(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.
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
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