{"id":57087,"date":"2026-04-22T20:06:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T00:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/figureskatersonline.com\/news\/?p=57087"},"modified":"2026-04-22T20:14:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T00:14:03","slug":"thoughts-on-synchro-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/figureskatersonline.com\/news\/2026\/04\/22\/thoughts-on-synchro-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts on Synchro 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Synchro 9 was featured at the gala exhibition. Two weeks later, three Synchro 9 teams did a demonstration ahead of the free skate at the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Salzburg, Austria.<\/p>\n

So what is Synchro 9?<\/p>\n

This new synchronized skating format, which features nine skaters compared to the traditional 16 skaters, was approved by the ISU Council at the end of 2025. It is based on three key pillars: smaller teams, thrilling competition and themed rounds.<\/p>\n

Having smaller teams, the ISU says, will make it easier for federations to create new teams and will\u00a0create more opportunities to capture performances on camera and for audiences to enjoy skaters\u2019 shapes, speed, and formations.<\/p>\n

Synchro 9 will compete in head-to-head battles with elimination rounds, and teams will perform within common theme rounds. This structure, the ISU says, transforms synchronized skating into a “high-stakes, fast-paced experience – bringing new intensity and storytelling to the ice.”<\/p>\n

When the ISU Council announced this new format, they also announced that Synchro 9 will be included in the 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Dolomiti Valtellina, Italy. It will replace the pairs’ discipline at those Games. This is the first time that synchronized skating has ever been included in an Olympic program and could pave the away for synchronized skating to be included in a future Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

But fans don’t have to wait until 2028 to see this format in competition. It will be introduced in competition during the 2026-2027 season and is set to be featured at the 2027 ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships in Nottingham, Great Britain.<\/p>\n

Here are what the team captains of the 2026 World Synchronized Skating medalists think of the new format.<\/p>\n

Julie Bernardo of Les Supremes (CAN): “We think it’s really exciting that synchro has the opportunity to demonstrate this new format of skating. We really liked all three teams’ demonstrations. We thought all three of them did something different. It was nice to see the opportunity of what synchro can become in the future for the Olympics, and we really hope to see it in the Olympics one day.”<\/p>\n

Taylor Olender of the Haydenettes (USA): “We did watch the teams. All three brought something a little bit different to the new category and so it was super interesting to see each team’s take on the new programs. We also are really excited that it’s going to be included in the Youth Olympics in 2028 and can’t wait to see where the sport goes from there.”<\/p>\n

Evaliina Tikkinen of the Helsinki Rockettes (FIN): “I think it will bring something new to the sport, it allows more speed and maybe the individuals can show more. It\u2019s really exciting.”<\/p>\n

Photos of the Synchro 9 demonstration at the 2026 World Synchronized Skating Championships. The three teams that demonstrated this format were Canada, U.S. and Finland.<\/i><\/p>\n