33 Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal
The Winter Olympics in Beijing are in full swing, and let's face it, the global event brings out the inner sports fan in everyone. So even if you don't keep up with competitive figure skating, you'll probably tune in at least once during these next few weeks. And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility.
From some of the earliest modern Olympic games to this week's events in Beijing, here are the most iconic figure skating outfits to have ever graced the ice.
Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie wore a playful long sleeve black dress and beret for her routine at the Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for which she won her third gold medal.
During the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz, American skater, Gretchen Merrill, opted for an all white ensemble complete with a beaded cap.
Gold medalist at the 1956 Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy, Tenley Albright wore a dress with a panel-pleated skirt.
The year American figure skater, Peggy Fleming, won an Olympic gold medal in Grenoble she donned a chartreuse dress with a high neck and white beaded trim.
Beatrix Schuba represented Austria in a bejeweled blazer-like design when she won an Olympic gold medal in Sapporo, Japan.
At the beginning of her career, Dorothy Hamill stood out among her competitors with the understated and simple designs she chose for her skating costumes. Hamill's red dress and wedge haircut instantly became iconic after she nabbed a silver Olympic medal in Innsbruck, Austria.
East German figure skater, Katarina Witt, wore a Bavarian themed dress complete with billowing sleeves and dazzling tiara for her routine at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.
Debi Thomas dazzled in an embellished bubblegum pink outfit as she placed second at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship.
American skater and bronze medalist Debi Thomas decided to forgo a dress at the Calgary Olympics, instead opting to perform her routine in an embellished jumpsuit instead.
Aside from winning a gold medal for East Germany at the Calgary Olympics, Katarina Witt caused quite the uproar over the short hemline on her blue feathered dress. Shortly after the games concluded, figure skating implemented a dress code and dubbed it "The Katarina Rule."
The award-winning film I, Tonya– in which Margot Robbie portrays the life of American skater Tonya Harding–recreated the pleated teal outfit Harding wore for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Kristi Yamaguchi opted for a long sleeved gold brocade dress for the Olympic Games in Albertville, France– the year she took home the gold medal.
Nancy Kerrigan looked chic in a simple sheer and ruched white dress as she took the podium for her bronze medal at the Albertville, France Olympic Games in 1992.
Tonya Harding's red dress at the Lillehammer Olympic Games has become infamous when the figure skater was controversially allowed to re-do her routine because of a broken lace.
During the Lillehammer Olympic Games, Nancy Kerrigan wore an elegant black and white dress with sheer sleeves that designer Vera Wang said "made her look tougher."
The crowds at the Nagano Olympics cheered on the-then-15-year-old as she won the gold medal in a stylish and sweet blue dress.
Michelle Kwan opted for an understated lilac velvet spaghetti-strap dress (which was super on-trend at the time) when she won silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics, a stark contrast to the ruffles and bedazzled outfits of her competitive counterparts.
While competing in her third and last Olympic Games ever, Surya Bonaly took the ice in a blue and gold beaded fringe dress.
Sasha Cohen wowed the crowd at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in a red dress with sunburst yellow and orange hemline.
Sarah Hughes wore a lavender dress with a beaded bodice for the Salt Lake City Olympics, at which she won a gold medal in the ladies free program.
The Russian skater Irina Slutskaya's embellished black dress stood out with it's jagged neckline during the Salt Lake City Olympics.
Competing for her 9th consecutive U.S. Champion title, Michelle Kwan wore a one-shouldered gold sequin dress.
The figure skater won Japan its first gold medal in the sport during the Turin, Italy Olympics. For her routine, Shizuka Arakawa wore a unique dual-toned blue dress with sheer sleeves and low neckline.
Cohen refers to the red velvet and gold embroidered dress that she won her silver medal in at the Turin Olympics as her "Romeo and Juliet dress."
Johnny Weir selected a V-neck embellished jumpsuit complete with white gloves for his routine at the Vancouver Olympics.
Gracie Gold represented the United States at the Sochi Olympic Games in a theatrical red velvet dress with an embellished necklace and rosebud detail.
Adelina Sotnikova, gold medalist of the 2014 Olympic Games, modeled modern and edgy outfits that varied from the traditional figure skating costume– like this red cut-out dress.
Even though she failed to medal– Italian figure skater Carolina Kostner looked stunning in an ombré dress encrusted with crystals for the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Alina Zagitova took her cues from ballerinas when wore an intricately embroidered red and gold tutu and red gloves for her gold medal performance at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Male figure skater, Adam Rippon kept his pants simple and stole the show with his skin tight sequin shirt while competing at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
Knierim wore a stunning semi-sheer bedazzled dress with an open back during her run for the Pair Free Skating event with partner Brandon Frazier.
China's Peng Cheng and partner Jin Yang took the ice during Beijing's Free Dance Team Event. Cheng showed off a white dress with smoky black and grey detailing, and a deep V-neckline. A simple red belt around the waist coordinated her look with Yang's.
With partner Nikita Katsalapov, Victoria Sinitsina of Team ROC showed some skin with this asymmetric silver and white dress with a cut-out side.
33 Ice Skating Outfits Worthy of Their Very Own Gold Medal
The Winter Olympics in Beijing are in full swing, and let's face it, the global event brings out the inner sports fan in everyone. So even if you don't keep up with competitive figure skating, you'll probably tune in at least once during these next few weeks. And when you do, you are sure to notice that the sport offers the rare combination of athleticism and fashion sensibility.
From some of the earliest modern Olympic games to this week's events in Beijing, here are the most iconic figure skating outfits to have ever graced the ice.
The world's competitive figure skaters have carved out their own unique style. From some of the earliest modern Olympic games to this year's in Beijing, we've rounded up some of the most iconic, medal-winning figure skating outfits to have ever graced the ice.
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