What People Misunderstand About Famous Olympic Ice Skaters

1. Dorothy Hamill

A list of famous Olympic ice skaters would be incomplete without Dorothy Hamill, America’s sweetheart. According to her official Olympics profile, she won the gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, at just 19 years old. Following her historic victory, she made the decision to turn professional and began touring with the Ice Capades. Hamill performed in the Ice Capades from 1977 to 1984. Adding to her impressive list of accomplishments, she was inducted into both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She has even written an autobiography and competed on Dancing with the Stars.

2. Kristi Yamaguchi

Even though I was in kindergarten, I can remember being so excited when Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France. I even wrote something about it in my kindergarten journal. Although I didn’t know it at the time, Kristi was born with club feet and started figure skating when she was 6 as a part of physical therapy after corrective surgery. When I learned this, I was absolutely awe-inspired. She clearly is someone who reaches for the stars, which is evident through the fact that she started a nonprofit organization for underprivileged, disabled, and at-risk youth called the Always Dream Foundation. Aside from her nonprofit work, Kristi Yamaguchi has also toured with Stars on Ice and been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Her journey demonstrates how early athletic challenges can inspire lifelong dedication, a path shared by other young gold medalists who overcame major obstacles.

3. Oksana Baiul

Oksana Baiul was raised by her grandmother and mother until she became an orphan at age 13, at which time she began to be cared for by her coaches. With such a tough childhood, it is amazing that Oksana became so successful. According to her official Olympic bio, she became the youngest female to win a gold medal for women’s figure skating at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She has since been dethroned as the youngest gold medal winner, but 16 is young no matter what. After winning the gold medal, Oksana started her own figure skating line and has also been named as one of Barbara Walters’ most fascinating people. Her incredible rise to the top highlights the resilience required of elite athletes, who often start their journeys as kids.

4. Tara Lipinski

Tara Lipinski now holds the title of the youngest female to win a gold medal in figure skating, which she won at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. According to her official website, Tara began skating at age 6, which is absolutely astounding considering she won the gold just 9 years later. Talk about talent and hard work! Although she was so young when she won the gold medal, Tara decided to turn professional and performed with Stars on Ice for 8 years. She was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2006. Today, you can find her on NBC, where she serves as a lead commentator and analyst for the Olympic Games. Her historic achievement remains one of the most celebrated moments in the history of young gold medalists.

5. Sarah Hughes

I was lucky enough to see Sarah Hughes' gold medal performance when she won the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Watching her execute 7 perfect triple jumps in her long program was jaw-dropping, especially since she was only 16. Sarah started ice skating when she was a toddler and spent a lot of time on the ice. According to her official Olympic profile, after the Salt Lake City Olympics, Sarah retired from competing and went to Yale University, from which she has since graduated. Her transition from Olympic athlete to Ivy League graduate highlights the diverse opportunities available to athletes after sports, similar to other professional milestones like learning ways to be successful at your first job.

6. Michelle Kwan

Although she never won a gold medal at the Olympics, Michelle Kwan did receive two Olympic medals. At the Olympics in Nagano she won silver, and four years later in Salt Lake City she won bronze, which is quite impressive. Equally impressive, if not more so, are the five world champion titles she holds. According to the official Olympic records, since ending her skating career, Michelle went to the University of Denver and Tufts University, where she received a law and diplomacy Master’s degree. She worked in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and in 2022, she was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Belize.

7. Sasha Cohen

Sasha Cohen is by far my favorite figure skater. She is incredibly beautiful and artistic on the ice, a true performer. While not the reason she is my favorite, I can’t forget to mention her incredible flexibility, which is behind her famous L-spin. According to Sasha Cohen's official website, she competed in the Olympics in 2002 and 2006, winning the silver medal in the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy. Since that time, she has performed with Stars on Ice and even appeared on Project Runway. Sasha has also written an autobiography, graduated from Columbia University, and transitioned into a career in finance. Her dedication to flexibility and form is a great example of the benefits of stretching, which you can practice with effective yoga poses to add to your routine today.

Some of the most iconic figure skating spins and moves executed by these legends include:

I have watched the Olympic figure skating competitions since I was a very little girl, and I am always excited to see what the new generation of athletes looks like on the ice. However, I am not forgetting the past Olympians who have wowed at past games and continue to inspire millions. Who is your favorite figure skater? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!