There have been many figure skaters who have won many competitions and medals, entertaining millions of people and breaking records. Here are some of the best.
Ladies’ Singles
1. Sonja Henie
Was a famous Norwegian figure skater and actress. She was a three-time Olympic Champion (1928, 1932, 1936) and 10 time Figure Skating World Champion. She won her first figure skating competition at the age of 9 and dedicated the first half of life to skating and training for competitions. She was the first skater to adopt the short skirt costume in figure skating and she also introduced dance choreography to her routines, which changed figure skating forever. She was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976 after her death.
2. Kristi Yamaguchi
Is a very talented American figure skater who became the 1992 Olympic Champion in women’s singles. She also won 2 Figure Skating World Championships. In 2005, she was placed in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Since winning gold she has performed with in many shows such as Champion on Ice, Stars on Ice and in 2008 she won the TV show Dancing on Ice. She was one of the most popular figure skaters in the world.
3. Michelle Kwan
Started training at the age of 8, before and after school. Michelle Kwon has won 2 Olympic medals and 5 World Championships. Her signature move is a change-of-edge spiral arabesque, which she developed in 1998. Following an injury in 2002, she is now no longer competing but is still performing at demonstrations and commentating.
Men’s singles
1. Gillis Grafstrom
This Swedish figure skater still holds the record of most medals won at the Winter Olympics, winning 3 gold (1920, 1924 and 1928) and one silver in 1932. He was one of the most elegant and technically skilled figure skaters of the time, mastering the compulsory figures and even creating some of his own moves. He invented the Grafström-pirouette (on the back outside edge of the blade) and the flying sit spin.
[image: frogsonice.com]
2. Brian Boitano
This American skater was known as a jumps-robot during the first part of his career. In 1982, Boitano was the first American to land a triple axel. He then went on to develop his signature move: the ‘Tano triple lutz’ jump, in which the skater raises his left arm above his head. He went on to become two-time World Champion and 1988 Olympic Gold medallist. Today, he has a food show called ‘What Would Brian Boitano Make?’
3. Evgeni Plushenko
This popular Russian figure skater has been Figure Skating World Champion 3 times and won an Olympic Gold medal in 2006. He is known for his technical skills and incredible jump combinations. He was the first skater in the world to perform a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop-double loop jump (4-3-2) combination in competition. He is the first skater to land a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop-triple loop (4-3-3) combination in competition and Plushenko is also the first skater to land a triple toe loop-triple toe loop-triple loop-double loop (3-3-3-2) combination. It is estimated he has landed over 100 quadruples in competition.