The Greatest American Female Figure Skaters of All Time

A legend not only in terms of U.S. figure skating history but also on the international stage. 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. For years Button was a staple as a television analyst, most notably for ABC. Carol Heiss is the 1960 Olympic champion, the 1956 Olympic silver medalist and five-time World champion.

The Russian professional figure skater won an Olympic gold at 15, thus becoming the youngest Russian gold medalist in history. On 9 February 2014, Evgeni Plushenko became the first skater to win multiple figure skating events. On 12 February 2014, Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov became the first skaters to win multiple events at a single Olympics. During the early portion of the 20th century, there were not many better than Sweden’s Salchow.

Total base points for attempted jumps

Her free program to the music “Sag mir wo die Blumen sind” (an arrangement of the Pete Seeger folksong “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”) included a peace message for the people of Sarajevo, the site of her first Olympic victory. While she had some technical problems, completing only three of her planned five triples, she delivered perhaps the most emotional and moving performance of the whole evening. In 1984, Witt was voted “GDR Female Athlete of the Year” by the readers of the East German newspaper Junge Welt. She won the 1984 Olympic title in Sarajevo, with reigning World champion Rosalynn Sumners of the United States in second. Witt and Sumners held the top two spots heading into the Olympic free skate, which was worth fifty percent of the total score. Witt landed three triple jumps in her free skate program, and the judges left room for Sumners to win the event.

• Kwan had an unusual mistake in the short program and placed eleventh in that portion of the competition, but skated a strong freestyle program and finished eighth overall.
• She is widely known for her overwhelming tribute to her late husband, who also doubled up as her partner, Sergei Grinkov.
• From medal winners, to record breakers, to the artistically gifted, this list contains all of the greatest female figure skaters in the sport’s history.
• Michelle Kwan remains a legendary name, known for her unparalleled artistry and consistency.
• Of course, Hamilton’s career highlight came with a gold at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo.
• After one year of coaching by Carroll, 11-year-old Michelle placed 9th at the junior level at the United States Figure Skating Championships.

It signaled a return to American dominance in the sport of women’s figure skating following the unprecedented tragedy of the 1961 Sabena plane crash. Adelina Sotnikova, 17, became the first Russian woman to win gold in Olympic figure skating in a surprise performance in 2014 that edged defending champion Kim Yuna of the Republic of Korea into second. Sotnikova previously had won multiple medals in the European championships, Grand Prix series, and Russian championships. Shcherbakova, who was second to Valieva after the short program, opened her free skate assuredly with a quadruple flip-triple toe combination and a separate quad flip. The reigning world champion, she again delivered on the sport’s biggest stage.

Pairs

Three skaters won Olympic medals in multiple figure skating disciplines. Dr. Tenley Albright, who was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, is the 1956 Olympic champion, 1952 Olympic silver medalist, two-time World champion and five-time U.S. champion. Albright was the first American female figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal. She retired from the sport after her Olympic gold in 1956 but has continued to stay involved with sport.

Final scores for the 2022 Olympics

She has a gold medal in the world Championships and silver and bronze medals. The star athlete also has a gold medal in the Asian winter games. Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are the only figure skaters to win five Olympic medals (3 gold, 2 silver). Swedish figure skater Gillis Grafström (3 gold, 1 silver) and Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko (2 gold, 2 silver) each have four medals. The only skaters with three consecutive titles are Grafström in men’s singles, Sonja Henie (Norway) in ladies’ singles, and Irina Rodnina (Soviet Union) in pairs.

Celebrating the women of U.S. Figure Skating

Evgeni Plushenko won gold in men’s singles in 2006 and team event gold in 2014. Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov were the first skaters to win multiple events at a single Olympics, winning both pairs and the team event. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir matched this feat four years later, earning golds in ice dance and the team event. To run the rink, you’ve got to have https://accounting-services.net/20-famous-female-ice-skaters-who-won-olympic/ it all—grace, strength, and plenty of determination. While it isn’t easy being any athlete competing in the Olympics, there’s something extra special about ice skaters’ ability to make their incredibly difficult sport look literally effortless. They glide seamlessly backward, forward, and every direction in-between—as if they aren’t balancing on two sharp blades.

This is when athletes from one NOC win all three medals in a single event. In 1908, Madge Syers became the first skater to medal in multiple figure skating disciplines at a single Olympics. The only other skater to medal in multiple disciplines was Beatrix Loughran who did so at separate Olympics. In 1998, Tara Lipinski made history after becoming the youngest female in her sport to win a gold medal at just 15 years old. Not long after, she decided to turn professional to spend more time with her family. Sustaining a hip injury didn’t stop her from having a successful career in the years following the Olympics, as both an author and member of Stars on Ice.

How old was Tara Lipinski when she started ice skating?

Another medal on her coveted list is the 1992 Olympic Gold medal and the World Junior Championship, where she partnered with Rudy Galindo. The talented star was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005, culminating in her achievements. Anna Shcherbakova, 17, of Russia, landed two quadruple jumps and received the highest artistic marks to win the Olympic women’s figure skating competition on Thursday. The heavy favorite — her teammate and training partner Kamila Valieva, 15 — stumbled from the beginning and fell on a quad toe jump to finish a disappointing fourth amid the maelstrom of a doping scandal. Kwan has guest-starred as herself in “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass”, an episode of The Simpsons, and in the Family Guy episode “A Hero Sits Next Door”. She has also made guest star appearances in Arthur (In the Season 6 episode “The Good Sport”), Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and various other television series.

Since men’s special figures was discontinued, this record can not be matched. The dazzling world of figure skating has been elevated by remarkable female figure skaters who have enthralled audiences with their exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. Showcasing elegance, athleticism, and a passion for their craft, these famous female figure skaters have captured the hearts of audiences worldwide while leaving an indelible mark on the history of women’s ice skating.

In addition to her Olympic gold, Yamaguchi placed first at the world championships for ladies’ singles in 1991 and ’92. Off the ice, Yamaguchi is probably best known for winning Season 6 of “Dancing with the Stars.” 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. The diminutive Hamilton overcame a childhood illness to eventually win four consecutive national championships within the U.S. ( ) and four straight world titles. Of course, Hamilton’s career highlight came with a gold at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo. He’s also gone on to become one of the most well known and respected skating commentators and analysts.