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.
Throughout its history, figure skating has seen countless athletes who have not only excelled in competition but have also captivated audiences with their artistry and athleticism. This article celebrates some of the most popular and influential ice skaters of all time, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the sport.
The Evolution of Figure Skating
Although skating was born in Europe, figure skating as we know it today traces its origins directly back to an American - Jackson Haines. Haines was born in New York in 1840 and died in Finland in 1875 after catching pneumonia while traveling by sled from St. Petersburg to Stockholm.
Read also: Choosing Figure Skates: Intermediate Level
Just before the Civil War, a skating craze (accompanied by a dancing craze) swept over America. It was during this time that Haines leapt into the limelight with his mastery of skating and dance.
He was a true revolutionary in a country where figure skating had laboriously developed a stiff and rigid style. The free and expressive movements of his performances were condemned by many Americans.
His lack of popularity in America finally prompted him to go to Europe, where he was an immediate success. He was especially popular in Vienna, where he created what some called the “international style of figure skating.”
While Haines gave America its first taste of the international style of figure skating, it was not until the turn of the century that this influence finally began to secure its place in the American figure skating community.
This event came about thanks to the efforts of Haines and three other figure skating trailblazers: Louis Rubenstein, George H. Browne and Irving Brokaw.
Rubenstein, of Montreal, was one of the first individuals who recognized the merits of the international style and the need for organization in a sport that had largely existed as an informal collection of skating clubs.
While Rubenstein laid the groundwork for uniform competitions, tests and a future governing body, it was Browne and Brokaw of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who put that work into action by means of the first “International Figure Skating Championships of America,” considered to be the first championship of the United States in the new international style.
Browne, who had studied with the leading European skaters of the day while in Davos, Switzerland, was a staunch supporter of the international style of figure skating, authoring several books and developing a new type of skate in order to promote this method of skating.
Much of the success accomplished by Browne was augmented by Brokaw. Brokaw, who had been influenced by the skating of Haines, collaborated with Browne throughout the early 1900s, demonstrating the international style throughout the country.
Brokaw was part of the first formal demonstration of the international style in 1908, and was the first American to participate in international competition, placing sixth at the 1908 Olympic Games in London.
In 1914, Browne organized the first International Figure Skating Championships of America under the auspices of the International Skating Union of America (I.S.U. of A.), the governing body for both speed and figure skating during the early 1900s.
The competition was created to promote the international style and attempt to streamline figure skating in the United States.
As a result of the direction brought by the I.S.U. Figure Skating, the organization is comprised of member clubs, individual members and associate members.
Figure Skating carries certain privileges and entitles figure skaters to participate in tests, competitions and shows sponsored by the association.
Until the early 1920s, there were no set standards for proficiency in the sport; if a skater felt qualified to compete, he or she did so. Today, skaters must pass a series of progressively more difficult tests as prerequisites to enter the competitive structure.
The highest test level in singles skating consists of the gold skating skills test and the gold singles test. In 1938, formal ice dancing tests were established and, in the late 1950s, pairs tests were established.
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir - Every Olympic Performance! | Top Moments
Hall of Fame
Figure Skating Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of figure skating.
Nominations are accepted from the skating community and the general public in the categories of Competitors, Coaches, Non-Athletic Contributors and Creative Impact Contributors. Competitor nominees must be retired from eligible skating for at least five years.
Hall of Fame Committee puts forth the ballot, which is voted upon by a field of distinguished electors.
Iconic Skaters and Their Achievements
The history of figure skating is filled with remarkable athletes who have left an indelible mark on the sport. Here are some of the most celebrated skaters:
- Gillis Grafström: The only male singles skater to claim three Olympic gold medals, the Swede did it in 1920, '24 and '28. He also won silver in the 1932 Games at Lake Placid.
- 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.
- Richard 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.
- Hayes Jenkins: American brothers Hayes and David Jenkins won successive Olympic gold medals at the 1956 and 1960 Games.
- Carol Heiss: In 1956, New York's Heiss won the silver medal at the Cortina 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). Carol won Olympic Silver in 1956 and later that season her first WC. She won her last four Natls from 1957-60 and twice won Gold at the old bi-annual North American championship.
- Peggy Fleming: 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.
- 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.
- 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. And why not? 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. Hamill, who also placed second twice at the Worlds, was known for her "Hamill camel" - combination camel and sit spin.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Michelle Kwan: history, Kwan never won Olympic gold but did capture silver in 1998 and the bronze in 2002.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Torvill and Dean: When it comes to ice dancing, the conversation really must begin with the legendary pair of Great Britain's Torvill and Dean. At the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, the pair delivered a passionate and sensuous performance to Ravel's "Boléro." The routine received all perfect 6.0s for artistic impression and remains one of the greatest competitive moments in Olympic history - Winter or Summer.
Rising Stars
The future of figure skating looks bright with a new generation of talented athletes emerging on the scene.
- Ilia Malinin: Malinin, the son of figure skaters from Uzbekistan who settled in Virginia, has accomplished so much by age 20 that Olympic gold is just about his only box left to check. And all signs point to Malinin’s dominating in Milan, much as fellow American Nathan Chen did at the 2022 Beijing Games (Chen left competitive skating after his gold). Malinin is undefeated since December 2023, including winning back-to-back World Championships and performing the greatest collection of jumps in one program in history: all six types of quadruple jumps, including the most difficult, the quad Axel, which no other skater has ever landed cleanly in competition.
- Adeliya Petrosian: The most notable is Adeliya Petrosian, who will try to become the fourth women’s singles skater from Russia to win gold in a four-Games span. She is coached by the steely Eteri Tutberidze, who also guided the last two gold medalists.
- Deanna Stellato-Dudek: Stellato-Dudek, a 42-year-old Canadian, is set to become the oldest Olympic figure skater since World War II and possibly the oldest figure skating medalist since the sport was held at the Summer Games in 1920.
- William Dandjinou: Fast-forward to find his son, after having missed the 2022 Canadian Olympic team by one spot, becoming the world’s best short track speed skater.
- Lauren Macuga: Macuga became the youngest American to win a World Cup speed race since Vonn in 2007. Then she became the first American to win a medal in her World Championships debut race since 1993, sharing super-G bronze.
- Connor McDavid: Now that the NHL is back in the Olympic fold, McDavid is already taking center stage for Team Canada.
Olympic Medals in Figure Skating
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.
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). Swedish figure skater Gillis Grafström and Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko have each won four medals. The only skaters with three consecutive titles are Grafström in men's singles, Sonja Henie for Norway in women's singles, and Irina Rodnina from the Soviet Union in pair skating. American Nathan Chen, and Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, are the only skaters to win two gold medals in the same Olympics.
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 16 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
| United States | 6 | 10 | 7 | 23 |
| Canada | 4 | 6 | 7 | 17 |
| Sweden | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Norway | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |