Advertise on podcast: The Future of Figure Skating

Colin Smith is the Director-General of the International Skating Union. He joined me to talk about the ISU’s approach to safeguarding and athlete welfare. As I’ve talked about on this podcast many times, the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of athletes has been a recurring problem in figure skating. According to survivors I’ve spoken to, the response from institutions has been flawed and fragmented, allowing abusers to continue in the sport while victims are forced out. In the last two years, the ISU has reorganized its investigative and safeguarding processes into a new independent integrity unit, and is committing more resources to protecting athletes. In this interview, Colin Smith goes into detail on these initiatives, what is coming next, and his hope that athletes will come to trust the Integrity Unit to support them when abuse happens.   YouTube: https://youtu.be/bBjnRzp3PrU Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1csgV7z0oFS6HyP8638LqoAgHxjbGRlxY66CvLmMjuck/edit?tab=t.0 The Integrity Unit’s reporting form is available at: https://skating.integrityline.com/ I have a playlist of prior episodes dealing with abuse and safeguarding on the Future of Figure Skating YouTube channel, including interviews with safeguarding officer Jatta Muhonen, and skating survivors Soléne Mazingue and Olivia Oliver. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2pdWMwNXt4pm8L2zW34K3seT4t0RXt0&si=SP1iQF4_FD5IWvz4 Other resources for survivors and advocates: https://www.athletesempowered.ca/ https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/ https://justicenoabuse.org You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFSPodcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to the future of figure skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends.

Magdalena Tascher is the president of the Polish Figure Skating federation, and also commentates for Eurosport. You might have seen her in Team Poland’s box during the Olympics waving a pierogi plushie! In this conversation, we got into the challenges of growing figure skating’s popularity in Poland, which of the ISU’s proposals might help that goal, and the importance of maintaining joy as a part of the sport.  YouTube: https://youtu.be/pb1JX8447yM Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cvbtk293C96qV8OKBxW9H4gaCZVvdayxNSYI00xa7E4/edit?tab=t.0 You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFSPodcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to the Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends. Links: Article on ISU’s proposed changes and athlete reactions: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/ Interview with Ioulia Chtchetinina and Michal Wozniak:https://anythinggoe.com/ioulia-chtchetinina-and-michal-wozniak-if-you-dont-enjoy-it-dont-do-it/ Interview with Dasa Grm: https://anythinggoe.com/dasa-grm-2023/

Philip Hersh spent 28 years as Olympic sports writer for the Chicago Tribune and has gone on to write about the Olympics and figure skating for Ice Network and NBC Olympics. He has covered 21 Olympics, 13 winter and 8 summer, as well as 38 US figure skating championships, 21 world championships, and many other competitions in Olympic sports. Recently, Phil has been writing about the changes that the ISU has been proposing for the coming seasons, and the opposition from federations and many athletes to those changes. In this episode, we get into how this is, and is not, the same as past times that the ISU has made a lot of changes. And we also talked a little bit about what we're both looking forward to with the coming 26-27 season. YouTube: Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i14A8fcqcufgnzNQh5-t8IX7B6RJxFc-APFC_sul9Q0/edit?tab=t.0 You can read Phil's reporting at www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at gmail.com or on Instagram at FutureFS Podcast. You can also support my work by making a contribution at ko-fi.com/future of figure skating. Remember to subscribe to the future of figure skating on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice and share it with your friends. Links: Phil’s articles on rule changes: August: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/8/27/save-the-dates-skating-fans-but-which-dates-will-they-be January 2026: https://www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2026/1/16/figure-skating-officials-weigh-major-changes-in-rules-schedule My article on proposed changes and athlete reactions: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/ Coverage of Summer Sizzler: https://anythinggoe.com/sizzler26/

K Eri Lee is a Ph.D. student in Feminist Studies with a focus on elite, national-team sport and the Asian diaspora. They are also a figure skating coach and former US national team synchronized skater with the Haydenettes. You might also know Eri through their fabulously informative instagram account, @LiberatingSkating. Eri works to build sporting worlds where everyone, regardless of where they come from or who they are, can experience the joy of movement and community. We had a wide-ranging conversation about nationalism, belonging, synchro, coaching, putting research into practice, and how to communicate on the internet!  Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-SggOGDZYtB6QJD6lGZEZlL105UyK6PK8RkzyYkXcg/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: https://youtu.be/APBoaHqyLfE Learn more about Eri, and read their blog, at their website, www.eri-lee.com  Their instagram is @liberatingskating  You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast  You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends! Links: I reference the post “Is Synchro a Feminist Sport?”  https://www.instagram.com/liberatingskating/reel/DcG2bfiRLov/ Eri on “The End of Sport” podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-as-a-weapon-podcast/id1527375756 The International Workers’ Olympiads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Olympiads The Tucker Center for Research on Women and Girls in Sport https://tuckercenter.umn.edu/

It’s an exciting time for synchronized skating, with the news in July that the sport - or at least the Synchro 9 variation - will be added to the 2030 Olympics. To talk about all things synchro, my guest today is Sabrina Snoad, co-host of the Synchro Skaters Club podcast. She joined me for an episode that is one part “Synchro 101” (for this figure skating fan), and one part a discussion of the future of the sport, and the changes, good and bad, that being in the Olympics could bring.  Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cMJUIPuoEC7IyB5pXc1q4dZKUUkKQ-ozDvr6bTmlZqE/edit?usp=sharing Links: Synchro Skaters Club: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lvq8IvjB9us1vz83p1kVw Episode with Synchro 9 pioneers: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Q0TILPhgJYbETmPwqzrDl?si=bba31e37dee34dbe Episode on Body Image: “Love thy Body, Part 1” https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DAxmJthOCRucNKgVjdx7h?si=mr4aSSV0QlOktm8oVQQCgw “Love thy Body, Part 2 with Marta Pietrasik”  https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Hxk6dv81A6pjRjA8GVLl5 ISU Synchro Coverage: Blades in Harmony - Ep 1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HM_W1eNL74&list=PLuiPiC1Hk8eIbRWrx0V-hec6Llr5iVLjA Programs: Synchro 9 Finland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmO3Hx-2B0Y Synchro 9 USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub51UhI_yv0 Nexxice Short 2022 “Man I Feel Like a Woman” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB1lw_-SAWY Team Unique  Short 2019/2020 “Bad Guy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5-7Lr1qiY Demonstrating Intersection and Death Spirals Helsinki Rockettes 2024-2025 FS at Worlds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISCw4iP4ac You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast   You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

Jae Youl Kim was reelected as president of the International Skating Union at the federation's Congress which wrapped up Friday in Tenerife, Spain. In this exclusive interview, he talks about athlete compensation and the comments by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, as well as how the ISU leadership will try to communicate better and avoid misunderstandings with athletes and coaches when changes are introduced. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uvlq38wP3jrIpULakm7XjQRoF-e_4m0f1BZJZbjXV00/edit?tab=t.0 YouTube: You can follow more about the ISU Congress in the daily reports and live-tweeting at AnythingGOEs You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast @gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing!

Tatsuro Matsumura is a current member of the ISU Council, having served in that role since 2018. He was a competitive ice dancer and coach, before working with the Japanese Skating Federation and Japanese Olympic Committee.  The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SB_ZPFqd4aQ Transcript:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yzFwfZCMT3e6VglLGzjSs6mdYIDZCxusqukeyI60YyA/edit?tab=t.0 My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/  Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Jimmy Stryhn Meyer is a candidate for the ISU Council. He is the president of the Luxembourg Figure Skating Federation, and is also president of the Staff Committee at the European Court of Justice. The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RTEYFK_X0tOun-KPf7v4977OJF7MK_VkX89tRAiqlwc YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9qvTVP1F9VI My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/  Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Oleksandr Volkov is a board member of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation, and a lawyer specializing in cross-border litigation, international arbitration and sports and esports law. He spoke to me from his office in Kiev, and had to relocate to the basement mid-interview when Russian bombing began.  The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l5HrkLHP2cw Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-nVU-KMVLmqRdpE56PZAuxgqOh8SPS72-147XG6sGUs/edit?tab=t.0 My writing about the ISU's rule change proposals: https://anythinggoe.com/bigchangesfromisu/  Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube. You can reach me at fsfuturepodcast at http://gmail.com or on Instagram @ futurefspodcast. You can support my work at http://ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

Dr Susanna Rahkamo has been a member of the ISU Council since 2022. With her partner Petri Kokko she was the 1995 European Champion in Ice Dance, and was the originator of the Finnstep pattern dance. She has served as the President of Skate Finland, and in leadership roles with the Finnish and European Olympic Committees, and was previously the leader of the ISU Development Commission. Dr Rahkamo is running for a second term on the Council.  International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th, and at this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. However, the Vice President for Figure Skating is a contested position, with four candidates running, including the incumbent Benoit Lavoie. Eleven candidates are running for the ISU council positions for figure skating. Five positions will be elected at Congress. The Future Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with as many candidates for the VP and Council positions as possible in the lead up to the ISU Congress. And we hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues facing the ISU as well as the visions of the individuals who form part of that leadership. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L-_rsrqZvCg Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OdqScJ_Yuw2GdBT9z_gw87beVm8k4gPdCUVhEQZwf3I/edit?tab=t.0 ISU Council Interviews - Susanna Rahkamo My writing about the ISU’s rule change proposals, in the episode description. Make sure you check out the other candidate interviews on YouTube!  You can reach me at [email protected] or on Instagram at Future FS Podcast.  You can support my work at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating Thanks for liking and subscribing!

Robin Cousins is one of the candidates running for the ISU Council. The 1980 Olympic champion, he has served in many roles within figure skating as a choreographer, a professional skater, a also most recently has been the president of British ice skating. I also spoke with Robin for a full podcast episode at 2025 Europeans, which you can find in our playlists as Episode 54. https://youtu.be/jHgI5n_wdDw?si=KYIuGxV7q7b-dh9D The International Skating Union's Congress is being held from June 10th through 12th. At this meeting, member federations of the ISU will vote on office holders, including the President, the Vice Presidents, the Council, and members of the various committees that help to govern the sport. The ISU president, Jae Youl Kim, is running for re-election unopposed. The Future of Figure Skating podcast is featuring interviews with candidates for the VP and Council positions in the lead up to the ISU Congress. I hope that these interviews will help to clarify the issues that are facing the ISU and the visions of the individuals who form part of the leadership! YouTube: https://youtu.be/YausJpUZOxw Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BoNTOeu0larHbfVv7N06Gx_pPkOqh6vCQtRMbLbfcRM/edit?tab=t.0

Jatta Muhonen is a doctoral researcher in psychology at the University of Helsinki, and a former top synchronized skater from Finland. Having personally navigated emotional abuse within the sport, she now dedicates her career to athlete welfare.  Her PhD examines the factors shaping athletes’ experiences of emotional abuse and their readiness to recognize and disclose it, with a particular focus on the role of athletic identity. Her multifaceted career also includes roles as a safeguarding officer, performance (sport) psychology practitioner, and athlete performance lifestyle advisor (focus on athlete retirement), bridging the gap between research and practice. YouTube: https://youtu.be/0rEgBHaCjIM Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kW-xBoKPqhTdUUvgwTWacmQ6m7MPqH0-nkO7yCs2fxY/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Jatta on Instagram at @ jatta_safesport You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast   You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends!

As he finishes his second term on the ISU Athletes Commission, Eric Radford joined me to talk about how skaters can use their voices to impact decision-making. Eric Radford is the 2018 Olympic Bronze medalist in Pairs and the gold medalist in the team event, as well as a two-time World Champion. In 2019, he was elected as the singles and pairs representative for the ISU Athlete Commission. In 2022 he was elected chair of the commission, and served on the ISU Council until May 2025. YouTube: https://youtu.be/qY0jK1254pc Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AJk0YWXs6OBlMd8RkBCmDV-nLNkZDN_e9YlOJAh0xtA/edit?tab=t.0 You can follow Eric on Instagram at @ ericradford85 You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast   You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating. Remember to subscribe to The Future of Figure Skating on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with your friends! ISU Athlete Commission  https://isu.org/athletes-commission/ Communication 2427: 2021 Election Procedures Communication 2763: 2026 Election Procedures  Recommended listening: Episode Rob Koehler, Global Athlete: https://youtu.be/j4pGmeyfMqk Episode 38: Elizabeth Ramsey, Team USA Athlete Commission: https://youtu.be/7MZRvvdw7Gg Episode 53: Evan Bates, ISU AC Rep for Ice Dance: https://youtu.be/W_0pfpjkHh0 Article on music rights: “Making Music in Skating Legal”

Erica Rand has just published a new book called ‘Skating Away from the Binary’, which looks at our skating and our struggle to be allowed to compete as a gender-nonconforming pair team, and examines issues around gender binaries, sports, and politics in a very accessible way. As well as being my pairs partner and friend, Erica is a professor of Art and Visual Culture and of Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bates College. Many of her courses concern the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality—including a course called Queer and Trans Sports Studies. A longtime activist and cultural critic, Erica has written on topics ranging from Barbie to Ellis Island, and has used her experience as an adult figure skater and group-lessons coach to help her think and write about opening up sport and movement for all. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZJtaqOxw0iczfAoyGiiY94Z-fqo8yh3ZX0GvLPTzxm0/edit?tab=t.0  You can order “Skating Away from the Binary” through the University of Minnesota Press: https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517920555/skating-away-from-the-binary/ Links: More about Erica: https://www.bates.edu/faculty/profile... Erica’s first book skating book, “Red Nails, Black Skates”  https://www.dukeupress.edu/red-nails-... Riki Wilchins, When Texas Came for Our Kids   / when-texas-came-for-our-kids   You can reach me with comments or suggestions for people I should talk to by email at fsfuturepodcast @ gmail.com or instagram at futurefspodcast. You can also support the podcast by making a one-time or recurring contribution at Ko-Fi.com/futureoffigureskating.

Dr Ami Parekh made history as the first skater to represent India at the World Championships. She now works as a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. She is passionate about helping skaters be healthy at all stages of their career, and frequently works as the medical director at competitions. Ami is also the Executive Director of the Chicago Youth Foundation, an organization which brings figure skating and hockey to underserved communities. https://youtu.be/MOouEgSLzfA Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_4p7mYDm2plc2yYwI5Wfy3eZ34-LYqxgrmfcpRyqMe4/edit?usp=sharing You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at [email protected] or Instagram @futurefspodcast If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with a one-time or monthly contribution at ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating https://www.chicagoyouthfoundation.org/ Ami Parekh India Worlds 2007 Short program Ami Parekh INDIA "Raga Jazz" 2014 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Taipei, Tawain Ami Parekh - 2013 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships,Osaka LP Chicago Youth Foundation on local news https://youtu.be/gxh4fainK48?si=Nh4SUqgRtq2S-ZrQ Bharatnatyam on Ice: https://www.facebook.com/thebetterindia/videos/2879877888944953/?rdid=TZ6lsbLjUvDlB3Fn Meryl and Charlie Bollywood OD 2010 https://youtu.be/Pn37SMb_5NM?si=4VaNIB2TsuvT4baW Tara Prasad https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2cQ4QjTNEAw Kat Arbour, Ice Dynamics off-ice training https://icedynamics.app/ Helmet Safety https://youtube.com/shorts/DFwCupGDqtQ?si=SQUNu4LUFmu4cpUz Early specialization and talent development in figure skating: Elite coaches’ perspectives https://ciss-journal.org/article/view/8744/13311 Health Consequences of Youth Sport Specialization https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6805065/