Pic of the Week: American Legends

I took an extra day to really reflect on this final installment of American Legends. Scott Hamilton is easily the most recognizeable name in American Figure Skating History. If you ask anyone on the streets to say the first thing that comes to their mind when you say "figure skating" and I bet the majority would say "Scott Hamilton."

Four times a national and world champion, Scott's crowning achievement comes at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo where he won Olympic Gold.

But Scott's popularity only grew with his professional career. He created Stars on Ice and became americas favorite skater! He's done more television shows, tours, professional competitions than can be realistically numbered!

In 1997, Scott Hamilton was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. He underwent successful treatment and made a much heralded return to skating. In 2004, he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor which was treated at the Cleveland Clinic.

Today, Scott is still an active member of the figure skating community as a skating commentator for NBC Sports, most recently calling the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Scott also devotes a lot of his time raising awareness for The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Institute. Scott truly personifies what it is to be an American Legend!

Pic of the Week: American Legends

Peggy Fleming is best known for her Gold Medal winning performance at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. Peggy's life, however, has been one of constant perseverance.

When Peggy was 12, her coach William Kipp, was lost in the infamous 1961 plane crash that killed the entire U.S. Figure Skating team as they traveled to the World Figure Skating Championships. As a result, she began working under the legendary Carlo Fassi.

Peggy's skating accomplishments are many including 5 National Titles, 3 World Titles, and of course the illustrious Olympic Gold. Upon retiring from competition, Peggy has toured and done many shows and joined the ABC Broadcast team as a figure skating commentator.

In 1998 Peggy Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was an early detection and Peggy underwent successful surgery. She continues to be an active supporter of women's health and breast cancer research. She and her husband Dr. Greg Jenkins own and operate a wine vineyard in California where the profits for a particular variety of wine, "Victories Rosé," go towards breast cancer research.

Pic of the Week: American Legends

She is the most decorated U.S. skater in history. She's a 9 time U.S. National Champion, 5 time World Champion, 3 time World Silver Medalist, a World Bronze Medalist, and twice she has stood upon the Olympic Podium as a Silver and Bronze Medalists. All this combined with countless wins at other national and international competitions makes Michelle Kwan pretty amazing.

For over a decade her positive demeanor and solid approach to competition and life in general endeared the American (and much of the world) public to her. She was as gracious in her wins as she was in her defeats. She handled pressure unlike any competitor before or since her competitive days.

In my estimation, her greatest moment came when she withdrew from the 2006 Olympic Games, not because she didn't want to try and compete, injured or not, but because she believed in the Olympic Games so much that she wanted someone 100% to compete. The benefactor of her selfless decision was Emily Hughes, who capitalized on Michelle Kwan wonderful grace.

Michelle continues to be a shining example of sportsmanship, citizenship, womanhood, and any other positive quality you could hope to find in an individual. Her work for the U.S. Department of State as a Goodwill Ambassador has taken her to corners of the world where her beautiful character shines through like a beacon of hope to so many. Michelle truly is a legend!

Pic of the Week: American Legends

Perhaps one of the most recognizable faces in all of figure skating, Dick Button is indeed a legend!

He is the only U.S. man to win the coveted Olympic Gold twice. The first time in 1948, where he became the first skater to successfully complete the double axel in competition. He won the 1952 Olympic Gold where landed the first triple jump in competition, the triple loop.

Beyond the Olympics, Button's career is distinguished. He is a five time World Champion and a seven time National Champion. He is also the first skater to perform a Camel Spin and has the distinction of being the first and only American to win the Men's European Title! He was admitted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976, he is also in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame as well as the Olympic Hall of Fame.

Dick Button has done tons off the ice as well. He has Law Degree from Harvard University and was admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C. He won an Emmy in 1981 for Outstanding Sports Personality, and is the founder of Candid Productions.

Today, Dick Button is the voice of competitive Figure Skating, having covered the U.S. Nationals, World Championships, and Olympics for decades. Dick Button, a true American Legend!

Pic of the Week: American Legends

Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner are perhaps the most famous U.S. Pairs skaters for their achievemnts not only on the ice, but their lives off the ice.

Their competitive achievements are many including a top 5 finish at the 1976 Olympics, 5 consecutive U.S. Championship wins, a bronze medal at the 1978 World Championships, and a win at the 1979 World Championships. Tai and Randy acheived their success through the help of their coach, John Nicks. They were the overwhelming favorites to win Gold at the 1980 Olympics but disaster struck when Randy pulled his groin muscle and the team was forced to withdraw from the Olympics right off the warm-up.

After retiring from competitive skating and touring as professionals, Tai became addicted to drugs and alcohol and her life spun out of control. Tai underwent treatment and rehab and Tai and Randy made their competitive re-debut as professionals in 1996.

Randy, after touring, became a choreographer for Ice Shows and was the principal choreographer for Champions on Ice for many years. Randy has also done several speaking engagements discussing his career, life, and homosexuality.

Tai and Randy captured the hearts of America and to this day are amongst the most beloved U.S. Skaters of all time.

UPDATE: Check out this cool little bit over at lifeskate about Randy Gardner!

Pic of the Week: American Legends

For the next six weeks I'm going to do an American Legends series for Pic of the Week. Look forward to seeing some of the greatest American skaters to ever take to the ice.

Carol Heiss' carreer is distingueshed! She's a two time Olympic Champion (Silver in 1956 and Gold in 1960), four time National Champion and a five time World Champion.

She began skating in Queens, New York at the age of six and won her first major title, the U.S. Novice title, at age 11. Her crowning moment came in 1960 at the Squaw Valley Olympic Games where she swept the judges and captured Gold.

After retiring from competitive skating in 1960, she married Hayes Jenkins, the 1956 Olympic Men's Champion and skated in several ice shows before retiring from the sport. She returned to the sport in late 1970s as a top level coach. Some of her most noteworthy students include Tonia Kwiatkowski, Timothy Goebel, and Miki Ando.

She continues to coach today and is one of the most visible faces in U.S. Figure Skating!