Figure skating is one of the most popular winter Olympic sports. The sport was first introduced in the 1908 Summer Olympic Games and moved to become part of the Winter Games in 1924. It was one of the first sports with a category for women and the only Winter Olympic sport with women competitors until 1936. Figure skating events include freestyle, pairs, ice dance and synchronized team skating. Ice dancing didn’t become an Olympic sport until 1976. Team figure skating is the newest Olympic skating event that first started in the 2014 Sochi Games.
Whether you're a fan, a skater or part of a skating family, this quick guide celebrates the legends who’ve defined the sport and inspired millions. Let’s face it - some of the greatest women skaters have dazzled us with skill, grace and unforgettable performances throughout the history of figure skating. Organised chronologically, this list highlights how each skater shaped the sport with their talent and determination.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's Moulin Rouge at PyeongChang 2018 | Music Mondays
The Pioneers and Trailblazers
Gillis Grafström
The only male singles skater to claim three Olympic gold medals, the Swede did it in 1920, '24 and '28. Men's singles skater Gillis Grafström's first gold medal was earned at the 1920 Summer Olympics. His other three medals were won at the 1924-1932 Winter Games. He also won silver in the 1932 Games at Lake Placid. The only skaters with three consecutive titles are Grafström in men's singles.
Sonja Henie
Often considered the greatest figure skater in the history of the sport - male or female - Norway's Henie won Olympic gold three times in ladies' singles (1928, '32 and '36) and a remarkable 10 consecutive world titles from 1927-36. Those combined championships are the most of any female. The only skaters with three consecutive titles are Sonja Henie in women's singles. Sonja Henie was a Norwegian skater who became one of the first true superstars in figure skating. She won three Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championships, setting records that still stand today!
Karl Schäfer
Back in the 1930s, there were not many male skaters better than the Austrian Schäfer. He won seven consecutive world titles from 1930-36. During that stretch, Schäfer, also an elite swimmer who competed in the Olympics, won gold at the 1932 Winter Games and again in 1936. Schäfer was also an eight-time European champion.
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American Dominance and Rising Stars
The United States has played a dominate role in Olympic figure skating over the years.
Hayes and David Jenkins
American brothers Hayes and David Jenkins won successive Olympic gold medals at the 1956 and 1960 Games.
Tenley Albright
To win a gold medal at the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games.
Carol Heiss
In 1956, New York's Heiss won the silver medal at the Cortina Games. Carol Heiss won gold in the 1960 Squaw Valley Games. Four years later, one of the country's most popular athletes at the time, stepped up her game and won gold at the Squaw Valley Olympics. In addition to her Olympic success, Heiss finished first five times at the world championships (1957-60).
Peggy Fleming
Peggy Fleming took home the lady’s gold medal for the United States at the 1968 Grenoble Games. skating greatness, the Hall of Famer won her only Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Grenoble Games. However, Fleming was a three-time singles world champion from 1966-68. Peggy Fleming brought elegance back to figure skating during the 1960s. She won gold at the 1968 Winter Olympics and three World Championships, standing out with her smooth approach to skating.
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Dorothy Hamill
There's a good bet any young girl with dark hair living in America in the mid-to-late 1970s sported the famed Dorothy Hamill bobbed haircut. Especially in 1976, when the 19-year-old became America's skating sweetheart while winning Olympic gold and also placing first at the world championships. And why not? Hamill, who also placed second twice at the Worlds, was known for her "Hamill camel" - combination camel and sit spin. Dorothy Hamill captured hearts with her gold-medal performance at the 1976 Winter Olympics. Known for her energy and creativity, she introduced the famous “Hamill Camel” spin and set trends with her signature bob haircut!
Scott Hamilton
Not only is Hamilton one of the greatest skaters of all time, but he remains a true ambassador for the sport - and not just in the United States. (1981-84) and four straight world titles. Of course, Hamilton's career highlight came with a gold at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo.
Brian Boitano
When thinking United States figure skating of any gender, Boitano is usually near the top of the list. He won gold at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and twice stood alone at the top of the world championships in men's singles.
Kristi Yamaguchi
The gold-medal winner at Albertville in 1992, Yamaguchi is one of the most recognizable figures in the history of international figure skating. In addition to her Olympic gold, Yamaguchi placed first at the world championships for ladies' singles in 1991 and '92. She was also the world junior champ in 1988. Kristi Yamaguchi made history as the first Asian-American woman to win Olympic gold in figure skating, taking the title in 1992. With her calm and elegant style, she also claimed two World Championships!
Michelle Kwan
history, Kwan never won Olympic gold but did capture silver in 1998 and the bronze in 2002. Michelle Kwan was the face of figure skating for more than a decade. She won five World Championships and two Olympic medals, all thanks to her smooth and skillful performances.
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Sarah Hughes
Sarah Hughes became an instant star when she won Olympic gold in 2002. Her lively skating and fearless approach helped her shine on the world stage.
International Icons
Dick Button
A two-time Olympic champion (1948, '52) and five-time world champ, Button was the youngest male skater to win Olympic gold (18 years, 202 days) and the only non-European competitor to win a European championship. He's also noted for being the first skater to land a double axel and triple loop.
Evgeni Plushenko
Not only is Plushenko perhaps the greatest male singles skater in Russian history, but he also is right up there with the best in world. He's a four-time Olympic medalist (tied for second all time) with singles gold in 2006 and team gold in '14. Plushenko also brought home the silver medal at the 2002 and '10 Winter Games. Evgeni Plushenko won gold in men's singles in 2006 and team event gold in 2014.
Irina Rodnina
Arguably the greatest pairs skater in the history of the sport, Rodnina was a force for the Soviet Union from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. Rodnina is the only skater to win 10 straight world championships (1969-78) and three consecutive Olympics gold medals (1972, '76 and '80) for pairs skating. Teamed with Alexei Ulanov then Alexander Zaitsev, Rodnina was the first pairs skater to win Olympic gold with two different partners. The only skaters with three consecutive titles are Irina Rodnina in pairs.
John Curry
In 1976, the creative and supremely talented Curry won gold at both the Olympics and the world championships. Known for his style and elegance on the ice, Britain's Curry reportedly posted the highest score for a men's singles competition at the time (105.9) while placing first at the Innsbruck Games in '76.
Katarina Witt
When we talk the greats in the world, regardless of gender, Witt should be at the forefront of that conversation. Witt won singles gold for East Germany at the 1984 and '88 Winter Games. In addition, she is a four-time world champion and joined Sonja Henie in winning six consecutive European Championships (1983-88). Katarina Witt ruled the ice in the 1980s with her confident and bold performances. She won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championships, bringing drama and excitement to every routine.
Artur Dmitriev
In some circles, Dmitriev is considered to be the best male pairs skater of all time. He's the only male skater to win Olympic gold with two different partners, first, with Natalia Mishkutionok at the 1992 Games in Albertvill and then in '98 while teamed with Oksana Kazakova at Nagano.
Sergei Grinkov and Ekaterina Gordeeva
OK, this will be the first of a few times we'll take the liberty of offering a skating two for one. In the realm of pairs skating, Gordeeva and Grinkov were among the best - and most tragic. The 1994 gold medalists at Lillehammer and four-time world champions were skating royalty when Grinkov collapsed during a training session in November 1995 and died from a massive attack.
Jamie Salé and David Pelletier
At the 2002 Olympics, a controversy in the pairs competition culminated in the French judge's scores being thrown out and the Canadian team of Jamie Salé and David Pelletier being awarded gold medals. Additionally, the Russian team of Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze were allowed to keep their medals despite the allegations of vote swapping and buying of votes of the French judge. Judges from Russia, China, Poland, Ukraine, and France had placed the Russians first; judges from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Japan gave the nod to the Canadians. A scheme had been hatched whereby the French pairs judge had agreed to award the gold medal to the Russian team, while the Russian ice dance judge was to award the gold medal to the French ice dance team.
Yuna Kim
Yuna Kim, also known as “Queen Yuna,” is one of the most admired female figure skaters in history. She won Olympic gold in 2010 with a near-perfect routine and added silver in 2014.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
No skaters in the history of the Olympics - over all disciplines - have won more medals than the five claimed by the Canadian pair of Virtue and Moir. They won a total of three gold medals: two in 2018 at South Korea for ice dancing and the team competition, with the other for dance in 2010. They also won a pair of silvers in 2014 for the same two events. Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are the only figure skaters to win five Olympic medals (three gold medals and two silver medals). Tessa Virtue, along with her partner Scott Moir, wowed fans with their seamless ice-dance routines. Together, they won two Olympic gold medals and multiple World Championships. American Nathan Chen, and Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, are the only skaters to win two gold medals in the same Olympics. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir matched this feat four years later, earning golds in ice dance and the team event.
Brian Orser
Though Browning never won an Olympic medal, he is one of the most successful and popular Canadian figure skaters of all time. A member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Browning is a four-time world champion (1989, '90, '91 and '93) and also took home a silver.
Patrick Chan
Chan enjoyed success in skating's team event at the past two Winter Games. In 2014 he won silver at Sochi - where he also took home the same medal in men's singles. Four years later, the popular Canadian won team gold in South Korea.
Alina Zagitova
Alina Zagitova became one of the youngest Olympic champions ever when she won gold in 2018.
Evgenia Medvedeva
Is it possible a 20-year-old can be on this list? Looking at Medvedeva's skating resume, it's easy to see why she's worthy. The young Russian took home a pair of silver medals (singles, team) at the 2018 Winter Games, and she's already won two world championships (first to do so back-to-back since Michelle Kwan in 2000 and '01) and a pair of European Championship titles.
Yuzuru Hanyu
Some will argue that this Japanese wonder might be the greatest male singles skater ever to grace the ice. Not only has Hanyu won gold at the last two Winter Olympics (2014, '18), but he's twice placed first at the World Championships and has three silver medals to boot in that competition. Hanyu has set world records on 19 occasions.
Olympic Games
Figure skating has been part of the Olympic Games since 1908 and has been contested at 26 Olympic Games. There have been 286 medals (96 gold, 95 silver, and 95 bronze) awarded to figure skaters representing 29 National Olympic Committees. Six events have been contested but one, men's special figures, was discontinued after a single Olympics.
Only three skaters have won Olympic medals in multiple figure skating disciplines. In 1908, Madge Syers became the first skater to medal in multiple figure skating disciplines at a single Olympics. The only skater to match this feat was Ernst Baier in 1936.
Russian figure skaters hold the unique record of having won gold medals in all six Olympic figure skating events. Russia is the only NOC to have won gold medals in all five current Olympic figure skating events. Russia and the Unified Team are the only NOCs to have won three events at the same Olympics, at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 1992 Winter Olympics respectively.
| Skater | Country | Medals |
|---|---|---|
| Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir | Canada | 3 Gold, 2 Silver |
| Gillis Grafström | Sweden | 3 Gold, 1 Silver |
| Evgeni Plushenko | Russia | 2 Gold, 2 Silver |
| Irina Rodnina | Soviet Union | 3 Gold |