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How did compulsory figures affect figure-skating competition scores before 1990?

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Historic champion — figure skating Katarina Witt, competing for East Germany, became the first woman since Norway's Sonja Henie (1928, 1932, and 1936) to win consecutive Olympic gold medals, doing so in 1984 and 1988.

Before their elimination in 1990, compulsory figures were a dominant factor in figure-skating competition scores, often outweighing freestyle performance. Because they were considered the most important part of the sport, skaters who excelled at figures could win competitions even without strong freestyle-skating techniques.1

The weight of these figures in the total score shifted over time:
* 1960s: Figures accounted for 60 percent of the total score at national and international championships.1
* 1968: The value was reduced to 50 percent.1
* 1973: Following the introduction of the short program, the value was further reduced to 40 percent.1

Over the subsequent 17 years, the International Skating Union (ISU) continued to decrease the influence of figures until they were removed entirely following the 1990 World Championships. Proponents argued that figures were essential for developing balance, edge control, and footwork, while critics viewed them as mundane compared to the athleticism of freestyle skating. Their removal ultimately provided a significant advantage to more athletic, freestyle-oriented skaters.1