World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships are an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). The first World Championships were held in 1896 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and they have been held ever since with only four interruptions. A separate competition for women was established in 1905, with the men's and women's events held as separate competitions for several years. Pair skating was added in 1908 and ice dance in 1952. Skaters are eligible to compete at the World Championships, provided they represent a member nation of the International Skating Union and are selected by their respective federation. Skating federations have the liberty to make their own selections, but skaters competing at the World Championships must have earned the minimum required element scores. Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The World Championships are considered the most prestigious event in figure skating, second only to the Olympics. The corresponding competition for junior-level skaters is the World Junior Figure Skating Championships. The corresponding competitions for synchronized skating are the World Synchronized Skating Championships and the World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships. Ulrich Salchow of Sweden holds the record for winning the most World Championship titles in men's singles (with ten), while Sonja Henie of Norway holds the record in women's singles (also with ten). Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev of the Soviet Union hold the record in pair skating (with six), although Rodnina won an additional four titles with a previous partner. Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov of the Soviet Union hold the record in ice dance (with six).