How Skating Order Is Set at the Torino 2019 Final
At the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the order in which athletes take to the ice is governed by competition regulations rather than personal preference, world ranking, or the running order shown on a rehearsal schedule. For Torino 2019, the process applied to Senior and Junior men’s, ladies’, pairs, and ice dance events at the Palavela arena.
The competition has separate segments. Singles and pairs perform a short program followed by a free skate, while ice dancers present a rhythm dance followed by a free dance. Each segment has its own official start list, and the procedure used for the opening segment differs from the procedure used for the second.
Understanding the skate order helps spectators read the schedule, follow the scoreboard, and anticipate when leading contenders will appear. It also explains why a skater who finishes first in the short program does not perform first in the free skate.
What the Starting Order Covers
The starting order is the sequence in which competitors perform within one segment. It also determines the composition and sequence of warm-up groups, the timing of ice access, and the order in which judges assess the performances. The order is published by the event officials and is separate from the final ranking.
For the Torino 2019 Senior and Junior competitions, the opening segment means the short program for men, ladies, and pairs, and the rhythm dance for ice dance. The later segment means the free skate for singles and pairs or the free dance for ice dancers. The same broad principle applies across these disciplines, although the terminology and detailed technical rules differ.
A competitor’s place in the ISU World Standings or Grand Prix qualification list helps determine who reaches the Final, but it does not automatically dictate whether that competitor skates first, last, or somewhere in the middle. Qualification establishes the field; the official draw establishes the initial sequence.
How the Opening Segment Is Drawn
Before the short program or rhythm dance begins, the eligible competitors are placed into a starting order through an official draw conducted under ISU competition procedures. The draw is intended to give each participant a fair opportunity to receive an early, middle, or late position in the opening segment.
The draw is an administrative process overseen by the event referee and other authorized officials. It is not a judging decision, and the panel does not select the order. The result is recorded in the official start list, which is the reliable source for the sequence used in the arena and in event communications.
The draw can have practical importance. A skater performing early has less information about the scores likely to be needed for a leading position, while a skater appearing later can see how the field has performed. Ice conditions, audience energy, and the length of time spent waiting in the preparation area can also feel different according to position. These factors do not change the scoring criteria, but they are part of the competitive setting.
For ice dance, the same opening-order principle applies to the rhythm dance. The event does not simply place the reigning champion or the highest-ranked couple last. Their position comes from the draw, just as it does for the other couples in the field.
How the Free Segment Follows Results
Once the short program or rhythm dance has been completed, the free-segment order is based on the standings from that first segment. Competitors generally skate from the lowest placing to the highest placing, meaning the leader after the opening performance normally appears last.
This reverse-ranking arrangement allows the strongest positioned athletes to close the competitive session. It also means the free-skate start list cannot be known until the first segment has been judged and the results have been verified. A small difference in technical elements, program components, or deductions can therefore alter a competitor’s position in the next start order.
A tie in the opening-segment results is handled through the applicable ISU tie-breaking and start-order provisions. The official list takes account of those provisions rather than relying on an informal decision by the announcer. If a withdrawal or correction changes the field, officials may issue an updated list before the next segment begins.
The principle is the same for every discipline at the Final. A pairs team leading after the short program skates last in the free skate; a ladies’ skater at the bottom of the rhythm-dance standings skates earlier in the free dance; and the highest-ranked Junior competitor after the first segment receives the final competitive slot.
The Sequence Across Torino 2019 Competitions
The following summary shows how the procedure works across the event’s divisions. “Opening segment” refers to the short program or rhythm dance, while “second segment” refers to the free skate or free dance.
| Competition | Opening segment | Opening-segment order | Second segment | Second-segment order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior men | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Senior ladies | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Senior pairs | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Senior ice dance | Rhythm dance | Official draw | Free dance | Reverse order of rhythm-dance standings |
| Junior men | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Junior ladies | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Junior pairs | Short program | Official draw | Free skate | Reverse order of short-program standings |
| Junior ice dance | Rhythm dance | Official draw | Free dance | Reverse order of rhythm-dance standings |
The table describes the competitive sequence, not the running order for practice sessions, opening ceremonies, medal ceremonies, or the exhibition gala. Those activities can use separate schedules because they are not scored segments of the Final.
The event programme may display session times, warm-up periods, and individual performances together. Spectators should therefore distinguish the “start order” from the order in which athletes enter the arena, are introduced, or take part in a practice session. The official competition list controls the scored performance sequence.
Why the Sequence Matters at Palavela
The order of skate creates a clear narrative during a Grand Prix Final. In the first segment, a draw can place an eventual champion near the beginning and a less experienced competitor near the end. The audience sees the field develop without knowing whether the final skater will lead the standings.
In the free skate or free dance, the reverse order produces a different rhythm. Lower-ranked competitors begin the session, followed by those who moved into stronger positions. The final group contains the athletes with the best first-segment scores, so the closing performances often have a direct effect on the medals.
This system also affects spectators planning their visit to Palavela. A ticket for a particular session may include an entire discipline segment, but the athlete someone wants to see may appear at a specific point within that session. Checking the published start list is especially important when planning arrival, breaks, or seating.
The sequence is also useful when reading live results. A competitor skating late in the free segment may be the current leader after completing the performance, but that lead is provisional until every higher-positioned skater has performed. The scoreboard reflects completed scores, while the start order indicates who is still to come.
How to Use the Official Event Information
Event schedules and start lists serve different purposes. A schedule tells visitors when a session begins, while a start list identifies the competitors and their exact performance order. Torino 2019 event information also covers practice sessions, tickets, seating, venue access, results, and the gala, so each document should be read according to its purpose.
For the clearest view of the competition sequence:
- Check the official start list for the relevant segment, rather than relying on the qualification ranking.
- Confirm whether the session is a short program, rhythm dance, free skate, or free dance.
- Use the first-segment results to understand why the second-segment order runs from lower place to higher place.
- Look for revised notices if a withdrawal, tie, or administrative correction affects the published sequence.
- Treat practice and exhibition-gala running orders as separate arrangements from the scored competition.
The Senior and Junior fields follow the same basic logic, but their sessions are listed separately. A competitor’s name may appear in practice information, a competition start list, and gala material without those appearances having the same order or significance.
The exhibition gala is particularly distinct. It celebrates selected performances and the event atmosphere rather than producing a ranked result, so its running order is arranged by the organizers. The draw-and-reverse-ranking system applies to the competitive segments, not to the gala presentation.
At Torino 2019, the skate order connected the event’s sporting rules with the experience inside the Palavela arena. An opening draw created uncertainty, the first-segment results reshaped the next list, and the reverse order brought the leading contenders to the ice at the end. Follow the official schedules and results to trace that progression from the first drawn position to the final free-program performance.