The figure skating pairs are captivating the audiences of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. But it's left some wondering if same-sex pairs are allowed to compete?
In short, the answer is no.
The International Skating Union (ISU) does not allow pairs to consist of two skaters of the same sex. Specifically, the ISU constitution calls for "one Lady and one Man" in each pair, according to Rule 302.
The ISU is the governing body for competitive ice skating sports, and figure skating falls under its jurisdiction. There have been same-sex pairs in other organizations, but not ones that feed into competitions such as the Olympics.
It's likely the reason the ISU has remained steadfast on its definition of a pair is because of the strict rules it also has in place regarding lifts. Only the man is allowed to lift, according to the rules. All of the lifts consist of 'The Lady' getting thrown into the air. And for elements such as the Death Spiral, only 'the Lady' can perform the actual spiral while the man holds on to her. Having same-sex pairs would have to force the ISU to either alter its rules about lifts or create new competitions.
There have been movements in the past to try and get the ISU to change its rules. But the governing body has maintained its position. In 1998, the ISU said members who competed in the Gay Games would face some sort of punishment, according to SB Nation.
However, the ISU has made an agreement with the French Federation of Ice Sports to organize the skating event at the Gay Games in Paris later in 2018 without any punishment.
