How Fast Is Figure Skater Spin?

A figure skater spinning has their fingertips moving at about 8 m/s. With arms pulled in tight to the body, rotation can hit 7 revolutions per second — using conservation of angular momentum to multiply spin speed.

Olympic figure skaters can momentarily exceed 8g of centripetal force at the fingertips during a spin — equivalent to fighter-pilot manoeuvres.

• Up to 7 rotations per second with arms in
• Fingertip speed of fast spin