Trixie Schuba, the greatest skater of figures, who was so many miles beyond the other skaters there was no comparison, no way to fiddle the marks. Trixie was able to skate figures so precise that there simply was no way to tell how many reps she had skated of the figure, they were perfectly overlaid, and edged so deep you could see the tracings from anywhere. After some number of reps, when the figure was too deep so you might trip in the rut, she would deliberately offset the width of one blade and repeat in that rut, so I am told. It was the equivalent of doing quads when everybody else was doing doubles.
You can't forget Pahkamova and Gorshkov, who made ice dancing into the elegant sport it is today. And O'Connor and Millns who won the US's only ice dance Olympic medal (who were former roller skating world champions who wanted an Olympic medal) very very smooth skaters. And Sladky and Schwomeyer whom everyone dumps on now because they were the old ballroom style that North Americans sometimes get unhealthily nostalgic for.
Ken Shelley and Alicia Jo(jo) Starbuck. Ken was a good singles skater as well as a pair skater. Starbuck ended up a commentator and married and divorced Terry Bradshaw.
Igor Bobrin, a unique stylist, wildly popular with US crowds, Russian or not! He was skating in the late 1970's, but was also skating in the 1980's. He had a long career.
David Santee, thought to be the new great thing in US skating was snowballed and rolled under by Scott Hamilton. They were both very very fast. I once saw them practice on the same ice, and there really was no room for a 3rd skater; they filled the whole rink. Santee used to skate to Rocky, because he identified with the character. There was a case to be made for Santee to win 1981 worlds IMO.
Tim Wood was a good free skater for years, and I see he isn't listed.
And one should not forget Tenley Albright. I never saw her skate, though.
Another one to remember would be Scott Ethan Allen. After the US team died, Scott at 16 represented the US at the Olympics, landed the only triple jump in the FS, and finished with a bronze medal. He also won bronze at the following worlds.
I loved Toller's skating!! You may not be able to get his competitive programs, but his pro programs are readily available.
And I was lucky enough to see Gary Beacom's last competitive program, skated at 1984 World's. I believe he finished 10th. He was an amazing skater.
Robert Wagenhoffer never placed that high internationally, but was an amazing skater in the US. He is another that died young.
Priscilla Hill, who coaches Johnny Weir was a very elegant skater.
Denise Biellman won World's in 1981, but she had been amazing before 1980, landing the first 3lutz and creating the Biellman spin.
