Figure skating first started in the 1860s when Jackson Haines revolutionized the sport by skating to music and incorporating balletic movements. It requires skaters to perform both a short program with mandatory jumps and skills and a longer free program, both set to music. Olympic gold medalist Sonja Henie helped popularize the sport in the United States in the 1930s before turning professional. Vanessa James is a 159cm tall French-Canadian figure skater born in 1987 who enjoys tennis, movies, and dancing.

1. Figure SkatingBY: Adriana Carrasco

2. Figure SkatingThey first started playing in 1924How it works is when you get on the ice you have to use all the balance you haveJackson Haines, an American, revolutionized figure skating in the 1860s, skating to music, bringing balletic movements to ice, and creating new ones. One of the most beautiful and graceful events in all sport, international figure skating requires skaters to perform a short program that includes mandatory jumps and skills, and then a longer program of free selection, both set to music. Olympic gold medalist Sonja Henie did much to bring skating to wide public notice in the United States, and after she turned (1936) professional, the popular American amusement.

3. Vanessa JamesFrance159cm (5’’2)Birthday September 27, 1987 22 Years oldFrance CanadaAthlete Tennis, movies and dancing. (ISU, 23 Oct 2009)

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5. Referencehttp://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-figure-skating/additional-information/about-the-sport_145912Fz.htmlhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Vanessa_James_2006_JGP_The_Hague.jpghttp://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_figure_skating_work