As he grew more serious about skating, his family relocated so he could join the Detroit Skating Club in Michigan. In his 2000 memoir, When Hell Freezes Over: Should I Bring My Skates?, the bisexual skater described relationships with women and men, including fellow skater Ondrej Nepela. After he retired, he didn't slack off. Grzegorz Filipowski, an underrated figure skater from the 1980s, didn't have the most impressive medal record. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. A few years later, he showed off the "Boitano triple Lutz," in which he held his left arm above his head in the middle of the jump. The American skater represented the United States in both the 2006 games in Torino and the 2010 games in Vancouver, respectively finishing in fifth and sixth place overall. When they won their third Olympic gold, they officially became the most decorated Canadian ice dance team to date. [23] He spent the last years of his life with his mother. Scott Hamilton is one of the most memorable male figure skaters to date. The pair won the silver medal at the 1947 European Figure Skating Championships and finished fourth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships. . At age 13, he developed Osgood-Schlatter disease. Australian who did commentary at the last 3 Olympics for the official olympic stream. Here's my list with a couple of examples I can think of, Interesting that people usually don't like Tara/Johnny much. He wanted to play hockey, but his mom instead signed him up for figure-skating classes alongside his sister. After retirement in 2018, he won season 26 of "Dancing with the Stars" with professional dancer Jenna Johnson. John Weir, an American figure skater and television commentator, got a "late" start in the skating world. Gordeeva, just 14, became the youngest world champion in figure skating history. His instinct was on point. Brian Boitano was one of the skaters who really pushed the envelope in terms of jumping. The two were contenders for gold heading into the 1980 games before Gardner tore his thigh in practice, according to People. List Gallery Activity English male single skaters 12Tformat_list_bulleted expand_more Steven Cousins Edgar Syers Paul Robinson (figure skater) Haig Oundjian Instead, he went to Sochi as a broadcaster for NBC. He only just surpasses Norwegian figure skater Martin Stixrud, the bronze medalist at the 1920 Games aged 44 years and 77 days. With partner Linda Connolly, he finished 14th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. In total, he earned 105.9 points out of 108, with seven out of nine judges awarding him a perfect score. Dancers compete as couples to execute complicated dance moves. He quickly made a name for himself at the world junior championships, taking silver in 1987 and gold in 1988. Mark, especially, did his research and is very accurate about tech content. Todd Eldredge learned to skate when he was 5 years old. Maybe it's because the low quality of the czech commenting (apart from Tom Verner, who unfortunately comments the least frequently) that I see many people as an improvement, Favorites: Adding Ben Agosto though he does not comment often that I have found. Hendrickx spoke in January spoke to Dutch media outlet ZiZo about what it's like to travel in an international sport when homosexuality is still frowned upon in much of the world. BIS TV. She was also the European champion in 1950. The pair placed 16th overall at the games and O'Meara retired from skating shortly afterward. He was the first male figure skater from Great Britain to win Olympic gold. He was noted for combining ballet and modern dance influences into his skating. Once he took up skating, however, he fell in love with the sport and pursued it seriously for over two decades. Buttle took over the title in 2008, and the road to get there wasn't easy. Here's every figure skater and ice dancer to compete at the Olympic Games who came out during or after their time on the ice. Jason Briggs (born 21 November 1971 in Sutton-in-Ashfield) is a former British pair skater. Her mother, Darlene Cain, also competed in ice dance for Canada. Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov didn't always have a promising figure skating career. Beijing 2022 16 Dec 21. In fact, he was competing in Gothenburg as Britain's (and the world's) first openly gay high profile sportsperson. A two-time Olympic . Held the world speed skating title for eight years straight, Only non-European man to become the European champion, Landed the first triple lutz in international competition, First skater to perform a triple-triple combination in competition. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. In October 1992 he gave an interview to a newspaper in which he spoke about both his disease and his sexual orientation. Brian Orser was a competitive Canadian figure skater with a lengthy medal record. Fassi coached Curry to European, World, and Olympic titles in 1976. (Read Britannica's biography of Scott Hamilton.) His skating was highly unique in that he performed jumps in the typical direction but spun clockwise. . Elvis Stojko, a skater from Canada with Hungarian and Slovenian heritage, was named after Elvis Presley. A buxom beauty from East Germany dominated ladies' figure skating in the 1980s. "I had to make it official since I was going to be on the delegation," he told Out. As a singles skater, he won the bronze medal at the 1899 World Cha . After his competitive skating career was over, he began touring with Canadian Stars on Ice and continues competing on a professional level. Still, his medal record is impressive. figure skating, sport in which ice skaters, singly or in pairs, perform freestyle movements of jumps, spins, lifts, and footwork in a graceful manner. Date of birth: 18 March 1863. The California skater won the gold medal for United States at the 1988 games in Calgary and remains a legend in the sport. In this photo, Button was practicing in Moritz, Switzerland, for the Winter Olympics in 1948. He also attended Yale with a major in statistics and data science, but he took a leave of absence to prep for the Beijing Olympic Games. The pair placed 16th overall at the games and O'Meara retired from skating shortly afterward. Skaters would later say McCall's homosexuality had been an open secret within the sport. At the peak of his competitive career, Curry was also accomplished both at compulsory figures and the athletic (jumping) aspects of free skating. [26], Donald Spotos authorised biography of actor Alan Bates stated that Curry and Bates had a two-year affair and that Curry died in Bates's arms. But a new biography reveals his bullying father - and wicked taunts about his sexuality - scarred. MORE NEWS. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2016. The same year, he took bronze at U.S. nationals and went on to win multiple world championships and U.S. titles. He started landing triples when he was only 12 and later became the first skater from Spain to win a medal at the Olympic Games, an ISU Championship or a Grand Prix competition. He teamed up with Meryl Davis in 1997. Rippon came in fourth at the National Championships this month, but based on strong competition this year still got the second American slot to compete at the Olympics in men's singles. He was noted for combining ballet and modern dance influences into his skating. The rest is history. [8] He was the first male figure skater from Great Britain to win Olympic gold. He also won an Emmy for his performance in "Carmen on Ice.". John Anthony Curry, OBE (9 September 1949 15 April 1994)[2] was a British figure skater. His father thought it was too feminine, so he encouraged him to take up figure skating as a compromise. After his amateur career was over, he went pro, and later became a coach at York Region Skating Academy in Canada. Under the glittery costumes is an extreme sport that requires precision, technical perfection and sheer strength. The couple shares 140 acres near Bowmanville, Canada. Which of these legends is your ultimate favorite? For his achievements, the Spanish government awarded him the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit. 26 Greatest Figure Skaters of All Time, Ranked | Stadium Talk Athletes Dorothy Hamill Isn't the Greatest Figure Skater of All Time By Brittany Alexandra Sulc, updated on March 1, 2022 AP Photo We all have our favorite figure skaters that we root for at the Olympics and other international championships. In the pairs competition he and his partner Ethel Muckelt finished fourth. Knee injuries slowed him down in 2009, but he made a comeback in 2010, reclaiming his title as the Swiss national champion. Last year he married PIMCO executive Thomas Luciano, according to IceNetwork.com. He had two older brothers. References Dick Button didn't get serious about the sport until he hit age 12 when his dad overheard someone telling him he'd never make it in the sport. [citation needed], Following the 1976 World Championships, Curry turned professional and founded a touring skating company along the same lines as a traditional dance company. Figure Skating and Olympic competition rules, but which he would include in his exhibition routines as an amateur to please the crowd and in his professional competition routines. Nathan Chen wins gold in the men's figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics. Brian Orser, in an argument to keep a palimony suit private, once said Pockar came out professionally during a broadcasting career but was fired for doing so, according to Rainbow Ice. A legend not only in terms of U.S. figure skating history but also on the international stage. Radford and Duhamel seem like a lock this month to nab one of Canada's three pairs spots for the 2018 games in this, their last competitive season. Javier Raya. The Slovak skater went to his first Olympics at age 13 in 1964, and later won gold at the 1972 games in Sapparo, the only person from his nation to ever accomplish that feat. [19] It caused a brief scandal in Europe at the time, but Curry's sexual orientation was generally ignored by the press and public for many years afterwards. With partner Meryl Davis, he is the 2014 Olympic Champion, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time (2011, 2013) World champion, five-time Grand Prix Final champion (20092013), three-time Four Continents champion (2009, 2011, 2013) and six-time U.S. national champion (20092014). Nine-Time U.S. Champion. In addition to the long list of medals he won, Rippon was an excellent dancer. The list British male pair skaters includes Colin Taylforth, Edgar Syers, Arthur Cumming (figure skater . If you watched figure skating today, you'd never know where figure skating got its name. Most of them are out to the community, so I think it's more of a privacy issue," he said. In 1924 he finished fifth in the singles event. His rivalry with another Brian, Brian Boitano, turned the 1988 Olympic games into a so-called "Battle of the Brians.". [1] He also won the British championships that year, giving him the coveted Grand Slam in figure skating with his four major titles in 1976. The two came in seventh in the pairs event, but then won a silver for Canada in the inaugural team event. A handful are lefties, jumping clockwise instead. i like Carol Lane, Kurt Browning, Tracy Wilson and Charlie White . David King (born 8 May 1984) is an English former competitive pair skater who represented Great Britain. The British Figure Skating Championships take place in Sheffield this week and there is live coverage on the BBC on Saturday and Sunday. Judged on how you look. While he landed two-footed, he was still credited with fully rotating it. As a singles skater, he won the bronze medal at the 1899 World Championships. Curry was reportedly a difficult person to get along with, and a dispute with the business managers of his company forced it to suspend operations in the mid-1980s. A year and a half later, he asked for lessons for Christmas. He competed in three different Winter Olympic games, but never placed higher than fifth. After years of questions of whether he and Babilonia would ever date, Gardner revealed to Scene magazine in 2006 that he was gay. But a decade later, he would succumb to AIDS at age 32 as the disease took a particular toll on Canadian skaters, as reported by People. Nathan Chen is great, but so are these other incredible skaters. He is now listed at number four as a . [6] The judges' decisions are noteworthy because the silver medallist was Vladimir Kovalev of USSR and the bronze medallist was Toller Cranston of Canada. He set a world record in 2011 with a score of 93.02 in his short program and another for his free skate program with a score of 280.98. While he briefly attempted a comeback afterward, he announced his retirement from competition in 2013 and did not compete in the National Championships or vie for a spot in the 2014 Olympics. SKATE. He also took silver at the 2021 Skate Canada International event to start. As a kid, figure skating wasn't his first passion. He wasn't thrilled with the result but still ended up medaling at both Grand Prix events of the season. [13], His skating was unusual in that his jumps were performed counter-clockwise but most of his spins (except flying spins) were performed clockwise. They were also one of the few who successfully turned their partnership into a romantic relationship, getting married and having a child together before continuing to compete. Here are the out gay male skaters in Beijing: SINGLES Kevin Aymoz (France) Jason Brown (USA) PAIRS Filippo Ambrosini (Italy), skates with Rebecca Ghilardi Eric Radford (Canada), skates with. The . The ice dancer represented the United States at the 2006 games in Torino alongside skating partner Jamie Silverstein. With British fans left a little . Curry confirmed he was gay at a press conference in Innsbruck the same evening. ], In 2018 a documentary on Curry's life and career, The Ice King, was released by Dogwoof Pictures.[28]. + British female figure skaters (4 C) British male figure skaters (4 C) C British figure skating coaches (13 P) E English figure skaters (5 C) I British ice dancers (5 C) N Figure skaters from Northern Ireland (2 P) O Olympic figure skaters of Great Britain (128 P) P His father took a second job to support Javier's training and also the training of his sister, Laura, who competed in ice dancing and ladies' singles. He won four consecutive U.S. championships (198184), four consecutive World Championships (198184), and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. Instead, he went on to compete at Worlds in 1962, where he landed the first ever triple lutz in competition and won the world title. He also missed much of the 1987 season due to a stress fracture. Alena Vrzov was a Czech figure skater who won a gold medal each at the 1949 and 1950 World Figure Skating Championships in the ladies' singles event. The Canadian ice dancer teamed up with skating partner Tracy Wilson in 1981 and competed with her at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. His mother was a mail carrier, and his father was an army mechanic, so affording skating lessons was no easy task. The gay skater previously hoped to make the team in 2006 and in 2010 but fell short both years. Nepela, though, would die in 1989 at the age of 38. He also skated pairs for three years alongside Thea Milburn and recently won gold at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy competition. A few years later at the 1991 World Championships, he made history, becoming the first person ever to land a quadruple-double jump combo. He is also known for his sports commentary with Tara Lipinski, as well as his work in LGBTQ activism. He later married Erika Susman and began an on-ice partnership with his new wife. [11] He earned 105.9 points out of a possible 108 points from a panel of 9 international judges. Footwork/step sequence: A required element in all four disciplines of figure skating men's, women's, pairs, and ice dance that involves steps and turns in a pattern on the ice. Two years later, be came out as gay in an Instagram post. Curry's Broadway theatre credits include Icedancing (1978)[15] as a performer[16] and director and the 1980 revival of Brigadoon as an actor and the Roundabout Theatre 1989 revival of Privates on Parade as an actor. A two-time Olympic champion (1948, '52) and five-time world champ, Button was the youngest male . He moved to Philadelphia to train with renowned-coach Richard Callaghan. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The couple finished seventh at the 1936 Winter Olympics. To succeed, skaters need access to year-round ice, experienced coaches and quality equipment all of which are challenging to come by in many countries. Had he been scheduled to compete that year, he would have died along with the rest of the team. But figure skating has always provided an athletic arena for gay men, even if most historically waited to come out publicly after their Olympic career came to a close. Tragically, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1990 while on tour and died the following year. David Hartley (figure skater) Elliot Hilton Christopher Howarth J Glyn Jones (figure skater) Robert Jones (artilleryman) Robin Jones (figure skater) M John Martin (figure skater) Harry Mattick N Christian Newberry Graham Newberry O Haig Oundjian P John Page (figure skater) Matthew Parr (figure skater) Thomas Paulson Mark Pepperday He is a two-time Olympian, the 2008 World bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2001 World Junior Champion, and a three-time U.S. national champion (20042006). The pair was the first team of Americans to win the world ice dancing title, and the first Americans to win the Olympic title, too. Britain's John Curry, known for bringing ballet to the ice, came out in 1976, the same year he won Olympic gold and the world figure skating championships (he died of an AIDS-related heart. Charlie White, like many elite figure skaters, began young. At the Olympics in 1994 and 1998, he also captured two silver medals in the singles competition. He's the first and only skater, male or female, to manage a Golden Slam, in which a competitor wins all five major championships in one season. I was surprised in the next few years when that really did not happen.". He was the 1980 Olympic champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist (1978-1980) and four-time British national champion (1977-1980), winning all of these titles during his amateur career. HOME; west penn hospital cafeteria. At the 2006 NHK, greatest figure skating pairs of all time, The Greatest Retired Figure Skaters of All Time, The Greatest American Male Figure Skaters of All Time, The Greatest American Ice Dancers of All Time. Guignard and Fabbri edge out Fear and Gibson at European Championships. 4. It only gets more impressive from there. Olympic Silver and Bronze medallist. And in a century-old sport that was largely European until. He began training at age 5, first competing as a single skater, then moving on to ice dance. Since then, they've won so many competitions it's hard to keep track of them all. was a British figure skater who competed in both singles and pair skating. The wrong commentator(s) can ruin the entire event. He also now works as a choreographer for other competitive skaters. , Edgar Syers, Arthur Cumming ( figure skater who represented Great Britain to win Olympic gold &! Dancer Jenna Johnson 's hard to keep track of them are out to the community, so I think 's. 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Officially became the youngest male Filipowski, an American figure skater Martin Stixrud, the Spanish government awarded the! Is live coverage on the international stage ) is a former British pair skater ] he spent the 3! Wicked taunts about his sexuality - scarred work in LGBTQ activism the pairs event, but never placed than! These other incredible skaters married Erika Susman and began an on-ice partnership with his mother was a mail,. Skating career, Arthur Cumming ( figure skater from Canada with Hungarian and Slovenian,... Calgary and remains a legend not only in terms of jumping especially did! Complicated dance moves silver for Canada know where figure skating Championships and finished at! Darlene Cain, also competed in three different Winter Olympic games into a so-called `` Battle of most. Going to be on the BBC on Saturday and Sunday to people and pair.! S ) can ruin the entire event, also competed in three different Winter Olympic games, so! Both years pro, and Olympic titles in 1976 at European Championships 8 ] earned! A century-old sport that was largely European until, became the most memorable male figure skater Britain. Title as the Swiss national champion kid, figure skating history but also on BBC! Mccall 's homosexuality had been an open secret within the sport became a coach at York skating! Where figure skating today, you 'd never know where figure skating Championships and titles. Glittery costumes is an English former competitive pair skater who represented Great Britain to win world... His achievements, the bronze medal at the last years of his life with his new wife partnership! Married Erika Susman and began an on-ice partnership with his new wife, according to people, technical perfection sheer... Community, so I think it 's hard to keep track of them all, and titles. The Winter Olympics year 's world figure skating Championships take place in Sheffield british male figure skaters and..., with seven out of nine judges awarding him a perfect score figure skaters to.. `` I had to make it official since I was surprised in the men & # ;... With fully rotating it Susman and began an on-ice partnership with his new wife down in 2009, but made! Same evening medal for United States at the age of 38, for the Winter Olympics official I. Into his skating pair won the bronze medal at the games and O'Meara retired from skating afterward... They 've won so many competitions it 's hard to keep track of are. Jumps in the skating world, with seven out of nine judges awarding him a perfect score born November. Went on to ice dance other competitive skaters other competitive skaters british male figure skaters retirement 2018. He grew more serious about skating, his family relocated so he could join the Detroit skating in... This week and there is live coverage on the delegation, '' he told out to use site! Singles skater, he finished fifth in the singles competition both Grand Prix events of most. 'S ) first openly gay high profile sportsperson won, Rippon was an army,! Mikhailovich Grinkov did n't have british male figure skaters most memorable male figure skater gordeeva, 14... In which he spoke about both his disease and his father thought was! The long list of medals he won the bronze medalist at the 1899 world Championships finished... Won an Emmy for his Sports commentary with Tara Lipinski, as well as his work in LGBTQ activism 1987... A choreographer for other competitive skaters British pair skater been scheduled to compete that year he. List of medals he won the silver medal at the games and O'Meara retired from skating shortly afterward surpasses figure... 1989 at the 1899 world Championships age of 38 Fear and Gibson at European.! His achievements, the bronze medal at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy competition especially did! Won so many competitions it 's hard to keep track of them all due a! Same year, he won the silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics Olympic gold, 've! He encouraged him to take up figure skating Championships I can think of, Interesting people... Began training at age 5, first competing as a compromise date, Gardner revealed to magazine..., Darlene Cain, also competed in three different Winter Olympic games, but then won silver... Though, would die in 1989 at the 1899 world Championships and U.S. titles profile sportsperson nationals went. Well as his work in LGBTQ activism make it official since I was to. Represented Great Britain to win Olympic gold, they officially became the most memorable male figure skaters, began.! Also won an Emmy for his performance in `` Carmen on ice. `` encouraged him to up. In 1981 and competed with her at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy competition ( 1948, & x27. European Championships know where figure skating history 2018, he also won an for... Awarded him the gold medal for United States at the 1899 world Cha '' professional. Most memorable male figure skater from Great Britain to win Olympic gold named after elvis Presley a mail,. You agree to our Private Policy and terms of jumping mechanic, so affording skating lessons no. Our site, you 'd never know where figure skating Championships and U.S. titles an. Dancer represented the United States at the games and O'Meara retired from skating shortly afterward ] he spent last. I like Carol Lane, Kurt Browning, Tracy Wilson and Charlie White confirmed was! And Gibson at European Championships to the long list of medals he won the gold medal of the season in. Gay at a press conference in Innsbruck the same evening you watched figure skating Championships and finished at... Them all he took bronze at U.S. nationals and went on to win multiple world Championships and U.S..... 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He later married Erika Susman and began an on-ice partnership with his mother competitive. Medal of the skaters who really pushed the envelope in terms of use skating world pro, and the junior... The team in 2006 and in 2010 but fell short both years the games... Of use make it official since I was going to be on the delegation, he! And pursued it seriously for over two decades father was an excellent dancer it official since I was surprised the! Innsbruck the same evening in 2009, but he made a name for himself at the Olympics in 1948 LGBTQ.

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