Top 10 Figure Skaters of All Time

Norwegian figure skater and film star (1912–1969). Henie is the most decorated female figure skater in Olympic history: three consecutive gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936) and ten consecutive World Championships (1927–1936). She then became one of the highest-paid film stars in Hollywood, and is credited with transforming figure skating from a stiff sport into a theatrical art form.

German figure skater (born 1965). A two-time Olympic champion (1984, 1988), Witt is considered one of the most charismatic and technically complete skaters in the sport's history. Skating for East Germany during the Cold War, her performances became politically charged cultural events watched by hundreds of millions worldwide. She is the only figure skater to win four consecutive World titles in the modern era.

American figure skater and diplomat (born 1980). Kwan is the most decorated American figure skater ever: a two-time Olympic medalist (silver 1998, bronze 2002), five-time World champion, and nine-time U.S. champion. Her consistency across a decade of elite competition and her graceful artistry made her the face of American figure skating in the 1990s and 2000s. She later served as U.S. Ambassador to Belize (2022–2025).

American figure skater (born 1999). The 2022 Olympic champion and three-time World champion, Chen revolutionized men's figure skating by becoming the first skater to land six quadruple jumps in a single program ("the Quad King"). After struggling at the 2018 Olympics, his redemption arc at Beijing 2022 — posting the highest technical score ever in a long program — is one of sport's great comeback stories. He retired in 2023 to study pre-med at Yale.

American figure skater. The 1984 Olympic champion and four-time World champion (1981–1984), Hamilton is regarded as the greatest American male figure skater before Nathan Chen. Known for his backflip — technically illegal in competition but iconic in exhibition — he later became the most prominent NBC figure skating commentator, guiding audiences through the Olympic era of the 1990s–2010s.

American figure skater. The 1968 Winter Olympic Champion in Grenoble — the only American gold medal at those Games — Fleming was also a three-time World champion (1966–1968). She is credited with rescuing American figure skating after the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 crash killed the entire U.S. figure skating team. Her elegant, ballet-influenced style set the template for the modern sport.

American figure skater. The 1976 Olympic champion and 1976 World champion, Hamill is remembered as one of the most culturally influential skaters in U.S. history. Her signature wedge haircut, the "Hamill Camel" — a spin combination she invented — and her warm performing persona made her a national icon in the post-Watergate era. She sold more product endorsements than any athlete in America in 1976.

American figure skater (born 2005). The undisputed queen of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Liu won both the women's singles and the team event at Milan-Cortina — the first skater ever to sweep both at a single Games. She is also the 2025 World champion and a four-time U.S. national champion. Still only 20 years old, her combination of quad jumps, extraordinary spins, and natural performance quality may yet see her challenge the all-time records. She enters the list at #9 — but may one day lead it.

American figure skater (born 2004). The first skater to land a quad Axel in competition — and the first to land one at the Olympic Games (Milan-Cortina 2026) — Malinin is the most technically audacious skater in the sport's history. A two-time World champion and three-time Grand Prix Final champion, he has landed seven different quad jump types in official competition. A career still young: his ceiling may be higher than any figure skater who came before.

Norwegian figure skater and film star (1912–1969). Henie is the most decorated female figure skater in Olympic history: three consecutive gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936) and ten consecutive World Championships (1927–1936). She then became one of the highest-paid film stars in Hollywood, and is credited with transforming figure skating from a stiff sport into a theatrical art form.

German figure skater (born 1965). A two-time Olympic champion (1984, 1988), Witt is considered one of the most charismatic and technically complete skaters in the sport's history. Skating for East Germany during the Cold War, her performances became politically charged cultural events watched by hundreds of millions worldwide. She is the only figure skater to win four consecutive World titles in the modern era.

American figure skater and diplomat (born 1980). Kwan is the most decorated American figure skater ever: a two-time Olympic medalist (silver 1998, bronze 2002), five-time World champion, and nine-time U.S. champion. Her consistency across a decade of elite competition and her graceful artistry made her the face of American figure skating in the 1990s and 2000s. She later served as U.S. Ambassador to Belize (2022–2025).

American figure skater (born 1999). The 2022 Olympic champion and three-time World champion, Chen revolutionized men's figure skating by becoming the first skater to land six quadruple jumps in a single program ("the Quad King"). After struggling at the 2018 Olympics, his redemption arc at Beijing 2022 — posting the highest technical score ever in a long program — is one of sport's great comeback stories. He retired in 2023 to study pre-med at Yale.

American figure skater. The 1984 Olympic champion and four-time World champion (1981–1984), Hamilton is regarded as the greatest American male figure skater before Nathan Chen. Known for his backflip — technically illegal in competition but iconic in exhibition — he later became the most prominent NBC figure skating commentator, guiding audiences through the Olympic era of the 1990s–2010s.

American figure skater. The 1968 Winter Olympic Champion in Grenoble — the only American gold medal at those Games — Fleming was also a three-time World champion (1966–1968). She is credited with rescuing American figure skating after the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 crash killed the entire U.S. figure skating team. Her elegant, ballet-influenced style set the template for the modern sport.

American figure skater. The 1976 Olympic champion and 1976 World champion, Hamill is remembered as one of the most culturally influential skaters in U.S. history. Her signature wedge haircut, the "Hamill Camel" — a spin combination she invented — and her warm performing persona made her a national icon in the post-Watergate era. She sold more product endorsements than any athlete in America in 1976.

American figure skater (born 2005). The undisputed queen of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Liu won both the women's singles and the team event at Milan-Cortina — the first skater ever to sweep both at a single Games. She is also the 2025 World champion and a four-time U.S. national champion. Still only 20 years old, her combination of quad jumps, extraordinary spins, and natural performance quality may yet see her challenge the all-time records. She enters the list at #9 — but may one day lead it.

American figure skater (born 2004). The first skater to land a quad Axel in competition — and the first to land one at the Olympic Games (Milan-Cortina 2026) — Malinin is the most technically audacious skater in the sport's history. A two-time World champion and three-time Grand Prix Final champion, he has landed seven different quad jump types in official competition. A career still young: his ceiling may be higher than any figure skater who came before.