2009–10 figure skating season
The 2009–10 figure skating season began on 1 July 2009, and ended on 30 June 2010. During this season, elite skaters competed at the Olympic level at the 2010 Winter Olympics, on the ISU Championship level at the 2010 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships. They also competed in elite competitions such as the 2009–10 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Season notes It was the final season in which the compulsory dance and the original dance were contested in ice dance. Following this season, the International Skating Union instituted the short dance. Isabelle Delobel competed at the Olympics with partner Olivier Schoenfelder just four-and-a-half months after giving birth. On 28 June 2010, the International Skating Union announced that Evgeni Plushenko had lost his eligibility due to participating in March and April shows without his federation's permission. Age eligibility Skaters competing on the junior level were required to be at least 13 but not 19 – or 21 for male pair skaters and ice dancers – before 1 July 2009. Those who had turned 14 were eligible for the senior Grand Prix series and senior B internationals. Those who turned 15 before 1 July 2009 were also eligible