Top Figure Skaters

Figure skating, a sport that combines athleticism, artistry, and grace, has captivated audiences for over a century. This article looks at the leading singles skaters of the 2026-27 season, the first after the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, and at the skaters who have left a lasting mark on the sport.

For the full top 20 in the ISU World Standings, with personal best scores, see Top Figure Skaters: Men and Top Figure Skaters: Women.

Current Top Figure Skaters

Ilia Malinin

Ilia Malinin of the United States is the first skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, which he did in 2022. He is a three-time World champion (2024, 2025, 2026) and leads the ISU World Standings. His personal best of 333.81 is the second-highest men's total under the current system. At the 2026 Olympics he helped the US win the team event, but an error-filled free skate left him eighth in the men's event. He answered six weeks later by winning the World Championships in Prague by more than 20 points.

Mikhail Shaidorov

Mikhail Shaidorov won the 2026 Olympic title, the first Olympic figure skating gold for Kazakhstan. He was fifth after the short program and won the free skate by more than ten points.

Yuma Kagiyama

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama is a two-time Olympic silver medalist (2022, 2026) and won silver behind Malinin at the 2026 World Championships. He is known for his edges, speed and complete skating as much as for his jumps.

Alysa Liu

Alysa Liu of the United States won the 2026 Olympic title, the first American woman to win Olympic gold since 2002. She stepped away from skating in 2022, returned in 2024, and won the 2025 World Championships, the first world title for an American woman since 2006.

Mone Chiba

Japan's Mone Chiba leads the women's ISU World Standings. She won bronze at the 2025 World Championships and silver in 2026, with her personal best of 228.47.

Mao Shimada

Mao Shimada of Japan, won four World Junior titles (2023-2026). In her senior Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada in November 2026 she scored 235.44, the highest total of any woman now competing. She is one of the few women to have landed both the triple Axel and a quad (the quad toe loop) in competition.

Historically Significant Skaters

Sonja Henie

Sonja Henie, a Norwegian figure skater, is a pioneering figure in the sport. She won three consecutive Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936) and ten World Championships (1927-1936). Henie's contributions to figure skating include introducing ballet-style choreography and glamorous costumes, significantly influencing the sport's evolution.

Dick Button

Dick Button, an American skater, is a two-time Olympic champion (1948, 1952) and five-time World champion (1948-1952). He was the first skater to successfully land a double Axel and a triple jump in competition. Button's technical innovations and dominance in the sport during his era set new standards for future skaters.

Katarina Witt

Katarina Witt, a German figure skater, is a two-time Olympic champion (1984, 1988) and four-time World champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988). Witt's charismatic performances and strong technical skills made her one of the most popular and successful skaters of her time.

Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan, an American figure skater, is a two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998, bronze in 2002) and a five-time World champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003). Kwan's artistry, consistency, and competitive longevity have made her one of the most beloved and influential skaters in history.

Yuzuru Hanyu

Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu is a two-time Olympic champion (2014, 2018), two-time World champion (2014, 2017), and four-time Grand Prix Final champion. His performances were known for their emotional depth and technical difficulty. He turned professional in 2022 and remains one of the most popular skaters in the world.

Nathan Chen

Nathan Chen, an American skater, won the 2022 Olympic title, three World Championships (2018, 2019, 2021) and six US titles (2017-2022). He made the multi-quad free skate the standard for top men, and his 335.30 at the 2019 Grand Prix Final is still the highest men's total under the current scoring system.

Kaori Sakamoto

Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won four World titles (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026) and Olympic singles medals in 2022 (bronze) and 2026 (silver). She was known for powerful, fast skating and big, clean jumps rather than for triple Axels or quads. She retired after winning the 2026 World Championships with a personal best of 238.28.

Conclusion

Figure skating continues to evolve, with each generation pushing the limits of the sport. Today's leaders, such as Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu, build on the legacies of legends like Sonja Henie, Michelle Kwan and Yuzuru Hanyu, and their performances inspire future skaters and captivate fans around the world.