Greatest Contribution To The Sport

RealtorGal · Aug 5, 2003

What person has made the greatest contribution to the sport of figure skating?

My own vote has to go to Dick Button, although all of the others listed above have made enormous contributions to the sport, as have many others.

Joesitz (RIP) · Aug 5, 2003

I believe the popularity of the Sport came with Sonia, and her contributions to keeping the artistic part of the sport alive by instituting the Ice Shows. All this and the interest created by her three gold OLY medals which imo, will never be repeated. (Btw, she was not my favorite. But, just giving her due.)

Dick, of course, put men's figure skating on the boards!

And yes, all the others mentioned. One more very important skater: JOHN CURRY, who gave freedom of movement to men's figure skating.

I am really curious as to what was going on in the Soviet Union at this time. Anyone know?

Joe

Pookie · Aug 5, 2003

What a great poll. My goodness, there are so many great choices, I can't choose one. They each made such great and significant contributions to the sport. Was there ice dance before Torvill and Dean? To me, not really. Dick Button is still contributing as are several of them.

Mathman · Aug 5, 2003

To me, Sonja Henie has no rival for this honor. As a person, she had her flaws as we all do, but her impact on the sport was beyond measure.

Mathman

dewet · Aug 5, 2003

Sonja Henie, she really made FS popular.

lil_icesk8er915 · Aug 5, 2003

I voted for Sonja. Because if it wasn't for her, skating probably wouldn't be that popular. She went into films (which introduced more people to Figure Skating), did ice shows (now we have COI and SOI and a lot more!), and even more! And since the public likes it, now people make skating movies, people write skating books, people have skaters in their advertisements, show skating competitions and shows on TV, and a number of other things! Thanks Sonja!

windspirit · Aug 6, 2003

I voted for Sonja Henie, too. My two other choices would be Dick Button, and Torvill & Dean (who got me interested in FS).

NanSinger2 · Aug 7, 2003

Although I agree with the SH comments. For me, T&D impacted how I felt about skating a great deal. They were so incredible to watch. I wish I could have watched SH in competition. It must have been amazing.

Dee4707 · Aug 7, 2003

What about Dororthy Hamel??

Dee

Kara Bear · Aug 10, 2003

Tarasova

kayskate · Aug 11, 2003

I vote for Lussi. He revolutionized skating by developing the crossed leg jump position allowing triples and eventually quads.

Kay

skatepixie · Aug 12, 2003

Sonia and Peggy.

Rachael · Aug 17, 2003

Dick Button and Sonja Henie.

Lee · Aug 18, 2003

To me, John Curry and Toller Cranston made the greatest contribution to the sport in that they broke the mold of men skating with poles up their butts. Curry and Cranston created real 'artistry' in men's skating and opened the door for the likes of Kurt Browning and all the other guys who have been able to so ably create characters and moods on the ice.

Thanks, gentlemen...we wouldn't have had Yags and "Winter" in the past couple years if it hadn't been for you two.

Tonichelle · Aug 20, 2003

I voted for Chris and Jayne

but Scott Hamilton revolutionized the way they do professional figure skating... it's not just dummied down programs and ice capades anymore... it's pushing the artistic envelope...

lulu · Aug 21, 2003

I couldn't pick just one!

Skaters who made the greatest contributions to the sport

Protopopovs: Created the "classical Russian style" that is most obvious in skaters like Gordeeva and Grinkov. Began the modern (and Russian) pairs skating tradition.

Rodnina: Dethroned the Protopopovs, intrduced speed and difficult lifts to pairs skating.

Dmitriev: Changed the way a lot of people view pairs skating, and the male partner. M&D (IMO) is the most influential team since Rodnina and Zaitsev.

C/Sharakai: Introduced the "gorilla and flea" aspect of pairs skating.

Torvill and Dean: Introduced N. Americans to ice dance. Stretched the bounds creatively.

The First Olympic Medalists(I forgot their names): Combined Soviet Ballet and Western Ballroom dancing, to help create modern ice dancing.

Gritshuk and Platov: Added speed and difficult edges to ice dance. I think they have had an Enormous impact on ice dancing.

Dick Button: The Father of modern men's skating.

John Curry: Introduced Ballet to figure skating.

Toller Cranston: Unusual artistry.

(In the US) Peggy Fleming: Started the media fixation with female skating stars.

Midori Ito: Broke the technical bounds for female skaters.

Coaches:
Moskvina: very successful, introduced new choreography to pairs skating.

RealtorGal · Aug 31, 2003

HUH?

lulu said:
C/Sharakai: Introduced the "gorilla and flea" aspect of pairs skating.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

show 42 · Aug 31, 2003

I went with the Protopopovs..........they brought great beauty and artistic line to the sport. Their connection to each other made the phrase "two shall skate as one" mean something. The only other pair team that skated this way were Katia and Sergei....42

mmandel · Aug 31, 2003

Henie - made the sport what it is today.

lulu · Aug 31, 2003

Gorilla-Flea

That's what the commentators used to refer to couples with BIG strong men and tiny ladies. At first it was controversial, some people said Marina C. looked more like a pre-schooler. Now, basically every couple has a substantial height/weight difference between them.

Greatest Contribution To The Sport

Who has made the greatest contribution to the sport of figure skating?

DICK BUTTON (2 Olympic golds, many other accolades)

Sonja Henie (3 Olympic golds, films, popularized the sport)

Irina Rodnina (3 Olympic golds)

The Protopopovs (founders of modern pairs figure skating)

Torvill & Dean (revolutionized Ice Dance)

Tamara Moskvina (great coach of many Olympic & World Champions)

Peggy Fleming (revitalized American figure skating after the tragic plane crash wiped out entire U.S

Other (specify)

RealtorGal

Joesitz (RIP)

Pookie

Mathman

dewet

lil_icesk8er915

windspirit

NanSinger2

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin

Kara Bear

kayskate

skatepixie

Rachael

Lee

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll

lulu

RealtorGal

show 42

Arm Chair Skate Fan

mmandel

lulu

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