| Figure skating element | |
|---|---|
 Illustration of a single Axel jump | |
| Element name | Axel jump |
| Alternative name | Axel Paulsen jump |
| Scoring abbreviation | A |
| Element type | Jump |
| Take-off edge | Forward outside |
| Landing edge | Backward outside |
| Inventor | Axel Paulsen |
| Disciplines | Singles, pairs |
The Axel jump or Axel Paulsen jump, named after its inventor, Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen, is an edge jump performed in figure skating. It is the sport's oldest and most difficult jump, and the only basic jump in competition with a forward take-off, which makes it the easiest to identify. A double or triple Axel is required in both the short program and the free skating segment for junior and senior single skaters in all events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU).
The triple Axel has become a common technical element in the men's singles discipline, while it is still rare among female single skaters. As of 2024, twenty women have successfully completed the triple Axel in competition. The quadruple Axel was successfully executed in competition for the first time in 2022, but has not yet been landed by a female skater. Compared with other basic figure skating jumps, the Axel requires an extra half revolution, which makes a triple Axel "more a quadruple jump than a triple", according to figure skating expert Hannah Robbins.[1]