Grand Slam (figure skating) explained

Grand Slam (GS) is a term used by fans of figure skating for the winning all three major annual senior-level international competitions (World Championships, Grand Prix Final, and European Championships or Four Continents Championships) within a single season within one of the four disciplines: men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dance. Winning all three major annual senior-level international competitions at any point during the course of a career is called a "Career Grand Slam". In pair skating and ice dancing, one team may accomplish a Career Grand Slam skating together or one skater may achieve it with different partners.

Winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in addition to the three major annual senior-level international competitions in a single season is called a "Golden Grand Slam" or "Golden Slam". A skater who wins all three major annual senior-level international competitions and the Olympic gold medal during his or her career is said to have achieved a "Career Golden Grand Slam" or "Career Golden Slam".

Winning both major junior-level international competitions (World Junior Championships, Junior Grand Prix Final) and all four major senior-level international competitions at any point during the course of a career is called a "Career Super Grand Slam" or "Super Slam".

History

The first World Figure Skating Championships ("WC") was held in 1896. The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final ("GPF", formerly Champions Series Final) was inaugurated in 1995. The European Figure Skating Championships ("EC"), open to skaters from European countries, first took place in 1891. The International Skating Union (ISU) established the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships ("4CC") in 1999 to provide skaters representing non-European countries. So the possibility of being the reigning champion of all three major annual senior-level international competitions (WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) did not exist until the 1995–96 season.

Figure skating was first contested in the Olympic Games ("OG") in 1908. The first World Junior Figure Skating Championships ("JWC") were held in 1976. The Junior Grand Prix Final ("JGPF", formerly ISU Junior Series Final) was established in the 1997–98 season. So the possibility of being the super reigning champion of both major junior-level international competitions (JWC and JGPF) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) did not exist until the 1997–98 season.

On 29 June 2011, a report by CNN used the term Grand Slam to figure skating to describe the achievement of winning the Grand Prix Final, the Four Continents Championships, and the World Championships. On 1 April 2012, in a news report on the women's event of the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships by Sina Sports in the Chinese language, the term Grand Slam (大满贯) was used to describe the winning of the Grand Prix Final, the European Championships, and the World Championships. On 11 December 2016, a news report by Sina Sports on the ice dance event of the 2016–17 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in the Chinese language used the term Super Slam (超级大满贯) to describe the achievement of winning the World Junior Championships, the Junior Grand Prix Final, the Four Continents Championships, the World Championships, the Grand Prix Final, and the Olympic Games.

On 9 February 2020, a report by the International Skating Union (ISU) used the term Golden Slam to describe the achievement of winning all four major senior-level international competitions (Winter Olympics, World Championships, Grand Prix Final, and Four Continents Championships). On the same day, a report by the Olympic Channel, which is operated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), used the term Super Slam to figure skating to describe the achievement of winning both major junior-level international competitions (JWC and JGPF) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and 4CC).

Grand Slam

The remainder of this section is a complete list, by discipline, of all skaters who have completed the Grand Slam ordered chronologically, the numbers of Grand Slams by nation, and the first (or youngest/oldest) skater who achieved the Grand Slam.

Men's singles

Chronological

Four men's single skaters have completed the Grand Slam. Of these skaters, two have accomplished the feat twice: Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko.

	Season	Skater	Nation
1	1998–99
2	2000–01
3	2001–02
4	2002–03
5	2006–07
6

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Grand Slams
1		4
2		1
2		1

Women's singles

Chronological

Four women's single skaters have completed the Grand Slam. Of these skaters, only one (Evgenia Medvedeva) has accomplished the feat twice. She remains the only skater to ever complete two Grand Slams in a row, the only skater to win a Grand Slam during her first season as a senior, and the only skater to win two Grand Slams during her two first seasons as a senior.

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Grand Slams
1		4
2		1

Pairs

Chronological

Seven pair teams have completed the Grand Slam. German couple of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy is the only one pair team who has accomplished the feat twice.

	Season	Couple	Nation
1	1997–98
2	2000–01
3	2006–07
4	2007–08
5
6
7
8

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Grand Slams
1		2
1		2
1		2
4		1
4		1

Ice dance

Chronological

Eight ice dance teams have completed the Grand Slam. Russian couple of Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov and American couple of Meryl Davis and Charlie White are the only two ice dance teams who have accomplished the feat twice.

	Season	Couple	Nation
1	1995–96
2	1998–99
3	1999–00
4	2000–01
5	2003–04
6	2004–05
7
8
9
10

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Grand Slams
1		4
2		2
2		2
4		1
4		1

All disciplines

Chronological

To date, eight single skaters and fifteen couples have completed the Grand Slam. Of these skaters, three single skaters and three couples have accomplished the feat twice.

	Season	Skater	Nation	Discipline
1	1995–96			Ice dance
2	1997–98			Pairs
3	1998–99			Men's singles
4	1998–99			Ice dance
5	1999–00			Ice dance
6	2000–01			Men's singles
7	2000–01			Pairs
8	2000–01			Ice dance
9	2001–02			Men's singles
10	2002–03			Men's singles
11	2003–04			Ice dance
12	2004–05			Women's singles
13	2004–05			Ice dance
14	2006–07			Men's singles
15	2006–07			Pairs
16	2007–08			Pairs
17				Pairs
18				Ice dance
19				Men's singles
20				Women's singles
21				Pairs
22				Ice dance
23				Women's singles
24				Pairs
25				Women's singles
26				Women's singles
27				Ice dance
28				Ice dance
29				Pairs

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Grand Slams
		Men's singles	Women's singles	Pairs	Ice dance	Total
1		4	4	2	4	14
2		1	0	2	1	4
3		1	0	0	2	3
4		0	0	2	0	2
4		0	1	0	1	2
4		0	0	0	2	2
7		0	0	1	0	1
7		0	0	1	0	1
Total		6	5	8	10	29

Career Grand Slam

The career achievement of all three major annual senior-level international competitions (WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) is termed a Career Grand Slam. Some skaters have won all three major competitions a second or more times, achieving a double, triple or quadruple Career Grand Slam.

The remainder of this section is a complete list, by discipline, of all skaters who have completed the Career Grand Slam ordered chronologically, the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation, and the first (or youngest/oldest) skater who achieved the Career Grand Slam. The major competition at which the Career Grand Slam was achieved is indicated in bold.

Men's singles

Chronological

Ten men's single skaters have completed the Career Grand Slam. Of these skaters, Evgeni Plushenko has achieved a triple Career Grand Slam, Alexei Yagudin and Patrick Chan have achieved a double Career Grand Slam.

	Skater	Nation	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1				1999
2						2000
3			2001
4				2001
5			2003
6			2004
7			2007
8				2009		2005
9			2011			2009
10			2012			2012
11				2012		2008
12			2018			2017
13						2020
14				2022		2019

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Career Grand Slams
1		5
2		3
2		3
4		2
5		1

Women's singles

Chronological

Eight women's single skaters have completed the Career Grand Slam. Of these skaters, Mao Asada has achieved a triple Career Grand Slam, Irina Slutskaya and Evgenia Medvedeva have achieved a double Career Grand Slam.

	Skater	Nation	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2002
2			2005
3			2008			2008
4			2009			2009
5			2010			2010
6			2012
7			2014			2013
8			2015
9			2016
10			2017
11			2019
12				2023		2018

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Career Grand Slams
1		6
2		4
3		1
3		1

Pairs

Chronological

Eleven pair teams have completed the Career Grand Slam. Of these teams, German couple of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy has achieved a quadruple Career Grand Slam, Chinese couple of Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo has achieved a triple Career Grand Slam, and Russian couple of Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin has achieved a double Career Grand Slam.

	Skater	Nation	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			1997
2			1998
3			2001			2000
4			2002			1999
5			2003			2003
6			2004
7				2005
8			2007			2007
9			2008
10				2008		2002
11				2010
12				2011
13			2013
14				2013
15			2015			2013
16				2019		2012
17			2023			2023

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Career Grand Slams
1		5
1		5
3		4
4		2
5		1

Ice dance

Chronological

Thirteen ice dance teams have completed the Career Grand Slam. Of these teams, one French couple (Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron), two Russian couples (Oksana Grishuk / Evgeni Platov and Tatiana Navka / Roman Kostomarov) and one American couple (Meryl Davis / Charlie White) have achieved a double Career Grand Slam.

	Skater	Nation	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1				1996
2				1997
3				1999
4			2000
5			2001
6				2003
7			2003			1999
8			2004
9			2005
10				2008
11			2009
12			2011			2009
13			2013			2011
14				2016		2008
15				2017
16				2019
17				2023		2019

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Career Grand Slams
1		7
2		4
3		3
4		2
5		1
Total		17

All disciplines

Chronological

To date, eighteen single skaters and twenty-four couples have completed the Career Grand Slam. Of these skaters, one couple has achieved a quadruple Career Grand Slam, two single skaters and one couple have achieved a triple Career Grand Slam, and four single skaters and four couples have achieved a double Career Grand Slam.

	Skater	Nation	Discipline	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			Ice dance		1996
2			Pairs	1997
3			Ice dance		1997
4			Pairs	1998
5			Men's singles		1999
6			Ice dance		1999
7			Men's singles				2000
8			Ice dance	2000
9			Men's singles	2001
10			Pairs	2001			2000
11			Ice dance	2001
12			Men's singles		2001
13			Women's singles	2002
14			Pairs	2002			1999
15			Ice dance		2003
16			Men's singles	2003
17			Pairs	2003			2003
18			Ice dance	2003			1999
19			Men's singles	2004
20			Pairs	2004
21			Ice dance	2004
22			Women's singles	2005
23			Pairs		2005
24			Ice dance	2005
25			Men's singles	2007
26			Pairs	2007			2007
27			Women's singles	2008			2008
28			Pairs	2008
29			Pairs		2008		2002
30			Ice dance		2008
31			Women's singles	2009			2009
32			Ice dance	2009
33			Men's singles		2009		2005
34			Women's singles	2010			2010
35			Pairs		2010
36			Men's singles	2011			2009
37			Ice dance	2011			2009
38			Pairs		2011
39			Men's singles	2012			2012
40			Women's singles	2012
41			Men's singles		2012		2008
42			Pairs	2013
43			Ice dance	2013			2011
44			Pairs		2013
45			Women's singles	2014			2013
46			Women's singles	2015
47			Pairs	2015			2013
48			Women's singles	2016
49			Ice dance		2016		2008
50			Women's singles	2017
51			Ice dance		2017
52			Men's singles	2018			2017
53			Women's singles	2019
54			Pairs		2019		2012
55			Ice dance		2019
56			Men's singles				2020
57			Men's singles		2022		2019
58			Pairs	2023			2023
59			Ice dance		2023		2019
60			Women's singles		2023		2018

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Grand Slams by nation.

	Nation	Career Grand Slams
		Men's singles	Women's singles	Pairs	Ice dance	Total
1		5	6	4	7	21
2		3	4	1	0	8
3		3	0	2	2	7
4		0	0	5	0	5
4		0	0	5	0	5
4		1	0	0	4	5
4		2	0	0	3	5
8		0	1	0	1	2
9		0	1	0	0	1
Total		14	12	17	17	60

Golden Slam

Figure skating was first contested in the Olympic Games ("OG") in 1908. Since 1924, the sport has been a part of the Winter Olympic Games. The four disciplines of men's singles, women's singles, pairs and ice dance also appeared as part of a team event for the first time at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in addition to the three major annual senior-level international competitions (WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) within a single season is called a "Golden Grand Slam" or "Golden Slam".

Only one skater has completed the Golden Slam.

Career Golden Slam

A skater who wins all three major annual senior-level international competitions (WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) and the Olympic gold medal during their career is said to have achieved a Career Golden Grand Slam or Career Golden Slam. Few skaters have won the gold medal in the individual event at the Olympic Games in addition to all three major competitions a second time, achieving a double Career Golden Slam.

The remainder of this section is a complete list, by discipline, of all skaters who have completed the Career Golden Slam ordered chronologically, the numbers of Career Golden Slams in the individual event by nation, and the first (or youngest/oldest) skater who achieved the Career Golden Slam in the individual event. The event at which the Career Golden Slam was achieved is indicated in bold.

Men's singles

Chronological

Five men's single skaters have completed the Career Golden Slam. Of these skaters, five have won the Olympic gold medal in the individual event, and three have won the Olympic gold medal in the team event.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2002
2			2006
3			2010				2005
4							2020
5	Nathan Chen	United States	2022	2018	2017		2017

	Skater	Nation	OG Team	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2014 T
2			2018 T				2009
3	Nathan Chen	United States	2022 T	2018	2017		2017

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Golden Slams in the individual event by nation.

	Nation	Career Golden Slams in the individual event
1		2
1	United States	2
3		1
Total		5

Women's singles

Only two women's single skaters have completed the Career Golden Slam. Both of these women have also completed the Career Super Grand Slam by winning every major competition in their career, both junior and senior, including the Olympics.

Yuna Kim is the first, Alina Zagitova is the youngest woman to do so.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1	Yuna Kim	Korea, Republic of	2010	2009	2006		2009
2	Alina Zagitova	Russian Federation	2018	2019	2017

Pairs

Chronological

Thirteen pair skaters have completed the Career Golden Slam. Of these skaters, thirteen have won the Olympic gold medal in the individual event, and two teams have won the Olympic gold medal in the team event.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2002
2			2002				2000
3			2006
4			2010				1999
5			2014
6			2018
7			2022				2012

	Skater	Nation	OG Team	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2014 T
2			2018 T				2013

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Golden Slams in the individual event by nation.

	Nation	Career Golden Slams in the individual event
1		3
2		2
3		1
3		1
Total		6

Ice dance

Chronological

Six ice dance teams have completed the Career Golden Slam. Of these skaters, all have won the Olympic gold medal in the individual event, and two teams have won the Olympic gold medal in the team event.

Oksana Grishuk and Evgeni Platov are the only two skaters who have achieved a double Career Golden Slam.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1					1996
2			1998
3			2002
4			2006
5			2014				2009
6					2016		2008
7			2022

	Skater	Nation	OG Team	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			2018 T				2008
2	Madison Chock / Evan Bates	United States	2022 T	2023	2023		2019

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Golden Slams in the individual event by nation.

	Nation	Career Golden Slams in the individual event
1		3
2		2
3		1
3		1
Total		7

All disciplines

Chronological

To date, five men's single skaters, two women's single skaters, thirteen pair skaters and six ice dance teams have completed the Career Golden Slam. Of these skaters, five men's single skaters, two women's single skaters, thirteen pair skaters and six ice dance teams have won the Olympic gold medal in the individual event; three men's single skaters, two pair teams and two dance teams have won the Olympic gold medal in the team event.

	Skater	Nation	Discipline	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			Ice dance			1996
2			Ice dance	1998
3			Men's singles	2002
4			Pairs	2002
5			Pairs	2002				2000
6			Ice dance	2002
7			Men's singles	2006
8			Pairs	2006
9			Ice dance	2006
10			Men's singles	2010				2005
11			Women's singles	2010				2009
12			Pairs	2010				1999
13			Pairs	2014
14			Ice dance	2014				2009
15			Ice dance			2016		2008
16			Pairs	2018
17			Women's singles		2019
18			Men's Singles					2020
19	Nathan Chen	United States	Men's Singles	2022	2018	2017		2017
20			Ice dance
21			Pairs	2022				2012

	Skater	Nation	Discipline	OG Team	WC	GPF	EC	4CC
1			Men's singles	2014 T
2			Pairs	2014 T
3			Men's singles	2018 T				2009
4			Pairs	2018 T				2013
5			Ice dance	2018 T				2008
6	Nathan Chen		Men's Singles	2022 T	2018	2017		2017
7			Ice dance	2022 T				2019

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Career Golden Slams in the individual event by nation.

	Nation	Career Golden Slams in the individual event
		Men's singles	Women's singles	Pairs	Ice dance	Total
1		2	1	3	3	9
2		2	0	0	1	3
3		0	0	1	1	2
3		0	0	0	2	2
3		0	0	2	0	2
6		0	0	1	0	1
6		1	0	0	0	1
6		0	1	0	0	1
Total		5	2	7	7	21

Super Slam

Winning both major junior-level international competitions (JWC and JGPF) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and EC or 4CC) at any point during the course of a career is called a "Career Super Grand Slam" or "Super Slam".

The remainder of this section is a complete list, by discipline, of all skaters who have completed the Super Slam ordered chronologically, the numbers of Super Slams by nation, and the first (or youngest/oldest) skater who achieved the Super Slam. The major competition at which the Super Slam was achieved is indicated in bold.

Men's singles

Yuzuru Hanyu is the only men's single skater who has ever completed the Super Slam.

Two men's single skaters have won one major junior-level international competitions (JWC) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and EC), but the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF) did not exist when they were juniors.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1			2002						Did not exist
2			2006						Did not exist

Women's singles

Two women's single skaters have completed the Super Slam.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1	Yuna Kim	Korea, Republic of	2010	2009	2006		2009	2006	2005
2	Alina Zagitova	Russian Federation	2018	2019	2017	2018		2017	2016

Pairs

One pairs team and two pairs skaters have completed the Super Slam.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1			2014						2004
2			2018						1999
3			2022						2009

One pairs skater has won one major junior-level international competition (JWC) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and EC), but the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF) did not exist when he was a junior skater.

Only one pairs skater has won all major junior and senior level competitions and the Olympic Team event.

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

Ice dance

One ice dance team have completed the Super Slam.

Four ice dancers have won one major junior-level international competitions (JWC) and all four major senior-level international competitions (OG, WC, GPF, and EC), but the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF) did not exist when they were juniors.

	Skater	Nation	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1					1996				Did not exist
2					1996				Did not exist
3			2002						Did not exist
4			2006						Did not exist

One ice dance team and one ice dancer have won all major junior and senior level competitions and the Olympic Team event.

	Skater	Nation	OG Team	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1			2018 T						2005
2			2022 T		2023				2008

• The team event at the Olympics is indicated by "T".

All disciplines

Chronological

To date, only one men's single skater, two women's singles skaters, four pair skaters (including one pair team), and one ice dance team have completed the Super Slam.

	Skater	Nation	Discipline	OG	WC	GPF	EC	4CC	JWC	JGPF
1			Women's singles	2010						2005
2			Pairs	2014						2004
3			Ice dance			2016				2005
4			Pairs	2018						1999
5			Women's singles		2019
6			Men's singles					2020		2009
7			Pairs	2022						2009

Totals by nation

The following table shows the numbers of Super Slams by nation.

	Nation	Super Slams
		Men's singles	Women's singles	Pairs	Ice dance	Total
1		0	0	0	2	2
1		0	0	2	0	2
1		0	1	1	0	2
4		0	0	1	0	1
4		1	0	0	0	1
4		0	1	0	0	1
Total		1	2	4	2	9

See also

Major senior events

• Figure skating at the Olympic Games
  • List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
  • List of Olympic medalists in figure skating by age
• ISU World Figure Skating Championships
  • World Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count
• ISU European Figure Skating Championships
  • All-time European Figure Skating Championships medal table
• ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
  • Four Continents Figure Skating Championships cumulative medal count
• ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Major junior events

• ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships
• ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Others

• ISU World Standings and Season's World Ranking
• Figure skating records and statistics

References

General

Major senior events

• ISU – Olympic Games Figure Skating results:
  • 1908–2002 Men Women Pairs Ice dance
  • 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
• ISU World Figure Skating Championships results:
  • 1896–2003 Men Women Pairs Ice dance
  • 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022
• ISU European Figure Skating Championships results:
  • 1891–2004 Men Women Pairs Ice dance
  • 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022
• ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships results:
  • 1999–2003 Men Women Pairs Ice dance
  • 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022
• ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final results:
  • 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2022–23

Major junior events

• ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships results:
  • 1976–2007 Men Women Pairs Ice dance
  • 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022
• ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final results:
  • 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2022–23

Specific

External links

• International Skating Union