Every four years, people tune into their countries’ national championships and think, “Oh, the top [# of spots] skaters are going to go the Olympics!” And every four years, there is bound to be confusion, anger, and surprise, because it doesn’t happen in every case. Why? Many countries adopt selection procedures that range from a strict adherence to competition scores to an analysis of a body of work across a specific period of time. It is actually rare that countries—particularly the major figure skating powerhouse countries—determine their Olympic spots through nationals alone, even though the results of those competitions are often aligned with the selected athletes.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of the countries that have published their rules for the Olympics and other major ISU championship events. Don’t get caught surprised!
Japan
Olympic spots available: 3 men, 3 women, 2 pairs, 1 Team Event ice dance
Olympics
Criteria for men’s and women’s singles
Winner of Nationals
One from the grouping from the following criteria
2nd or 3rd at Nationals
Top 2 competitors at GPF
Top 3 ISU season best
One from the grouping from the following criteria
Anyone not selected from previous criteria
Top 3 ISU World Standings
Top 3 in JSF’s international competition formula
Top 3 average score across other international events, sectionals, junior sectionals, and junior championships
Criteria for pairs and dance
1st or 2nd at Nationals
Highest ISU World Standing
Highest ISU season best
Worlds: To come
Four Continents: To come
United States
Olympic spots available: 3 men, 3 women, 2 pairs, 3 ice dance
Olympics: Criteria to be entered into the Athlete Pool for selection
Results from 2026 Nationals and 2025 Worlds
2022 Olympics medalist
Top 24 in ISU World Rankings
Additions by the Selection Committee
Top 5 athletes in calculation of performance data (note: the performance data calculation only puts a skater/team into the Athlete Pool; it does not automatically select them to the team)
2026 Nationals (factor of 4)
2025 JGPF or GPF (factor of 3)
2025 JGP or GP highest score (factor of 1.25)
2025 JGP or GP average score (factor of 1.25)
2025 other jr or sr int’l highest score (factor of 1)
2025 other jr or sr int’l average score (factor of 0.75)
2025 Sectional Finals (factor of 0.50)
2025 National Qualifying Series Score (factor of 0.25)
Best placement of 2022 Olympics or 2025 Worlds (1st=12pt, 2nd/3rd=10pt, 4th-8th=5pt) with a factor of 15
2025 Four Continents (top 3=6pts, 4th/5th=3pts) with a factor of 15
2025 Junior Worlds (top 3=8pts) with a factor of 15
2025 Nationals (1st=4pts, 2nd/3rd=2pts) with a factor of 15
Source: US Figure Skating Athlete Selection Procedures - 2026 Olympic Winter Games
Canada
Olympics: Selection criteria in no specific order
Medalists at the 2024 and /or 2025 Worlds
Placement and scores from the 2025 Worlds
Placement and scores from the 2025 Four Continents
Placement and scores from the 2026 National Championships
Qualification to the 2025 Grand Prix Final
Season best international scores from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Grand Prix Series, Grand Prix Final, and/or Senior International events
Demonstration of short and free skate international scores from 2025-26 for a potential placement in the top two flights at the 2026 Olympics
Any other relevant criteria deemed appropriate for selection
Source: Skate Canada Internal Nomination Procedure - 2026 Olympic Winter Games
South Korea
Olympic spots available: 2 men, 2 women, 1 ice dance
Olympics: The total of the highest total scores across the Ranking Competition (late November) and the National Championships (early January)
Worlds: The highest scores at the National Championships
Four Continents: The highest scores at the Ranking Competition
China
Olympic spots available: 1 men, 1 women, 1 ice dance, 1 pairs
Olympics: The total of the highest total scores across the Cup of China (late October) and the National Championships (late December)
France
Olympic spots available: 2 men, 1 women, 3 ice dance, 1 Team Event pairs
Olympics
Analysis of head-to-head matchups
Analysis of performance at: Grand Prix (Sr), French Masters (Sr), Challengers, National Championships
Italy
Olympic spots available: 2 men, 1 woman, 2 pairs, 1 ice dance
Olympics
Sum of total scores from 3 events
Italian Championships (mid Dec)
2 international or domestic comps
Type A competitions (GPs, Challengers) count at a factor of 100%
Type B competitions (other int’l, interclub, test skates)
1st Type B counts at a factor of 100%
If other Type Bs are used, they count at a factor of 95%
In addition, if the point totals are <30pts for men and <20pts the other disciplines, the Technical Commission may propose the call-up of athletes in substitute positions, taking into account ISU ranking
Worlds: Olympics criteria + 1 more competition in 2026
Europeans: Same as Olympics criteria
Source: Allegato 1 a Regolamento Pattinaggio Artistico 2025/2026; Regolatmento Pattinaggio Artistico 2025/2026
Estonia
Olympic spots available: 1 man, 1 woman
Olympics: Selected by the Board based on analysis of results from Challenger Series competitions, Grand Prix competitions, and 2026 Europeans
Worlds: The total of the highest total scores from this season’s 2 Grand Prix and/or Challenger events in the fall season and 1 ISU competition in 2026 before March 4, 2026 (21 days prior to Worlds)
Europeans: The total of the highest total scores from this season’s 2 Grand Prix and/or Challenger events before December 24, 2025 (21 days prior to Europeans) - note: Estonia has 2 spots for men and 3 spots for women at 2026 Europeans