when was the backflip banned in figure skating

The backflip in figure skating was banned in 1977 by the International Skating Union (ISU), shortly after it had been performed in major competitions in 1976.

Quick timeline

• 1976: American skater Terry Kubicka performs a backflip at the 1976 Winter Olympics and World Championships.

• 1977: ISU formally bans the backflip (and similar “somersault type jumps”) in competition, citing safety concerns and the principle that jumps should land on one foot.

• 1977–2024: Backflips remain an “illegal element” in ISU competition but continue in shows and exhibitions.

• 2024: ISU removes backflips from the restricted list, allowing them again as non-scoring choreographic elements starting with the 2024–25 season.

So, to directly match your question “when was the backflip banned in figure skating”: it was banned in 1977 and stayed illegal in competition for nearly 50 years.

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