Michelle Kwan skates during an exhibition in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, January 16, 2005, the day after winning her ninth U.S. Figure Skating championship. (Photo: Don Ryan/AP Wide World)

Figure skating features four events: men's and women's individual skating, pairs figure skating, and ice dancing.

Both individual and pairs skaters are judged on a short and free skating program. Ice dancers are evaluated on rhythm, interpretation of the music, and specific steps.

In short track, groups of four to six skaters race around a track similar in size to a hockey rink. Short track competition includes both individual and relay events.

The Olympics features 12 speed-skating events: 10 individual events and 2 team events. Skating in a crouched position, athletes can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. They race for the fastest time to within a hundredth of a second.

Whom to Watch
Top U.S. Female Athlete, Figure Skating: Sasha Cohen
Top U.S. Male Athlete, Figure Skating: Johnny Weir

Top International Competitors, Figure Skating: Evgeny Plushenko and Irina Slutskaya (Russia)
Top U.S. Male Athlete, Short Track: Apolo Anton Ohno
Top U.S. Female Athlete, Short Track: Allison Baver

2002 U.S. Gold Medalists
Figure-skater Sarah Hughes won the gold medal in the women's individual event.
Short-track speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno won the gold medal in the men's 1,500-meter event.
Speed-skater Chris Witty won the gold medal in the women's 1,000 meter event.
Speed-skater Derek Parra won the gold medal in the men's 1,500 meter event.
Speed-skater Casey FitzRandolph won the gold medal in the men's 500-meter event.