Skaters Who Have Changed the Sport

(See the “History of Skating Elements” for skaters who created moves that impact skaters today)

The following skaters have changed the sport of figure skating.  Some names are no doubt familiar; others you’ve probably never heard.  This list will grow as the sport of figure skating  continues to evolve.

 

SONJA HENIE

Every skater knows this name; you may know it, too.  Without Norway’s incredibly innovative Sonja Henie, figure skating as we know it today would not be the same.   Henie challenged the system in so many areas and revolutionized ladies figure skating.  Not only did she buck the black boots and opt for white ones; she also shortened her skirts and attempted the same jumps men did.  Henie choreographed her jumps and spins to music–really skating to music, not in spite of it. 

11-year-old Henie (1924 Olympics)

Henie & Hitler at the 1936 Olympics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a glimpse of a teenaged Sonja Henie at the 1924 Olympics:

No other female skater has won as many titles as Henie (six Norwegian National titles, ten World titles, six European titles, and three Olympic gold medals).  After ending her reign as Skating’s Queen, Henie headed for Hollywood where she skated her way onto the silver screen. 

After starring in more than a dozen movies, Henie took her show on the road and made millions.  The Sonja Henie Hollywood Ice Revue made her one of the highest paid performers ever; at the height of her career, she was one of the highest paid stars earning $2 million a year. 

Henie even owned her very own Zamboni–one of the first ice resurfacing machines–that travelled with her to resurface the ice at the various venues in which she performed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DICK BUTTON

 

BARBARA ANN SCOTT

 

BARBARA WAGNER & BOB PAUL

 

LUDMILA BELOUSOVA & OLEG PROTOPOPOV

 

PEGGY FLEMING

 

IRINA RODNINA

 

JANET LYNN

 

LUDMILA PAKHOMOVA & ALEXANDR GORSHKOV

 

DOROTHY HAMILL

 

ROBIN COUSINS

SCOTT HAMILTON

 

KATARINA WITT

 

JAYNE TORVILL & CHRISTOPHER DEAN

 

BRIAN ORSER

 

EKATERINA GORDEEVA & SERGEI GRINKOV

 

KURT BROWNING

 

MARINA KLIMOVA & SERGEI PONOMARENKO

 

MICHELLE KWAN

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• Quintessential Kwan