How a UIC professor is using technology to help Team USA figure skaters

February 17, 2026 - 03:09

At the intersection of academia and elite athletics, a University of Illinois Chicago professor is playing a pivotal role in refining the performance of Team USA's figure skaters. Serving dual roles as a UIC educator and U.S. Figure Skating’s Sports Sciences Manager, she applies cutting-edge technology to analyze and enhance every aspect of a skater's performance.

Her work focuses on utilizing advanced motion capture systems and biomechanical analysis software. This technology breaks down jumps, spins, and footwork with incredible precision, providing athletes and coaches with data-driven insights previously unavailable. The goal is to identify microscopic inefficiencies in technique, reduce injury risk by analyzing landing forces, and ultimately build more consistent and resilient competitors.

This scientific approach complements traditional coaching, offering an empirical layer to the art of figure skating. By translating complex physics into actionable feedback, she empowers athletes to understand their mechanics on a deeper level. As the skating world evolves, this fusion of technology and human performance is becoming indispensable, giving U.S. athletes a critical edge in international competition through innovation rooted in rigorous scientific research.