NoIn figure (artistic) skating, every jump, every turn and every choreography counts. During the performance, athletes are guided by adrenaline, concentration and claritybut immediately afterwards comes a unique moment: the one in which they can abandon themselves to their emotions. It’s a real one awakening after fatigueto become aware of what has just happened and evaluate your performance: the kiss and cry. Tears of joy or disappointment, hugs with coaches and family, incredulous smiles: all this happens in a small corner of the track that has become figure skating symbol.
What is the Kiss and Cry?
Literally “kissing and crying”the kiss and cry is the space where athletes wait to meet the evaluation of the judges. It’s not just a physical corner of the track, but a real stage of emotionswhere joy, disappointment and disbelief for the scores obtained are condensed.
The term was coined in 1983 by the Finnish judge Jane Erkkoduring the World Championships in Helsinki. Erkko was preparing a map of the track to share with television and decided to give that area this evocative name.
The first official appearance ai Olympic Games happened at Sarajevo 1984. Since then this stage of emotions has become a permanent fixture in all international competitions. Today under the supervision of ISUthe international skating federation.
A stage of emotions dedicated to athletes
Over time, the kiss and cry it has become increasingly spectacular and decorated, ready to capture all the emotions of the athletes. Every hug, smile or tear tells a story, and the cameras and photographers immortalize these moments, allowing audiences around the world to share the tension and joy of skating.
Unforgettable moments from Kiss and Cry
A few moments of kiss and cry have remained engraved in the memory of enthusiasts. Like the smile and the hug of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir after the victory a Vancouver 2010. A moment of pure joy shared with your dance partner. Or the incredulous laughter of Javier Fernandez to Shanghai 2015when he discovered he had become World Champion.
And again the uncontrolled joy of Mirai Nagasu to the 2018 USA Championshipswith tears of happiness after achieving an excellent score and earning an Olympic place after having risked being left out. The emotion for the bronze of Carolina Kostner at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. The joy of the gold conquered by Sui Wenjing and Han Cong to the 2022 Games.
These moments — between tears, laughter, surprises and affectionate gestures — remind us how unique the dynamic of kiss and cry in synchronizing the adrenaline of the competition with the vulnerability of its protagonists.
An unmissable event at Milan-Cortina 2026
As the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic GamesThe kiss and cry will return to the spotlight as the hottest moment exciting and human of figure skating. Between tears, smiles and hugswill once again be the place where athletes show theirs vulnerability and their joyturning each score into a story to remember.
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