Winter Olympics 2014 figure skating schedule: Dates of events and names to watch

Figure skating is the marquee event of the Winter Olympics, and this year’s competition should be just as popular. The event already kicked off on Thursday with team programs, but there is much more to come over the next two weeks.

In the men’s singles competition, Canada’s Patrick Chan is considered the favorite, having won three world championships. Other contenders include Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, who won bronze in Vancouver. and Javier Fernandez of Spain. The top American contenders are Jason Brown and Jeremy Abbott, although both men are longshots to make the podium. American Evan Lysacek, the Vancouver gold medalist, pulled out of these games with an injury.

On the women’s side, South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na is heavily favored to defend her 2010 gold medal, although she will have stiff competition from Japan’s Mao Asada, the Vancouver silver medalist. They are expected to take two of the podium spots again. The American medal hopefuls include Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner.

Here is the complete figure skating schedule for the Sochi games (all times are Eastern):

Team ice dance short program - 9:30 a.m.

Team ladies short program - 11:10 a.m.

Team pairs free skating - 1:05 p.m.

Team men free skating - 10 a.m.

Team ladies free skating - 11:05 a.m.

Team ice dance free dance (medal round) - 12:10 p.m.

Pairs short program - 10 a.m.

Pairs free skating (medal event) - 10:45 a.m.

Men short program - 10 a.m.

Men free skating (medal event) - 10 a.m.

Ice dance short dance - 10 a.m.

Ice dance free dance (medal event) - 10 a.m.

Ladies short program - 10 a.m.

Ladies free skating (medal event) - 10 a.m.

Gala exhibition - 9:30 a.m.

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