhorn Trophy champion.
Austria
Olga Mikutina
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 67.18 | My Nocturnal Serenade by Kevin Johio, Lucas Rehn Eires |
| 131.59 | Primavera / Experience by Ludovico Enaudi |
| 198.77 |
Olga Mikutina represents Austria and is 18 years old. At 2021 Worlds she became a breakout competitor, placing 8th at her first World championships. She was 24th at Europeans the prior season. Mikutina was born in Ukraine but began representing Austria in 2016 after her parents moved her there for better training conditions. Mikutina struggled with injury at the beginning of this season, having to withdraw from NHK Trophy. Failing to maintain her National title of the two years prior, Mikutina was still assigned to the Olympic team based on her performance from Worlds.
Azerbaijan
Ekaterina Ryabova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 65.47 | Mambo Italiano performed by Bette Middler |
| 131.28 | Notre Dame de Paris by Richard Cocciante, performed by Bruno Pelletier / Julie Zenatti |
| 196.75 |
Ekaterina Ryabova represents Azerbaijan and is 18 years old. Ryabova was born in Russia but never represented the country internationally. Ryabova used to train under Alexander Volkov and Evgeni Plushenko but due to changes in training conditions returned to being coached by her parents in 2020. She has placed 6th at Europeans twice, and is the 2021 Denis Ten Memorial silver medalist. Ryabova is in a relationship with French ice dancer Geoffrey Brissaud. Ryabova has mentioned she would like to become a choreographer after her competitive career.
Belarus
Viktoriia Safonova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 66.67 | Time to Say Goodbye performed by Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli |
| 128.27 | Your Heart Is As Black As Night by Melody Gardot / Power by Elliot Wheeler feat. Donna Missal |
| 192.49 |
Viktoriia Safonova represents Belarus and is 18 years old. Safonova previously skated for Russia but began representing Belarus in 2019. Safonova had to withdraw from 2021 Worlds after testing positive upon her arrival at the competition. She then earned the Olympic spot with a bronze medal performance at Nebelhorn Trophy. She is a two-time National champion and two-time Ice Star champion.
Belgium
Loena Hendrickx
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 76.25 | Caruso by Lucio Dalla, performed by Lara Fabian |
| 145.53 | The Mystic's Dream by Loreena McKennitt / Spirits by Chronis Taxidis / Mizmar vs Violin by Hamada Enani |
| 219.05 |
Loena Hendrickx represents Belgium and is 22 years old. She is coached by her brother Jorik Hendrickx who competed alongside her at the 2018 Olympics, where she placed 16th. Hendrickx missed most of the 18-19 season and all of the 19-20 season due to injuries. In 2021 she won bronze at the Gran Premio D’Italia, the first Grand Prix medal achieved by a Belgian woman. She earned the Olympic spot for Belgium placing 5th at 2021 Worlds. Hendrickx would like to become a teacher after her skating career. She will be co-flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony.
Bulgaria
Alexandra Feigin
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 60.90 | The Terry Theme (from "Limelight") by Charlie Chaplin |
| 116.62 | Supplication of the Firebird (from "The Firebird") by Igor Stravinski |
| 177.37 |
Alexandra Feigin represents Bulgaria and is 19 years old. Feigin was born in Israel but has always skated for Bulgaria. She’s the first woman to represent Bulgaria in the sport at the Olympics since 1998 and the country’s first representative since 2006. She earned the quota placing 17th at 2021 Worlds. Feigin is an 8-time National champion (senior and junior) and 2020 Budapest Trophy bronze medalist. She had knee surgery during the off-season.
Canada
Madeline Schizas
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 68.77 | My Sweet and Tender Beast by Evgeni Doga |
| 125.44 | Entrance of Butterfly / Un Bel Di Vedremo (from "Madam Butterfly") by Giacomo Puccini |
| 192.14 |
Madeline Schizas represents Canada and is 18 years old (she turns 19 during the Olympics). Schizas never had much success as a Junior, and wasn’t really on anybody’s radar until placing 3rd at Nationals in 2020. After appearing as a frontrunner in the Canadian field and winning Skate Canada Challenge in lieu of a cancelled Nationals, Schizas was sent to 2021 Worlds where she placed 13th. She became National champion by a huge margin this season and confirmed her Olympic spot. Schizas was a skating double in the Netflix series Spinning Out.
China
Yi Zhu
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 60.00 | Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones, perf. by London Symphony Orchestra |
| 111.25 | Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 171.25 |
Yi Zhu represents China and is 19 years old. Her American name is Beverly Zhu. Before switching to China in 2018 she skated for the USA domestically. Zhu was previously coached by Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson at the Toronto Cricket Club but relocated her training to China. She placed 9th at the Gran Premio D’Italia this season after the Grand Prix in China was cancelled. A series of domestic events were held for China to decide their singles Olympians, with Zhu beating out competitors Shan Lin and Hongyi Chen for the spot.
Czech Republic
Eliška Březinová
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 59.62 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Annie Lennox, David Stewart |
| 110.92 | Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, perf. by Virtuosi Italiani / Circles by Ludovico Einaudi, Greta Svabo Bech, perf. by Greta Svabo Bech / Experience (Starkey Remix) by Ludovico Einaudi, perf. by Virtuosi Italiani, Starkey |
| 166.77 |
Eliška Březinová represents the Czech Republic and is 25 years old. She is the younger sister of fellow Olympic competitor, Michal Brezina, however unlike him this will be her first Olympics. She is coached by their father, Rudolf Brezina. Eliska earned her Olympic spot competing at the World Championships in 2021 where she placed 22nd. Eliska has been competing internationally since 2009 and has appeared at 8 European Championships and 7 World Championships. Her programs this season are choreographed by Benoit Richaud.
Estonia
Eva-Lotta Kiibus
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 65.37 | Baiana by Barbatuques |
| 137.51 | Shalllow by Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper / I'll Never Love Again by Lady Gaga |
| 202.04 |
Eva-Lotta Kiibus represents Estonia and is 19 years old. She is coached by ‘84 and ‘88 Olympian Anna Levandi. Kiibus is the 2020 Nebelhorn Trophy champion and was 7th at Europeans the same year. Kiibus earned the spot for Estonia placing 14th at 2021 Worlds. She has struggled to overcome a foot injury caused by boot issues this season, with domestic rival Niina Petrokina repeatedly besting her. However, Estonia’s criteria was that as long as Kiibus maintained a National silver medal and one of the two places at Europeans, the Olympic spot would be hers.
Finland
Jenni Saarinen
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 68.71 | Clair de lune by Claude Debussy |
| 121.14 | Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor Adagio Sostenuto by Sergei Rachmaninov |
| 181.20 |
Jenni Saarinen represents Finland and is 22 years old. Saarinen qualified an Olympic quota for Finland by placing 24th at Worlds. She is capable of incredibly strong short program performances but is frequently let down with disappointing free skates. It seemed as if it would be between her and rival Emmi Peltonen for the Olympic spot until Peltonen had to get surgery on a long-standing injury. Saarinen won her first National title this year, but only finished 18th at Europeans due to ill-preparation after suffering from norovirus.
Georgia
Anastasiia Gubanova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 69.56 | Une vie d'amour performed by Mireille Mathieu |
| 134.41 | Letters / Charms (W.E. soundtrack) by Abel Korzeniowski |
| 203.91 |
Anastasiia Gubanova represents Georgia and is 19 years old. She previously skated for Russia and is the 2016 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist. Gubanova is the 2021 Golden Spin champion. Georgia’s Olympic spot was earned by domestic rival Alina Urushadze, as Gubanova wasn’t cleared to compete for Georgia until this season. However, her better results than Urushadze throughout the season secured her the spot. Gubanova suffered from coronavirus in the autumn, causing her to withdraw from the Cup of Austria and negatively affecting her stamina.
Germany
Nicole Schott
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 64.09 | Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Milva |
| 123.63 | Rain, In Your Black Eyes by Ezio Bosso |
| 186.66 |
Nicole Schott represents Germany and is 25 years old. She placed 18th at the 2018 Olympics. Schott is a 6-time National champion. Schott is the 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy and Golden Spin bronze medalist and 2016 Warsaw Cup champion. She earned an Olympic spot for Germany placing 18th at 2021 Worlds. She worked with Olympic medalist and World champion Carolina Kostner in preparation for the Olympic season.
Great Britain
Natasha McKay
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 58.15 | Sealion by Feist |
| 105.28 | Ocean's 8 (soundtrack) by Daniel Pemberton |
| 162.54 |
Natasha McKay represents Great Britain and is 27 years old. She is the oldest woman competing in the singles discipline. McKay is a 5-time National champion and has appeared at 5 European Championships and 4 World championships. She is a two-time Tayside Trophy champion and 2018 Golden Bear champion. She qualified a spot for Great Britain placing 23rd at 2021 Worlds, a remarkable feat considering her lower than average technical content and disrupted training time due to the pandemic.
Japan
Wakaba Higuchi
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 79.73 | Your Song by Ellie Goulding, Elton John |
| 141.04 | The Lion King |
| 207.46 |
Wakaba Higuchi represents Japan and is 21 years old. She narrowly missed making the 2018 Olympic team, placing 4th at Nationals, and went on to win the silver medal at Worlds that season. Higuchi has landed a triple axel in international competition and will be attempting it at the Olympics. Higuchi is a 4-time National silver medalist, and her silver this season secured her a spot on the Olympic team. Her Lion King free skate is a fan favourite program this season.
Mana Kawabe
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 73.88 | Shadow 5 by Max Richter / Winter 1 by Max Richter, Antonio Vivaldi |
| 133.22 | Miracle by Sarah Brightman, Yoshiki |
| 205.44 |
Mana Kawabe represents Japan and is 17 years old. Kawabe was 4th at the Youth Olympics. She has been attempting the triple axel for several years and finally ratified it internationally at NHK Trophy this season, where she earned the silver medal. Landing the jump again at Nationals assured her of a 3rd place finish and she was chosen for the Olympic team. She is coached by Mie Hamada.
Kaori Sakamoto
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 77.78 | Now We Are Free (from "Gladiator") by Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer arranged by Cedric Tour |
| 150.29 | No More Fight Left In Me by Imany, Armand Amar / Tris by Elilie Goulding, Junkie XL |
| 228.07 |
Kaori Sakamoto represents Japan and is 21 years old. Sakamoto placed 6th at the 2018 Olympics. She is the 2018 Four Continents champion and two-time NHK Trophy champion. Sakamoto is also a two-time National champion. She is best friends with training mate Mai Mihara, who narrowly missed earning an Olympic spot, she cited Mihara missing the 19-20 season due to poor health as a factor in her lacklustre results that year. Sakamoto would have been the only non-Russian participant in this year’s women’s Grand Prix Final, which was eventually cancelled.
Netherlands
Lindsay van Zundert
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 57.90 | 11 Past The Hour by Imelda May arranged by Cedric Tour |
| 116.78 | Le Discours d'Arthur / Urgence / Lay It On by Jerome Rebotier, Jul Peciers, Rover |
| 174.50 |
Lindsay van Zundert represents the Netherlands and is 17 years old. She earned a quota for the country at the 2021 World Championships, placing 16th. Van Zundert then triumphed over compatriot Niki Wories in competitions earlier this season to confirm her spot. This is the first time a Dutch figure skater is taking part in the Olympics since 1976. Van Zundert is coached by retired skater, Thomas Kennes. She is co-flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony.
Poland
Ekaterina Kurakova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 67.47 | Sentimental Waltz by Petr I. Tchaikovski |
| 137.26 | Terry Theme from Limelight (Charlie Chaplin) performed by Lisa Batiashvili |
| 204.73 |
Ekaterina Kurakova represents Poland and is 19 years old. Previously in her career she skated for Russia, but was never given many international opportunities. Until the pandemic hit, she was training with Brian Orser in Toronto, however, she has relocated her training to split between Poland and Italy. Kurakova, due to training issues and injury, failed to make the free skate at 2021 Worlds and didn’t qualify an Olympic spot. A personal best skate and 2nd place finish at Nebelhorn Trophy earned the quota. She is a 4-time National champion. Kurakova is recognisable for her overjoyed reaction to good skates, and a high performance quality in her programs.
ROC (Russian Olympic Committee)
Anna Shcherbakova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 81.07 | Dangerous Affairs / Total View by Inon Zur |
| 168.37 | Ruska by Apocalyptica / The Master and Margarita (soundtrack) by Igor Korneliuk / Lacrimosa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by David Garrett |
| 241.65 |
Anna Shcherbakova represents ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) and is 17 years old. She is the reigning World Champion, and 3-time National champion. Shcherbakova was the first senior woman to successfully land a quad lutz internationally. She is a two-time European silver medalist and Grand Prix Final silver medalist. During her first senior season, she had a notable costume change during a spin where her dress would change from blue to red and orange. Shcherbakova has never finished lower than 2nd at any senior competition she’s competed in internationally.
Alexandra Trusova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 77.69 | Frida (soundtrack) by Elliot Goldenthal |
| 166.62 | Cruella (soundtrack) |
| 241.02 |
Alexandra Trusova represents ROC and is 17 years old. She is a two-time Junior World Champion and the 2021 Worlds bronze medalist. Trusova, known as the Quad Queen or the Russian Rocket, was the first woman to land the quad lutz, quad flip, and quad toe loop in international competition. She is the only skater to compete with 4 different quad jumps, those mentioned before as well as the Salchow. Despite attempting it many times, she has failed to land a triple axel internationally, often putting her at a deficit in scoring that she has to climb out of with her free skate content. Trusova is an avid dog lover and always brings one to competitions with her.
Kamila Valieva
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 90.45 | In Memoriam by Kirill Richter |
| 185.29 | Bolero by Maurice Ravel |
| 272.71 |
Kamila Valieva represents ROC and is 15 years old. She has won every competition she’s entered internationally and is the favourite to win these Olympics. She is also the reigning National champion. Valieva holds the World record scores in the short, free, and combined score. She is known for completing jumps with a Rippon, which is having both arms above the head, a move named after US skater Adam Rippon. Valieva is one of few skaters who have both a triple axel and quads in her repertoire. She is the youngest skater competing at these Olympics.
South Korea
Yelim Kim
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 73.63 | Liebestraum by Franz Liszt, performed by Josef Bulva |
| 140.98 | Violin Fantasy on Puccini's Turandot by Vanessa Mae |
| 209.91 |
Yelim Kim represents South Korea and is 19 years old. She is this season’s Four Continents bronze medalist and 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalist. She is the 2021 National champion. Kim is regarded as having one of the best triple lutz-triple toe combination jumps in the world due to the height and distance she travels on the jumps. Kim was the second South Korean woman to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final after Olympic champion Yuna Kim.
Young You
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 78.22 | Whirling Winds (The Leftovers soundtrack) by Ludovico Einaudi |
| 149.68 | Les Miserables (soundtrack) |
| 223.23 |
Young You represents South Korea and is 17 years old. She is the 2020 Youth Olympic champion and 2020 Four Continents silver medalist. You was the youngest ever South Korean National champion at the age of 11, and has been National champion 5 times. You was the 11th woman to land a triple axel cleanly and and almost always includes it in both her short and free skate layout. You was inspired to start skating after watching Yuna Kim win the Olympics in 2010.
Sweden
Josefin Taljegård
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 61.58 | Ready Or Not by Mischa "Book"Chillak feat. Esthero / Ready Or Not Here I Come by District 78 Feat. Cheesa |
| 116.52 | Joker (soundtrack) by Storsveit Nix Noltes |
| 178.10 |
Josefin Taljegård represents Sweden and is 26 years old. Taljegård is popular among fans for her performance quality, gaining notoriety for her Joker free skate. She finished 15th at 2021 Worlds, earning a spot for Sweden, but her Olympic spot was in limbo as the Swedish Olympic Committee wanted her to achieve a score equal to 8th place Olga Mikutina to prove her potential. Taljegård has lower technical content, so this score was unattainable. Taljegård and male skater Majorov were still approved for the Olympics despite not meeting the initial requirements. Taljegård is also an actress.
Switzerland
Alexia Paganini
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 68.82 | La Cumparsita performed by Milva |
| 124.06 | Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov |
| 192.88 |
Alexia Paganini represents Switzerland and is 20 years old. She was 21st at the 2018 Olympics. Paganini is a 4-time National champion and has finished as high as 4th at Europeans. After a poor short program at 2021 Worlds she failed to make the free skate and qualify ban Olympic spot. Paganini competed at Nebelhorn Trophy and placed 4th to earn the quota. She used to skate for the USA and train there, but now trains in Switzerland under Olympian Gheorghe Chiper.
Ukraine
Anastasiia Shabotova
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 63.92 | Carol of the Bells by Tommee Profitt / Shchedrick by Nikolay Leontovich |
| 117.45 | James Bond (soundtrack) |
| 177.70 |
Anastasiia Shabotova represents Ukraine and is 16 years old. She was the 12th woman to land a triple axel cleanly. She was too young to compete at 2021 Worlds, with this season being her first year of Senior eligibility. She earned Ukraine an Olympic spot at Nebelhorn Trophy, and with her result, they were able to qualify for the team event at the Olympics too. She previously skated domestically for Russia but began representing Ukraine in 2019. She is a 3-time Ukrainian champion.
USA
Mariah Bell
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 71.26 | River Flows In You by Yiruma |
| 142.64 | Hallelujah performed by K.D. Lang |
| 212.89 |
Mariah Bell represents the USA and is 25 years old. In qualifying for the Olympics she became the oldest US woman to do so since 1928. She is 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy champion and has won 4 Grand Prix medals. Bell won Nationals for the first time this year. She’s coached by Rafael Arutyunyan and 2018 Olympian Adam Rippon. Bell has a dog called Nala. She’s good friends with men’s competitor Nathan Chen.
Karen Chen
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 74.40 | Requiem for a Tower performed by Escala, arranged by Hugo Chouinard / Requiem for a Dream performed by Jennifer Thomas, arranged by Hugo Chouinard |
| 134.99 | Butterfly Lovers (Violin Concerto) performed by Takako Nishizaki |
| 208.63 |
Karen Chen represents the USA and is 22 years old. She placed 11th at the 2018 Olympics. Chen has had a key role in ensuring the USA had 3 Olympic spots in both 2017 and 2021, placing 4th at Worlds both of those times. She enrolled in Cornell University but deferred her education to focus on qualifying for these Olympics. Her younger brother Jeffrey competes in ice dance and she’s in a relationship with training mate Camden Pulkinen. Chen is known for her spirals, a move reminiscent of skaters from the 6.0 era.
Alysa Liu
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 74.31 | Gypsy Dance (Don Quixote: Act II) by Ludwig Minkus |
| 144.93 | Violin Concerto in D, op. 35 by Petr I. Tchaikovski, perforemd by Joshua Bell |
| 219.24 |
Alysa Liu represents the USA and is 16 years old. She was the first US woman to land a quad and first woman to land a quad and triple axel in the same program. Liu is a two-time National champion and a Junior Worlds bronze medalist. Due to injury and the pandemic, Liu only competed at Nationals in the 20-21 season. This was the first season of Senior eligibility for Liu, and they won two Challenger competitions, confirming a third spot for US women at the Olympics. Liu had to withdraw from Nationals after testing positive for coronavirus, but was awarded an Olympic spot on her body of work. Liu uses she/they pronouns.
Bonus: Team event
The women’s team event takes place on February 6th and 7th. One woman will take part in the team event and not the individual event.
Italy
Lara Naki Gutmann
| ISU Personal Best Scores (Short/Free/Total) | Music (Short/Free) |
|---|---|
| 62.41 | Elizabeth by Ashram / Maria and the Violin's String by Ashram |
| 119.14 | Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov / The Garden of Sherazade by Iasonas & Issahar |
| 179.59 |
Lara Naki Gutmann represents Italy and is 19 years old. She failed to qualify a quota for Italy at Nebelhorn Trophy by less than a point, and was first reserve if any country was to rescind their spot. As Italy qualified spots in Men’s, Pairs, and Ice Dance, an additional athlete quota could be used just to participate in the Team event. After winning Nationals for the second consecutive year, Gutmann was assigned the team event spot.
