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Olympic Figure Skating History Hub

Figure skating has mesmerized audiences for more than a century, evolving from precisely executed school figures to today's modern, fresh and exciting style. From early Olympic pioneers to the sport's evolution over the decades, the Olympic Figure Skating History Hub brings together stories, personalities, and moments that define Olympic figure skating history. 


2026 Olympic Figure Skating History Blogs


From Cortina to Milan: Italy’s Olympic Figure Skating Legacy

Italy has twice before welcomed the world to the Winter Olympics - first in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956, and again in Torino in 2006. This feature traces Italy's Olympic figure skating journey across seven decades, from the romantic outdoor rinks of the post-war era to today's modern arenas. 

Italian Skating Legends: From Early Pioneers to Olympic Medallists

Long before Italy achieved Olympic success, its skaters were quietly carving a place in international competition. This article profiles the trailblazers who laid the groundwork for future success, the figures who carried Italian skating onto the Olympic stage, and the medal-winning performances that cemented Italy’s place in figure skating history. It’s a celebration of perseverance, artistry, and the slow-burn rise of a proud skating nation.

A Magician From Milano: The Carlo Fassi Story

Few figures loom larger in Italian skating history than Carlo Fassi - a world-class coach, colourful character and Italian figure skating pioneer. From his own competitive career to guiding champions and shaping generations of skaters, Fassi's influence reached far beyond Milano. This piece explores the life and legacy of a larger than life figure, whose ideas, mentorship, and passion helped transform the sport as we knew it.

A Look Back at the 1948 Olympics

This post shares rare 16mm footage of Jeannette Altwegg, Hans Gerschwiler and Barbara Ann Scott competing at the 1948 Winter Olympics. The film was purchased by World Champion Frances Dafoe, later transferred to VHS and carefully preserved before being donated to the Skate Guard Archive in 2026. It offers a glimpse of Olympic figure skating in the postwar era and the quieter style of the sport at that time.

10 Unforgettable Figure Skating Moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics

Relieve 10 of the most unforgettable figure skating performances from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

Recommended Reading

Below are selected Skate Guard blogs that touch on the fascinating history of Olympic figure skating:


1924 Chamonix: Figure Skating’s First Winter Olympic Stage

Figure skating first appeared at the Olympic Games alongside the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics, but the 1924 Chamonix Games marked the sport's debut as part of the inaugural Winter Olympics. This retrospective looks back at the skaters, competitions, and legacy of the Games that firmly placed figure skating at the heart of the Winter Olympic tradition.


Belgian Gold: The Micheline Lannoy & Pierre Baugniet Story

This piece recounts how Belgium’s Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet - skating partners born just months apart - rose to become pairs champions at the 1948 Winter Olympics, marking Belgium’s first Winter Olympic gold in any sport. Their journey from war-torn Europe to Olympic champions captures the resilience and artistry of early Olympic figure skating.

Flying High: The Violet & Leslie Cliff Story

This biographical feature tells the tale of British pair skaters Violet and Leslie Cliff, who represented the UK in the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Their adventurous lives beyond the ice illuminate an era when skating and broader cultural daring intersected.

Sixes Across the Board: Skating’s Perfect Olympic Scores

GOE? No say we... If you're a 6.0 lover, you'll enjoy this fascinating historical look at the rare and remarkable instances where skaters earned perfect marks  at the Olympics - illustrating just how high the bar has been set throughout Olympic history.



2026 Milano Cortina Medallists


Men:

1. Mikhail Shaidorov (Kazakhstan)
2. Yuma Kagiyama (Japan)
3. Shun Sato (Japan)

Women:

1. Alysa Liu (USA)
2. Kaori Sakamoto (Japan)
3. Ami Nakai (Japan)

Pairs:

1. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (Japan)
2. Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia)
3. Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (Germany)

Ice Dancing:

1. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (France)
2. Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA)
3. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (Canada)

Team Event:

1. Team USA (Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, Madison Chock and Evan Bates)
2. Team Japan (Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, Kaori Sakamoto, Rika Miura and Ryuichi Obitani, Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita)
3. Team Italy (Daniel Grassl, Matteo Rizzo, Lari Naki Gutmann, Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii, Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri)

📌 More Olympic-Related Resources

Want to learn more about Olympic figure skating history? Check out:


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