Another vote for Laurence, although I've only seen bits of her skating on tape. She was essentially Janet Lynn before Janet Lynn--just the little bits I've managed to see brought me to tears. Laurence just lit up the ice and her edges and technique were purity defined. Her death was a tragic, tragic loss.
Yes, Brian was an inspiration. As well, Rob McCall (Tracy Wilson's ice dance partner). Rob was a great skater and very creative. Tracy always said Rob was the creative one and she the technician.
Sergei Grinkov. He was the only one I 'knew'. Other great skaters were before my time. Other notables are Brian Pockar and Rob McCall (Tracy Wilson's ice dance partner), but Sergei was my most favorite. His death was the end of G&G- one of my most favorite pairs ever, and I miss him.
Kira Ivanova was the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, but she went downhill from there and finished quite low in the 1988 Olympics (I don't remember her final palcement). A few years ago (may have been last year, actually) she was found murdered.