History of Synchronized Skating

Timeline *(from usfigureskating.org) Synchronized skating began nearly 50 years ago, when the first group of skaters was organized to perform at University of Michigan ice hockey games in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It has since grown into a competitive discipline of skating with thousands of athletes participating all over the world. 1954 Dr. Richard Porter pioneered modern synchronized skating when he organized the first group of team skaters in Ann Arbor, Mich. 1976 The first official team skating compeition was held in Ann Arbor, Mich. 1984 The first U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships was held in Bowling Green, Ohio, with 38 teams participating. 1989 Sweden hosted the first international synchronized skating competition with teams from seven countries participating. 1994 The International Skating Union (ISU) officially recognized synchronized skating at the ISU Congress. 1996 The U.S. hosted the first World Synchronized Skating Challenge Cup with 17 teams from 13 countries. 2000 The ISU conducted the first World Synchronized Skating Championships, held in Minneapolis, Minn., with 21 teams from 16 countries participating. The U.S. named the first U.S. World Synchronized Skating Team comprised of 48 athletes. 2003 U.S. Figure Skating held the 20th U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships in Huntsville, Ala., with more than 2,200 athletes on 104 teams participating. 2007 Synchronized skating is added to the World University Games schedule. Miami University represents U.S. Figure Skating and finishes fourth. 2007 Team USA wins its first medal at the World Synchronized Skating Championships as the Miami University Synchronized Skating Team, from Oxford, Ohio, brings home the silver. 2008 U.S. Figure Skating holds the 25th U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, hosted by the Colonial FSC in Providence, R.I. Approximately 4,500 athletes on 288 synchronized skating teams enter their respective sectional championships in hopes of qualifying for this event. 2010 U.S. Figure Skating is scheduled to host the 2010 World Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.