Age-Related Changes in Figure Skating Performance

The purpose of this study was to analyze age-related changes in the performance of male and female single figure skaters and to derive implications for training strategies and long-term performance management. Data were collected from skaters who had participated in International Skating Union (ISU) international competitions for at least five seasons, including Technical Element Scores(TES), Program Component Scores(PCS), total segment scores for the Short Program(SP) and Free Skating(FS), and the overall total score (SP+FS). Polynomial regression analysis was conducted using the Python programming language. For male single skaters, the regression models for all score indicators (TES, PCS, and total scores) were statistically significant( p<.05). The peak ages in the Short Program were approximately 25.1 years for the total score, 24.5 years for TES, and 25.66 years for PCS. In the Free Skating, the peak ages were approximately 24.52 years for the total score, 23.62 years for TES, and 25.41 years for PCS. The peak age for the overall total score was approximately 24.71 years, indicating that male skaters tend to reach their highest performance level in their mid-twenties. For female single skaters, the regression model for TES was not statistically significant( p>.05), and the peak of technical performance tended to occur earlier, in the mid-to-late teenage years. However, PCS showed a significant nonlinear relationship with age, with peak ages of approximately 22.87 years in the Short Program and 22.98 years in the Free Skating. The peak age for the overall total score was approximately 22.27 years, indicating that female skaters tend to reach their highest performance level in their early twenties. Insights and suggestions based on these findings were also presented.