The final figure skating competition of the Beijing Olympics is underway, as 18 pairs take to the ice for the short program, a two-minute skate.
Unlike the ice dancing competition that took place earlier in the Games, pairs figure skating prioritizes more acrobatic skills: jumps, overhead lifts and throws.
Friday’s competition includes performances by the rival pairs Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov of Russia, the reigning world champions, and Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China, who won world titles in 2017 and 2019.