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Top Figure Skaters |
Here are the rankings for worlds top figure skaters with links to their web sites when available. |
Michelle Kwan |
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Michelle Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history and has won 42 championships, including five world championships, nine overall U.S. Championship titles, and two Olympic medals.
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Accomplishments |
Four World Championships Titles
1996,1998,2000-2003
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Nine US Championships 1st place titles
1996, 1998-2005 |
2002 - Olympics - 2nd
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1998 - Olympics - 3rd |
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Sarah Hughes |
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Sarah Elizabeth Hughes is the 2002 Olympic gold medalist and the 2001 World bronze medalist.
Hughes began skating at age 3 because her two older brothers and sister skated. Her silver medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships enabled her to become the youngest competitor in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 World Championships. She received the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.
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2002 Winter Olympics - 1st |
2002 Skate America - 1st |
2002 Skate America - 2nd |
2000 Viena Cup - 1st |
1999 World Junior Chanpionship - 2nd |
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Alexei Yagudin |
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Alexei Yagudin (1980-) is the 2002 Olympic champion as well as a four-time World Champion, a two-time World Professional Figure Skating Champion, a three-time European Champion, and three-time Grand Prix Final gold medalist.
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Recent Accomplishments |
Four World Championships 1st place
1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 |
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Kristi Yamaguchi |
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Kristine Yamaguchi (1971-) is the 1992 Olympic Champion in women's singles. She also won two national titles in 1989 and 1990 as a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
On May 20, 2008, Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion in the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars with pro dance partner Mark Ballas |
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Recent Accomplishments |
1992 - World Championships - 1st |
1992 - Olympic Winter Games - 1st |
1992 - U.S. Championships - 1st |
1991 - World Championships - 1st |
1991 - U.S. Championships - 2nd |
1990 - U.S. Championships (Pairs) - 1st
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1990 - U.S. Championships - 2nd |
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Kurt Browning |
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Kurt Browning, (1966-) is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.
At the 1988 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Browning landed the first quadruple jump ever in competition
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Recent Accomplishments |
Four time World Championsip titles
1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
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Four Time Canadian National Chamion |
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Tara Lipinski |
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Tara Lipinski won the Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games
In 1997, Lipinski unexpectedly won both the U.S. and World Championships, and, at the age of 14, became the youngest person ever to win either title.
At the 1996 U.S. Postal Challenge, Lipinski became the first female skater to land a triple loop/triple loop jump combination, which became her signature element. |
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Recent Accomplishments |
1998 - Olympic Winter Games - 1st
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1998 - U.S. Championships - 2nd |
1997 - Champions Series Final - 1st |
1997 - World Championships - 1st |
1997 - U.S. Championships - 1st |
1997 - Skate America - 2nd |
1996 - Champions Series Final - 1st |
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Elvis Stojko |
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Elvis Stojko (1972-) became the first person to land a quadruple-double jump combination at the 1991 World Championships.
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Accomplishments |
Three Wolrd Championsip Titles
1994, 1997, 1997 |
Two Olympic Silver Medals
1994, 1998 |
Seven Canadian Championship Titles
1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002 |
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Todd Eldredge |
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Todd James Eldredge (1971) is one of the most highly-decorated American men’s skaters of the past 40 years. His six U.S. titles, six World Championship medals and numerous other international achievements are testament to his skill, consistency and work ethic.
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Accomplishments |
Six time US National Champion
1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2002 |
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Evgeny Plushenko |
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Stéphane Lambiel |
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Tatiana Totmianina / Maxim Marinin |
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Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin began skating together in 1997. Coached by 1984 Olympic Pairs Champion Oleg Vasiliev, Totmianina and Marinin made consistent progress on the world scene through the late 90's. They won their first major title at the 2002 European Championships, and went on to finish 4th at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Totmianina and Marinin were the clear favorites for Olympic gold in Turin, Italy. They won the gold and retired from the amateur ranks soon after.
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Accomplishments |
Five European Championship Titles |
Olympic Gold Medalists 2006 |
Two World Championship Titles |
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Natalia Mishkutenok / Artur Dmitriev |
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Mishkutenok skated with partner Artur Dmitriev from 1987 to 1994; together, they won the 1991 and 1992 World and European Championships, and Olympic gold in 1992. They turned professional shortly after that championship.
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Yelena Berezhnaya / Anton Sikharulidze |
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Elena Viktorovna Berezhnaya and partner Anton Sikharulidze, are the 1998 Olympic silver medalist and 2002 Olympic co-champion. Their 2002 gold medal was shared with Canadian pair Jamie Salé and David Pelletier after the controversy regarding the judging of the long program of that competition. Berezhnaya had also represented Latvia in competition.
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Accomplishments |
Two World Championship titles in Pairs |
2002 Olympic Gold Medalists |
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Sarah Hughes |
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Sarah Elizabeth Hughes (1985-) is the 2002 Olympic gold medalist and the 2001 World bronze medalist. |
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Nancy Kerrigan |
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Nancy Kerrigan (1969-) is an American figure skater medalist and 1993 U.S. champion.
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Shizuka Arakawa |
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Scott Hamilton |
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Scott Hamilton won four consecutive U.S. championships (1981-1984), four consecutive World Championships (1981-1984) and the 1984 Olympics.
Hamilton toured with Ice Capades for two years, and then created "Scott Hamilton's American Tour," which later was renamed Stars on Ice.
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Accomplishments |
World Olympic Champion 1984 |
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Four World Championsip Titles
1981-1984 |
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Four World Championship Titles
1981-1984 |
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Dorothy Hamill |
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Hamill was U.S. champion from 1974 through 1976. She is credited with developing a new skating move; a camel spin that turns into a sit spin, which became known as the "Hamill camel."
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Accomplishments |
World Olympic Champion 1976 |
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Three US National Championships Titles
1974-1976 |
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Three World Championship Titles
1974-1976 |
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Katarina Witt |
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Katarina Witt won two Olympic gold medals, first in the 1984 and the second in 1988 . She won the World Championships in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988, and six consecutive European Championships (1983–1988). Her competitive record makes her one of the most successful figure skaters of all time. |
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Accomplishments |
1988 - Olympic Winter Games - 1st |
1988 - World Championships - 1st |
1987 - World Championships - 1st |
1986 - World Championships - 2nd |
1985 - World Championships - 1st |
1984 - World Championships - 1st |
1984 - Olympic Winter Games - 1st |
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Oksana Baiul |
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In 1994, at 16 years old, Oksana won the Olympic Gold Medal.
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Accomplishments |
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Olympic Gold Medalist 1994 |
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World Championships 1993 1st |
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Two European Championship Silver Medals
1993, 1994 |
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Denise Biellmann |
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Denise Biellmann is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion.
Denise was the first female skater to land the triple lutz in competition, which she performed for the first time at the 1978 European Championships
Biellmann's signature spin was later named the Biellmann spin after her. She did not invent the spin, but she was the one to popularize it. It remains the only figure skating spin to be officially named after a person in ISU regulations.
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Ondrej Nepela |
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Brian Orser |
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Irina Rodnina / Alexander Zaitsev |
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Midori Ito |
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Irina Rodnina / Alexander Zaitsev |
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Liudmila Smirnova / Andrei Suraikin |
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Carol Heiss |
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Heiss grew up in Queens, New York, where she started skating at the age of 6. She won the U.S. Junior Ladies title in 1952, and then moved up to the senior level in 1953. From 1953 to 1956, she finished second to Tenley Albright at the national championships.
Heiss won the silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. She then won five consecutive world titles. |
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Accomplishments |
Five World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1956-1960 |
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US Figure Skating Silver Silver |
1953-1956 |
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US Figure Skating Silver Gold |
1957-1960 |
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1956 Olympics - 2nd, 1960 Olympics - 1st |
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Hayes Alan Jenkins |
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Hayes Alan Jenkins led men's skating for 4 years, 1953-56. He won four consecutive World Figure Skating Championships from 1953 to 1956. He also won the gold medal in the 1956 Winter Olympics, after placing 4th in the 1952 Winter Olympics. |
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Accomplishments |
Four World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1953-1956 |
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Four US Figure Skating Titles |
1953-1956 |
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Gold medal at Winter Olympics |
1956 |
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David Jenkins |
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David Jenkins won the men's gold medal for figure skating during the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.
David Jenkins had led the world in men's skating for four years, following the four-year lead of his older brother, figure skater Hayes Alan Jenkins.
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Accomplishments |
Three World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1957-1959 |
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Four US Figure Skating Titles |
1957-1960 |
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Gold medal at Winter Olympics |
1960 |
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Sjoukje Dijkstra |
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Sjoukje Dijkstra won the World Champion three times, the European Championships five times and has won two olympic medals. Her Olympic gold in 1964 in Innsbruck, was the first time an athlete from the Netherlands won gold at Olympic Winter Games. During her days as an amateur skater, she was known for her athletic style and was one of the few skaters who excelled in compulsories and free skating.
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Accomplishments |
Three time World Champion |
1962-1964 |
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Five time European Champion |
1060-1065 |
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Olympic gold medalist |
1064 |
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Peggy Fleming |
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Peggy Fleming began skating until her family moved from California to Cleveland, Ohio when she was nine years old. Her family returned to California in 1960 and Peggy Fleming began training with coach Bill Kipp.
Wearing a costume her mother made for her at home, Peggy Fleming won the Olympic gold medal in figure skating in 1968 |
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Accomplishments |
Three World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1966-1968 |
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Five US Figure Skating Titles |
1964-1968 |
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Gold medal at Winter Olympics |
1968 |
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Ria Baran / Paul Falk |
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Ria Baran and Paul Falk became twice World champion and in 1952 Olympic champion.
Ria Baran married Paul Falk during her active international figure skating. Therefore she is sometime listed as Ria Baran-Falk or Ria Falk. |
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Accomplishments |
Two World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1961-1962 |
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Two European Figure Skating Championsip Titles |
1951-1952 |
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Gold medal at Winter Olympics |
1952 |
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Norris Bowden |
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Born in Toronto, Bowden won championships in every division of Canadian figure skating. He was national men's champion as a junior and senior (1947), national pairs (junior and senior), dance (1952), waltz, and 10-step champion with Frances Dafoe, and national fours champion.
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Accomplishments |
Two World Figure Skating Championship Titles |
1961-1962 |
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Two European Figure Skating Championsip Titles |
1951-1952 |
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Gold medal at Winter Olympics |
1952 |
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Barbara Wagner / Robert Paul |
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Ludmila Belousova / Oleg Protopopov |
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Nancy Ludington / Ronald Ludington |
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Sonja Henie |
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Sonja Henie Won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater. In the 1920s Henie brought a new style to figure skating in both athletic practice and dress. Previously, female figure skaters had skated in bulky clothing and long skirts. Henie broke with tradition by wearing a short knee-length skirt during her routines.
After retiring from skating Sonja began an acting career and was one of the highest paid movie stars in Hollywood. |
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Accomplishments |
Olympic Gold in 1928, 1932, and 1936 |
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Ten World Titles from 1927-1936 |
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Six European Championships Titles
from 1931-1936 |
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Carol Heiss |
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Heiss was known as a very athletic skater for her time. In 1953, she became the first female skater to land a double axel jump. Another one of her trademarks was doing a series of alternating clockwise and counterclockwise single axels. Heiss, incidentally, normally rotated her jumps clockwise and spins counterclockwise; it's much more common for skaters to do both in the same direction, usually counterclockwise. |
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Recent Accomplishments |
Five World Figure Skating Titles |
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Four US Figure Skating Titles |
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1960 Olympics - 1st |
1956 Olympics - 2nd |
Four US Figure Skating Silver Medals |
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Karl Schäfer |
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Karl Schafer was the 1930-1936 World Champion and the 1929-1936 European Champion. He won the gold medals at the 1932 Winter Olympics and the 1936 Winter Olympics. As a swimmer, he competed in the breaststroke and competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in that event. |
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Accomplishments |
Two time olympic figure skating champion. |
1932, 1936 |
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Seven time world figure skating champion. |
1930-1936 |
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Eight time European figure skating champion. |
1929-1936 |
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Dick Button |
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Dick Button was a two-time Olympic champion (1948 and 1952) and is credited as having been the first skater to successfully land the double axel jump in competition in 1948, as well as the first triple jump of any kind -- a triple loop -- in 1952.
He also invented the flying camel spin, which was originally known as the "Button camel". |
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Accomplishments |
Two time olympic figure skating champion.
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1948, 1952 |
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Five time world figure skating champion. |
1948 - 1952 |
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Maxi Herber / Ernst Baier |
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Ilse Pausin / Erich Pausin |
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Ulrich Salchow |
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Ulrich Salchow (1877–1949) was a Swedish figure skater, who dominated the sport in the first decade of the 20th century.
After his competitive days, Salchow remained active in the sport, and was president of the International Skating Union (ISU) from 1925 to 1937. |
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Accomplishments |
Ten World Titles from 1927-1936 |
Nine European Championships 1898-1910 |
Won Gold at 1908 Olympics |
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Herma Szabo |
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Herma Szabo (1902 - 1986) was an Austrian singles and pairs figure skater. She was the 1924 Olympic champion and is one of four women to have won the World title 5 times
Szabo was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1982 |
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Accomplishments |
Five World Figure Skating Titles |
Olympic Gold in 1924 |
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Gillis Grafström |
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Grafström was one of the best skaters ever in compulsory figures. He also invented the Grafström-pirouette (on the back outside edge of the blade) and the flying sit spin. He skated very elegantly and was famous for his interpretation of music. Grafström also coached Sonja Henie.
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Accomplishments |
Three Olympic Gold Medals 1920, 1924, 1928 |
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Willi Böckel |
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Willy Boeckl (1896-1975) was an Austrian figure skater. He won the World Figure Skating Championships four times and captured a pair of silver medals at the Winter Olympics.
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Accomplishments |
Placed at nine consecutive world championships |
Four times 1st place, three 2nd, and two 3rd |
Won six European Championship titles |
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Anna Hübler / Heinrich Burger |
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Hübler and Berger were the first World champions and the first Olympic champions in pairs figure skating. They never became European champions, because the European championships were established in 1930. |
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Accomplishments |
First Olympic champions in pairs. |
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Ludowika Jakobsson / Walter Jakobsson |
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Lilly Scholz / Otto Kaiser |
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Skate |
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