Physical and mental health in Swedish figure skating, and exposure to violence against children.
Figure skating is an Olympic sport enjoyed by millions worldwide. Swedish figure skating has the world鈥檚 largest number of participants per capita, with nearly 53,000 participants, predominantly young girls.
Figure skating continually evolves, increasing physical and mental demands on athletes. However, research has largely overlooked the health challenges its participants face. The research field is limited and highly fragmented. Questions concerning injuries, mental health, technique, and the sporting environment are often examined in isolation, without interdisciplinary collaboration. As a result, coaches, athletes and organisations lack a clear scientific knowledge base to rely on.
Since December 2017, the Athletics Research Centre has been a hub for filling the figure skating knowledge gap. The research is conducted and financed independently, but is supported by the Swedish Figure Skating Association.
Published in 2025, a PhD dissertation by ARC researcher Dr Jederstr枚m investigated the health of Swedish competitive figure skaters. The dissertation identified risk factors for sport injuries and psychological issues, explored health in the sport and exposure to violence against children. In conclusion, the dissertation highlights that young figure skaters may face significant health risks that appear to increase with age if not addressed.