Skaters were eligible to participate at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics if they were born between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2001, except males in pairs and ice dance, who may be born between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000.[2]
Qualification system
The overall quota for the figure skating competition was 76 total skaters, consisting of 38 men and 38 ladies. There were 16 skaters in each of the single skating disciplines (men's and ladies'), 10 pair skating teams, and 12 ice dancing team. The maximum number of entries that qualified by a National Olympic Committee was 2 per event, making 12 (6 men, 6 ladies) the maximum number of entries that a country could qualify.[2]
If a country placed a skater in the first, second or third position in a 2015 World Junior Figure Skating Championships discipline they qualified for two spots in that discipline at the Youth Olympics. All other nations could enter one athlete until a quota spot of twelve for each singles event, seven for pairs and nine for ice dancing, was reached. There were further four spots for each single event and three spots for pairs/ice dancing at the 2015–16 ISU Junior Grand Prix.[2]
Some countries announced their selections in 2015, as early as October.[4] The International Skating Union published a complete list of entries on 4 February 2016.[5]
