Scott Hamilton

Retired American figure skater Scott Hamilton is an Olympic gold medallist who is celebrated for winning 4 consecutive World Championships, 4 consecutive U.S Championships and the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. Renowned for his signature backflip move, a move that few figure skaters could perform, Hamilton included it in his routines to please the crowd, despite it being against competition rules.

Hamilton began skating at the age of 13 with Pierre Brunet, a former Olympic champion. In 1980 he came third in the U.S Figure skating Championships which earnt him a spot on the Olympic team. He finished 5th place in the 1980 Winter Olympics and was honoured with carrying the American flag in the opening ceremony. His pinnacle performance was in the 1981 U.S Championships, where he performed impeccably and received a standing ovation 7 several seconds before his routine finished.

Once Hamilton turned professional, he toured with the Ice Capades for 2 years and created Scott Hamilton’s American Tour, later being named Stars on Ice. He co-produced, co-founded and performed in Stars on Ice for fifteen years and retired in 2001. Hamilton has been honoured with numerous skating credits; including being the first solo male figure skater to be awarded the Jacques Favart Award in 1988. Two years later in 1990 he was included in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.