I
icenut84
Guest
"Legend" - who really is one?
IMO, the label "legend" is sometimes much overused. Skaters can be legendary in the skating world without being well-known at all in the rest of society. Some skaters win lots of medals, some are very popular, some create new elements, some invoke sympathy, some have a great story. Not everyone is a legend though. I think it's almost impossible to say that Skater X who still competes is already a legend. Maybe they will be considered one in the future, but not yet, not while they are still at their peak.
Some skaters I would consider legendary, and why:
Madge Syers (Great Britain) - the first lady who ever competed in world figure skating. Entered the 1902 Championships when all the competitors were men and no woman had ever competed. Placed second to Ulrich Salchow, although many thought she might have won, and Salchow himself apparently later presented her with his medal. Women were immediately banned from competing, but a few years later they introduced a women's competition, which Madge won twice, and she also won the first Olympic gold medal for women's figure skating. A pioneer.
Sonja Henie (Norway) - the most famous figure skater of all time. 10 World Titles, 3 Olympic Gold Medals. Increased the visability and popularity of skating to a great extent, and became the first skater to make a financially rewarding career as a professional. Became the first woman to include jumping in her skating routines, introduced the element of dance choreography, and even pioneered the short skating skirt.
Dick Button (USA) - 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 5 World Titles. Youngest man ever to win the Olympics, at 18. Invented, and became the first to perform, several skating manouvers that are now performed worldwide, including the flying camel, flying sit spin, jump sit spin, double axel, triple loop, and double jump combination (two double loops).
Belousova & Protopopov (Soviet Union) - 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 4 European Titles, 4 World Titles. Renowned for their rarely matched sense of unison and elegance. Gave an impression of effortless in performing moves, never seen before. Introduced the inside edge death spiral (more difficult than outside edge, which was the norm). Were considered "old" as competitors (won their 2nd Olympic gold aged 36 and 33 respectively), continued to perform and compete professionally until they were in their sixties. Introduced new style to pairs skating.
Irina Rodnina (Soviet Union) - 3 Olympic Golds with two partners, 10 World Titles with two partners. Took pairs skating to a new level of dynamic speed and athletic energy.
Torvill & Dean (Great Britain) - 4 World Titles, Olympic Gold and Bronze (achieved 10 years later), 4 European Titles. Constantly challenged the limits and expectations of dance, becoming regarded as the greatest ice dancers of all time. Highest ever tally of 6.0 marks in any discipline - highest in a single performance (13, free dance at 84 Worlds), highest in a single competition (29, 84 Worlds), highest in a career (156). Changed and revolutionised the face of ice dancing and choreography. Their signature dance, Bolero, is the most famous ice skating routine in history.
Gordeeva & Grinkov (Soviet Union/Russia) - 2 Olympic Golds (6 years apart), 4 European Titles, 4 World Titles. World Junior Champions at the age of 12 and 16 respectively. Brought a new dimension to pairs skating with their combination of delicate grace and powerful athletic feats, with an intimacy to their performances brought on by their unison off-ice.
Skaters who could be seen as icons:
Ulrich Salchow
Axel Paulsen
Toller Cranston
John Curry
Katarina Witt
Kurt Browning
Oksana Baiul
Elvis Stojko
Tara Lipinski (pushed the envelope technically, and was nothing short of a phenomenon to achieve what she did at such a young age).
Michelle Kwan is certainly seen as an icon now, and could well be considered a legend in the future.
Some skaters will be considered iconic in their home country but not so much in the rest of the world, e.g. Janet Lynn, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Barbara Ann Scott, etc.
JMHO. Any thoughts?
IMO, the label "legend" is sometimes much overused. Skaters can be legendary in the skating world without being well-known at all in the rest of society. Some skaters win lots of medals, some are very popular, some create new elements, some invoke sympathy, some have a great story. Not everyone is a legend though. I think it's almost impossible to say that Skater X who still competes is already a legend. Maybe they will be considered one in the future, but not yet, not while they are still at their peak.
Some skaters I would consider legendary, and why:
Madge Syers (Great Britain) - the first lady who ever competed in world figure skating. Entered the 1902 Championships when all the competitors were men and no woman had ever competed. Placed second to Ulrich Salchow, although many thought she might have won, and Salchow himself apparently later presented her with his medal. Women were immediately banned from competing, but a few years later they introduced a women's competition, which Madge won twice, and she also won the first Olympic gold medal for women's figure skating. A pioneer.
Sonja Henie (Norway) - the most famous figure skater of all time. 10 World Titles, 3 Olympic Gold Medals. Increased the visability and popularity of skating to a great extent, and became the first skater to make a financially rewarding career as a professional. Became the first woman to include jumping in her skating routines, introduced the element of dance choreography, and even pioneered the short skating skirt.
Dick Button (USA) - 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 5 World Titles. Youngest man ever to win the Olympics, at 18. Invented, and became the first to perform, several skating manouvers that are now performed worldwide, including the flying camel, flying sit spin, jump sit spin, double axel, triple loop, and double jump combination (two double loops).
Belousova & Protopopov (Soviet Union) - 2 Olympic Gold Medals, 4 European Titles, 4 World Titles. Renowned for their rarely matched sense of unison and elegance. Gave an impression of effortless in performing moves, never seen before. Introduced the inside edge death spiral (more difficult than outside edge, which was the norm). Were considered "old" as competitors (won their 2nd Olympic gold aged 36 and 33 respectively), continued to perform and compete professionally until they were in their sixties. Introduced new style to pairs skating.
Irina Rodnina (Soviet Union) - 3 Olympic Golds with two partners, 10 World Titles with two partners. Took pairs skating to a new level of dynamic speed and athletic energy.
Torvill & Dean (Great Britain) - 4 World Titles, Olympic Gold and Bronze (achieved 10 years later), 4 European Titles. Constantly challenged the limits and expectations of dance, becoming regarded as the greatest ice dancers of all time. Highest ever tally of 6.0 marks in any discipline - highest in a single performance (13, free dance at 84 Worlds), highest in a single competition (29, 84 Worlds), highest in a career (156). Changed and revolutionised the face of ice dancing and choreography. Their signature dance, Bolero, is the most famous ice skating routine in history.
Gordeeva & Grinkov (Soviet Union/Russia) - 2 Olympic Golds (6 years apart), 4 European Titles, 4 World Titles. World Junior Champions at the age of 12 and 16 respectively. Brought a new dimension to pairs skating with their combination of delicate grace and powerful athletic feats, with an intimacy to their performances brought on by their unison off-ice.
Skaters who could be seen as icons:
Ulrich Salchow
Axel Paulsen
Toller Cranston
John Curry
Katarina Witt
Kurt Browning
Oksana Baiul
Elvis Stojko
Tara Lipinski (pushed the envelope technically, and was nothing short of a phenomenon to achieve what she did at such a young age).
Michelle Kwan is certainly seen as an icon now, and could well be considered a legend in the future.
Some skaters will be considered iconic in their home country but not so much in the rest of the world, e.g. Janet Lynn, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Barbara Ann Scott, etc.
JMHO. Any thoughts?