When and How to Watch Figure Skating in the Winter Olympics: What to Know Sunday

Team USA enters Sunday having fallen from the lead, but not out of medal contention and Sunday's finale for the team events will see with some notable lineup changes.

Sunday's events will end in the first figure skating medal in the 2022 Winter Games - and Team USA plans to put some big names on the ice, including the return of local sensation Alexa Knierim to the ice.

Here is how you can watch all the figure skating action this weekend and through the rest of the Games.

What is the schedule for figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics?

Figure Skating began on Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 19. The first week of programming will be entirely team events, while the second week will feature individual competition. One of the final events of the Winter Olympics will be the Exhibition Gala, during which fans will get to enjoy more personality-centric performances featuring some of the Games’ most popular skaters. 

Sunday marks the third and final events for the competition. Watch live at 7 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC, NBCOlympics.com or Peacock.

Below is the full event and streaming information for each day of competition for figure skating. 

* TV networks reflect live events, times may differ for replays; check full schedule for detailed information.

Who is competing next for Team USA?

Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates – a couple on and off the ice – were chosen as co-captains of the U.S. squad for figure skating’s team event at the 2022 Winter Olympics, so it’s only fitting they get to compete as part of the team.

Chock and Bates’ time finally arrives (emphasis on finally, but more on this to come) Sunday night U.S. time as they were announced by U.S. Figure Skating as the team’s entry for the free dance.

They are joined representing the red, white and blue on the third and final day of the team event by Addison, Illinois-native Knierim and her partner Brandon Frazier, who will begin the night in the pairs free skate, and Karen Chen, who ends the team event in the women’s free skate.

Sunday night marks not only the debut of Chock and Bates at these Games but also their debut in any Olympic team event.

Knierim and Frazier also look to continue their own momentum. They were third in the pairs short, behind world and Olympic medalists, but scored a personal best in their short program for the team.

Who is in medal contention Sunday?

Heading into the final night, the Russian Olympic Committee leads with 45 points, followed by the U.S. (42) and Japan (39). At this point, Canada (30) and China (29) are vying for fourth.

Who has previously dominated the sport during the Winter Games?

The history of Olympic figure skating is so iconic it predates the Winter Games themselves. Originally contested at the 1908 London Olympics, it has been a staple of the Winter Olympics since the inaugural Games in 1924. 

The U.S. has dominated figure skating with 51 medals, followed by Russia, Austria and Canada, all of whom have 20 or more medals. In PyeongChang, Canada led the way with four medals – two golds and two bronze – setting the stage for a competitive field in 2022. 

Americans are hedging their bets on 22-year-old Nathan Chen from Salt Lake City. Chen, known for attempting high-difficulty jumps, entered PyeongChang with high hopes but ultimately struggled to execute on the ice, leaving with a fifth place finish in the individual event. Since then, Chen has established himself as the clear favorite and the best chance for the U.S. to win an individual medal. 

Feb 4, 2022

Nathan Chen and More: Re-Watch the Stunning Team USA Figure Skating Performances

Feb 3, 2022

Madison Hubbell, Zachary Donohue Dazzle in Rhythm Dance For Team Event

Who are the gold-medal favorites in figure skating?

The Beijing Olympics are dubbed the redemption tour for Chen. In PyeongChang, the then-18 year old posted a strong performance in the team event, but struggled in the individual event, eventually clawing his way back to fifth place after slipping to 17th. Ultimately, his Olympic experience was cut short after contracting the flu. 

Since 2018, Chen has established himself as the clear favorite and the best chance for the U.S. to return to the podium in the men’s individual competition. Evan Lysacek’s 2010 gold medal was the last individual medal by an American man in figure skating. 

In the women’s competition, Russian women historically dominate the individual event and could easily sweep the podium awards. Meanwhile, China has more gold medals in the pairs competition than any other country. However, the Chinese duo Sui Wenjing and Han Cong will have their work cut out for them with France, the U.S. and the Russian Olympic Committee all expected to enter competitive pairs. 

Who is competing for Team USA in figure skating?

The U.S. roster was finalized in mid-January following the national championships, with sixteen athletes making the cut for Beijing.

This list includes a diverse range of experience, with seven athletes making their Olympic debut. On one end is 16-year-old Alysa Liu, the youngest member of Team USA’s figure skating delegation. On the other end, are five athletes over the age of 30, capped off by 33-year-old Evan Bates making his fourth Olympic appearance.

They’re all slated to compete in one event with some being tapped for the team event mid-Olympics.

The complete roster of U.S. figure skaters is:

• Jean-Luc Baker (Ice Dance)
• Evan Bates (Ice Dance)
• Mariah Bell (Women’s Singles)
• Jason Brown (Men’s Singles)
• Ashley Cain-Gribble (Pairs)
• Karen Chen (Women’s Singles)
• Nathan Chen (Men’s Singles)
• Zachary Donohue (Ice Dance)
• Brandon Frazier (Pairs)
• Kaitlin Hawayek (Ice Dance)
• Madison Hubbell (Ice Dance)
• Alexa Knierim (Pairs)
• Timothy LeDuc (Pairs)
• Alysa Liu (Women’s Singles)
• Vincent Zhou (Men’s Singles)
• Madison Chock (Ice Dance)

How do athletes qualify to represent the U.S. in figure skating?

Unlike many other Olympic sports, figure skating does not have a singular Olympic Trial in the U.S. Rather, all selections are made on a discretionary basis, with priority being granted to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in early January. The coaching staff evaluated athletes based on performances at a number of competitions in the year leading up to the Olympics.