Get ready to glide across the ice as we journey through the fascinating world of figure skating and celebrate the greatest talents to have ever graced the rink.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply curious about figure skating, this captivating exploration will leave you in awe of the dedication, skill, and artistry possessed by these athletes.
From elegant spins and gravity-defying jumps to breathtaking choreography, these figure skaters have pushed boundaries, set records, and left an indelible mark on the sport.
We will delve into their mesmerizing performances, their inspiring stories, and their lasting legacies, uncovering what makes them stand out among the countless skaters in history.
10. Patrick Chan
Patrick Chan is a Canadian figure skater renowned for his elegant performances and exceptional technical prowess.
Chan’s breakthrough came in 2008 when he won his first national title in Canada. This victory marked the beginning of a successful career that would see him win numerous championships and compete at the highest level of competition, including the Winter Olympics. Chan’s elegant style and flawless execution of jumps and spins have captivated audiences worldwide.
Despite facing fierce competition from other talented skaters, Chan’s ability to consistently deliver exceptional performances sets him apart.
His commitment to artistic expression and technical precision has earned him multiple world titles and Olympic medals.
Chan’s impact on the sport extends beyond his own achievements.
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Chan has also made significant contributions to the sport of figure skating as a whole.
9. Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt, hailing from East Germany, is widely regarded as one of the most successful figure skaters in history.
She dominated the sport throughout the 1980s, showcasing her exceptional skills and captivating audiences worldwide.
Witt’s career reached its peak during the Winter Olympics in 1984 and 1988, where she claimed gold in both events.
Her performances were a perfect blend of technical proficiency and artistic expression, leaving spectators in awe. In 1995, Witt was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
8. Karl Schäfer
Karl Schäfer was a two-time Olympic champion at the 1932 Winter Olympics and the 1936 Winter Olympics.
He was also a seven-time World champion (1930–1936) and eight-time European champion (1929–1936).
After retiring from competitive skating in 1936, Schäfer moved to the United States for a couple of years, where he worked as a coach. In 1938, he opened a sports store in Vienna.
In 1940, he and Herta Wächter (also a figure skating coach) founded the “Karl-Schäfer-Eisrevue” (Karl Schäfer Ice Revue).
After World War II, Schäfer participated in rebuilding Engelmann’s ice rink, and from 1946 on he coached young skaters there. He moved again to the U.S. in 1956 and worked there as a figure skating coach until 1962.
7. Tara Lipinski
Tara Lipinski burst onto the figure skating scene in the mid-1990s, capturing the hearts of fans around the world with her precocious talent and infectious personality.
At the age of 15, Lipinski became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in women’s figure skating history, a record that still stands today.
Her technical prowess and fearlessness on the ice set her apart from her competitors. Lipinski’s ability to execute difficult jumps with ease and grace made her performances unforgettable.
Lipinski’s impact on the sport extended beyond her Olympic triumph. After her Olympic victory, Lipinski decided not to participate in the 1998 World Championships in March, and in early April, she announced that she was turning professional.
She performed in live shows before retiring from figure skating in 2002. Lipinski began her broadcast career commentating on Figure Skating for Universal Sports in 2010.
She then transitioned to NBC and NBC Sports in 2011, where she has covered almost every international skating competition that has aired on the network.
6. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are a Canadian ice-dancing pair known for their strong connection on the ice and impressive skills.
Their performances stood out for their smooth teamwork, creative lifts, and detailed footwork.
They are the 2010 and 2018 Olympic champions, the 2014 Olympic silver medalists, a three-time World champion (2010, 2012, 2017), a three-time Four Continents champion (2008, 2012, 2017), the 2016–17 Grand Prix Final champion, an eight-time Canadian National champion (2008–2010, 2012–2014, 2017–2018), the 2006 World Junior champion and the 2006 Junior Grand Prix gold medalists.
Virtue and Moir are also the 2018 Olympic gold medalists in the team event and the 2014 Olympic silver medalists in the team event.
Upon winning their third Olympic gold medal, they became the most decorated Canadian ice dance team of all time and the most decorated Olympic figure skaters of all time. They are widely regarded as one of the greatest ice dance teams of all time.
5. Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton, an American figure skater, is not only known for his incredible athletic prowess but also for his indomitable spirit and inspiring story.
He won four consecutive U.S. championships (1981–84), four consecutive World Championships (1981–84), and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. His signature move, the backflip, a feat few other figure skaters could perform at the time, is against U.S. Figure Skating and Olympic competition rules.
He is widely recognized for his innovative footwork sequences.
In retirement, he has been involved in charitable work and is the author of three books. He was the world professional champion in 1984 and 1986, and he continued to win professional titles into the 1990s.
In 1986, he helped form Stars on Ice, a touring figure-skating company.
He also worked as a television analyst for the U.S. national championships and for the Olympics.
4. Yuzuru Hanyu
Yuzuru Hanyu, a Japanese figure skater, has taken the world by storm with his extraordinary talent and artistic brilliance.
He is a two-time Olympic champion (2014, 2018), a two-time World champion (2014, 2017), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2013–2016), the 2020 Four Continents champion, the 2010 World Junior champion, the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a six-time Japanese national champion (2012–2015, 2020–2021).
He has broken world records nineteen times: the most times among single skaters since the introduction of the ISU Judging System in 2004.
He is the first man to have received over 100 points in the men’s short program, over 200 points in the men’s free skate, and over 300 total points in the competition.
Upon winning his first Olympic title, Hanyu became the first Asian men’s singles skater to win Olympic gold.
3. Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan, an American figure skater, is widely regarded as one of the greatest female skaters in history.
She is a two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998, bronze in 2002), a five-time World champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), and a nine-time U.S. champion (1996, 1998–2005). She is tied with Maribel Vinson for the all-time National Championship record.
Known for her consistency and expressive artistry on ice, she is widely considered one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.
For well over a decade, Kwan maintained her status not only as America’s most popular figure skater but also as one of America’s most popular female athletes.
2. Nathan Chen
Nathan Chen is the 2022 Olympic champion, a three-time World champion (2018, 2019, 2021), the 2017 Four Continents champion, a three-time Grand Prix Final champion (2017, 2018, 2019), a ten-time Grand Prix medalist (8 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze), the 2022 Olympic silver medalist in the team event, the 2018 Olympic bronze medalist in the team event, and a six-time U.S. national champion (2017–22).
He is regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters of all time, holds the highest winning percentage in competitions in the modern era, with a more-than-three-year winning streak from 2018 to 2021 in what has been described as one of the most dominant four-year stretches in the sport’s history.
Chen is recognized for performing the most technically difficult programs in the world and is credited for exceeding the expectations of athletic ability in the sport; he is known as the “Quad King” for his mastery of quadruple jumps.
He is the first skater to have landed all types of quadruple jumps, except the quadruple Axel, in competition.
He has broken world and national records, and is the current world record holder for men in all three competition segments: the short program, free skate, and combined total score under the ISU Judging System.
He currently holds the highest total scores of the major ISU competitions: the Olympics, the World Championships, the Four Continent Championships, and the Grand Prix Final.
Chen is the first Asian American man to win U.S., world, and Olympic titles in single skating.
1. Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie is often considered the greatest female figure skater of all time.
She was a three-time Olympic champion (1928, 1932, 1936) in women’s singles, a ten-time World champion (1927–1936), and a six-time European champion (1931–1936). Henie has won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies’ figure skater.
She is one of only two skaters to defend a ladies’ singles Olympic title, the other being Katarina Witt, and her six European titles have only been matched by Witt.
At the height of her acting career, she was one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood and starred in a series of box-office hits, including Thin Ice (1937), Happy Landing, My Lucky Star (1938), Second Fiddle (1939), and Sun Valley Serenade (1941).
Her achievements and influence have left a lasting impact on the sport, inspiring many young skaters to strive for excellence.
As we conclude our journey through the top 10 figure skaters of all time, it becomes clear that these athletes have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Their dedication, skill, and artistry continue to inspire current and future generations of figure skaters. From Patrick Chan to Sonja Henie, each skater has contributed to the evolution and advancement of figure skating, solidifying their place in history as true legends of the sport.
So next time you watch a figure skating performance, take a moment to appreciate the incredible talents and enduring legacies of these remarkable athletes.