Data‑Driven Skating: How Science Is Shaping the Ice

Lindsay Slater Hannigan, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, blends research and coaching to help U. S. Figure Skating athletes reach their peak. She is also in Stamford, Connecticut, where she consults for NBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics broadcast. Her team is small—just a handful of contract workers including a psychologist, a dietitian, and herself—but they use technology to track everything from jumps to muscle fatigue. Unlike the NFL or NBA, where full‑time staff is plentiful, figure skating relies on a lean group that must juggle training, injury prevention, and performance data. Hannigan’s specialty is measuring “workload, ” a term that in other sports means steps taken or pitches thrown. In skating, it has meant figuring out how many jumps a skater completes each day—a task impossible without sensors. They partnered with 4D Motion Sports to create a hip‑mounted device that detects rotational speed and identifies jumps. This data shows when an athlete’s performance starts to dip, signaling a risk of overuse injuries. Ice dancers lack jumps but endure long, continuous sessions that mirror 11‑mile runs for runners. Tracking their “endurance” workload helps prevent burnout. Beyond training, the science informs race‑day strategies. For instance, a skater who has performed well in the short program may need an extra 20‑30 minutes of warm‑up before the free skate, especially if they finish later in the lineup.Technological advances now allow video analysis with high‑frame‑rate cameras, sometimes even using smartphones. The goal is to eliminate the need for wearables and provide objective data for coaches, athletes, and judges. Judging remains a challenge: current systems use low‑frame cameras that can miss subtle underrotations. Hannigan envisions AI‑powered tools that flag takeoff and landing times, offering a fairer assessment. AI’s reliability depends on large data sets—figure skating now has thousands of recorded jumps to train algorithms. The aim is not to replace judges but to aid them in making consistent calls. If successful, this technology could debut at the next Winter Games and potentially be used in Salt Lake City 2034, where past judging controversies have highlighted the need for transparency. Hannigan’s own skating background gives her unique insight: early athletes focused on quantity, but now strength training is embraced to build resilience without bulk. She stresses that science supports athlete longevity, especially through puberty changes that can alter biomechanics. U. S. Figure Skating’s focus on strength has helped athletes maintain performance across life stages. In her NBC role, Hannigan translates complex metrics into accessible commentary—highlighting why top skaters like Ilia Malinin can perform a quad Axel in under a second, comparable to elite basketball jump heights. Her work underscores that behind every graceful glide lies rigorous data analysis, strategic planning, and a commitment to athlete health.