Icebreakers
Ice Breakers: Individuals who have courageously shattered barriers, leading
the way as the very first to achieve remarkable feats and inspire others.
Mabel Fairbanks
Coach
Was the undeniable trailblazer and champion of nonwhite American skaters. Of African and Native American descent, Fairbanks was unable to compete in the mid-20th century due to the color of her skin. Instead, she created and starred in shows, and coached many skaters of color to competitive success. The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund was established in 2021 to develop promising BIPOC skaters.
Maribel Vinson Owen
Women's Figure Skater
On Nov. 1, 1936, Vinson became the first person to appear on SKATING magazine's cover. Prior issues featured the national medal. Vinson won the most U.S. championships with nine ladies and six pairs titles from 1928 to 1937.
Hockettes
Synchro Team
Hockettes: The World’s First Synchronized Skating Team
Founded in 1956 by Dr. Richard Porter, the Hockettes are proud to be the world’s first synchronized skating team. The sport, originally known as "Precision Skating," began in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the Hockettes performed during intermissions at University of Michigan hockey games and at ice shows hosted by the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club. As the sport gained popularity, new teams formed, competitions emerged, and synchronized skating evolved into the globally recognized, elite discipline it is today.
Nathan Chen
Men's Figure Skater
Revolutionized the sport in 2017 by becoming the first to land five different quad jumps and the first to land seven clean quad jumps in a competition at the 2017 U.S. Championships. He became the first to land six quads in a free skate at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Atoy Wilson
Men's Figure Skater
In 1966, became the first African American to win a U.S. title (novice). Under the tutelage of coach Mabel Fairbanks, Wilson was the first Black skater to qualify for the U.S. Championships in 1965.
Tai Babilonia & Randy Gardner
Pairs
Won their first of five U.S. pairs titles in 1976, making Bablionia the first skater of African American descent to win a U.S. title at the senior level. Weeks later, she became the first figure skater of African American descent to compete at the Olympic Winter Games.
Catherine Machado
Women's Figure Skater
In 1956, became the first Hispanic and Latina in any sport to represent the United States at the Olympic Winter Games.
Clare Ferguson
Administrator
Became U.S. Figure Skating's first female president, serving from 1992 to 1995. During her tenure, she was credited with a restructuring that lifted the organization out of debt and paved the way for athletes to earn money.
Frank Carroll
Coach
Coached decades of America's top skaters, most notably Michelle Kwan, who earned two Olympic medals, five World titles and nine U.S. championships. He became an Olympics champion coach when Evan Lysacek earned the gold medal in 2010.
Frank Zamboni
Innovator
In 1949, debuted his "Model A" Zamboni ice resurfaced at his Iceland Skating Rink in Paramount, California. Norwegian skating star and actress Sonja Henie purchased one for her traveling ice show, contributing to its worldwide success.
Frick & Frack
Performers
1n 1936, became part of the American lexicon after debuting in the Ice Follies. The comedic skaters were so closely associated that the slang term "like Frick and Frack" became popular to describe two very close friends.
George Takashi Yonekura
Administrator
Became the first Asian-American president of U.S. Figure Skating, serving from 1983 to 1986. Yonekura was a unique leader in that he was not a skater; he became involved through his daughter Lynn's skating.
Richard Dwyer
Performer
In 1950, began his traveling ice show career as "Mr Debonair," a role he continued until 1993. In 2016, Dwyer celebrated his 80th birthday by landing an Axel.
Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani
Dance
Became the first ice dance team of Asian descent to earn a medal (bronze) at the Olympics in 2018. The siblings are also the first ice dancers of Asian descent to win three World medals.
Theresa Weld Blanchard
Women's Figure Skater
In 1914, became the first U.S. ladies champion. She won the U.S. Figure Skating's first Olympic medal (bronze) in 1920 at the Antwerp Games, which were held in the summer.
Tiffany Chin
Women's Figure Skater
In 1984, she became the first Asian American Winter Olympian and the first to claim a World medal, earning bronze in 1985 and 1986. She became the first Asian American to win a U.S. senior single title in 1985
Timothy Goebel
Men's Figure Skater
In 1999, became the first to complete three different quadruple jumps in a single program, earning him the nickname "Quad King." He earned the Olympic bronze medal in 2002.
Michelle McCladdie & Richard Ewell
Pairs
In 1972, became the first Black pairs team to win a U.S. title (junior). Ewell was also the 1970 U.S. junior men's champion.
Kristi Yamaguchi & Rudy Galindo
Pairs Figure Skaters
In 1988, became the first U.S. pairs team of color to earn a World title (junior) and went on to become the 1989-90 U.S. Champions.
A. Winsor Weld
Administrator
Served as the first president of the United States Figure Skating Association from 1921 to 1925
Tom Collins
Innovator
In 1969, launched the wildly popular Champions on Ice tour, showcasing the world's best skaters in sold-out arenas. The 1994 tour alone featured 70 shows in 59 cities over three months. The tour's last performance was in 2007
Joan Campbell
Women's Figure Skater
In 1980, became the first African American to win a ladies title (novice) at the U.S. Championships. She bested another Black skater Debi Thomas, to claim the crown.
Tiffani Tucker and Franklyn Singley
Ice Dance
In 1993, became the first African American ice dance medalist in the Junior division at the U.S. Championships
Miami University Synchro
Synchronized Skating Team
In 2007, won the first synchronized skating World medal for the United States
Debi Thomas
Women's Figure Skater
In 1986, became the first African American senior ladies U.S. Champion. In 1988 by winning the bronze Thomas became the first black athlete from any country in any sport to ever medal in the Winter Olympics. It would be 18 years before it would happen again when Vonetta Flowers won gold in bobsleigh
Founding Clubs
On April 4, 1921, the United States Figure Skating Association was founded with seven charter member clubs: Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, New York Skating Club, The Skating Club of Boston, Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club, Chicago Figure Skating Club, Twin City Figure Skating Club and Sno Birds of Lake Placid.
Rudy Galindo
Men's Figure Skating
Became the first openly gay skater to win the U.S. Championships, earning the title in his hometown of San Jose, California, in 1996. He also earned a World bronze medal that year.
The Haydenettes
Synchronized Skating Team
The most decorated U.S. synchronized skating team, with 28 U.S. Titles and five World bronze medals through 2021
1961 World Team
The forming of a Memorial Fund and the making of a movement RISE
Flight 584
The 1961 World Team perished on Feb. 15, 1961, in a plane crash outside of Brussels while en route to the World Championships in Prague. Eighteen athletes plus 16 coaches, officials, and family members were among the 72 people killed in the crash. Days later, the Memorial Fund was established to honor their memories and help future athletes with their skating careers and education.
Adam Rippon
Men's Figure Skater
In 2018, became the first openly gay U.S. Olympian. He earned a bronze medal in the team event.
Alysa Liu
Women's Figure Skater
In 2019, became the youngest U.S. women's champion at age 13 and the first U.S. woman to land three triple Axels in a single competition. Later that year, became the first woman in the world to land a quad Lutz and triple Axel in the same program.
Amber Glenn
Women's Figure Skater
In 2019, became the first openly
bisexual/pansexual U.S. skater.
Naomi Lang
Ice Dancer
Became the first Native American winter Olympian in 2002. A member of the Karuk tribe, She and her ice dance partner Peter Tchernyshev won five U.S. titles.
Michelle Kwan
The most decorated athlete in U.S. Figure Skating history, Kwan is a two-time Olympic medalist, five-time World champion, and nine-time U.S. Champion. After winning the U.S. Figure Skating's annual Readers' Choice Award an unprecedented seven times, the award was renamed "The Michelle Kwan Trophy".
