The International Skating Union -ISU- has announced the creation of Synchro 9, a new Synchronized Skating discipline designed to drive the growth of the sport, expand its global reach and strengthen its appeal to new audiences and its Olympic pathway, in line with the strategic objectives set out in ISU Vision 2030.
The new category, approved by the ISU Council, introduces a competitive format featuring teams of nine skaters and has already reached a significant milestone by becoming the first Synchronized Skating discipline included in an Olympic programme, following its inclusion in the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will enable broader international participation and create new opportunities for young athletes.
What Synchro 9 is and how the new discipline works
Synchro 9 is presented as a specific evolution within Synchronized Skating, built around a renewed format that introduces head-to-head battles between teams of nine skaters and a knockout-style structure, aimed at increasing competitive dynamism and making the event easier for audiences to follow.
The new model also features a simplified and more intuitive judging system, focused on team dynamics, creativity and artistic expression, with the objective of improving audience understanding and supporting a more accessible format for television and digital broadcasting, while preserving the core identity of Synchronized Skating.
Why the ISU created Synchro 9 when Synchronized Skating already exists
Synchronized Skating is a well-established discipline within the ISU, with World Championships and consolidated technical regulations, traditionally contested by teams of between twelve and sixteen skaters. This format has enabled a high level of sporting excellence but also entails greater organisational and resource demands for federations and clubs.
Synchro 9 does not replace that model, but is conceived as a complementary category designed to address different challenges. Reducing the number of skaters per team aims to lower barriers to entry, facilitate the creation of new teams and expand the potential number of participating countries, while introducing a more agile and narrative-driven format aligned with current sports consumption trends and with stronger media potential.
The President of the ISU, Jae Youl Kim, underlined that “Synchro 9 reflects our commitment to unlocking the full potential of Synchronized Skating by addressing access barriers and strengthening team spirit, creativity and emotional connection”. He added that the inclusion of the discipline in Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 represents “the first key milestone on this journey, demonstrating its growing relevance and future promise”, by offering young skaters an Olympic platform and reinforcing the international visibility of the discipline within the Olympic movement.
Synchro 9 within the ISU Vision 2030 strategy
The ISU plans to officially showcase Synchro 9 through demonstration performances at two major international events: the World Figure Skating Championships 2026 in Prague, where one team will be featured during the gala, and the World Synchronized Skating Championships 2026 in Salzburg, with three demonstration teams, with the aim of introducing the discipline to athletes, judges, organisers and international audiences.
The approval of Synchro 9 formed part of a broader set of decisions adopted during the recent ISU Council meeting, focused on advancing the implementation of ISU Vision 2030. At the conclusion of the meeting, Jae Youl Kim noted that “the decisions taken demonstrate how innovation is shaping all areas of our activities, strengthening development pathways, expanding opportunities in Synchronized Skating and bringing our sports to more communities in a strategic, inclusive and sustainable way”.
