Historical records matching Dick Button
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About Dick Button
Dick Button was an American former figure skater and skating analyst. He was a two-time Olympic champion (1948, 1952) and five-time consecutive World champion (1948–1952). He was also the only non-European man to have become European champion. Button is credited as having been the first skater to successfully land the double Axel jump in competition in 1948, as well as the first triple jump of any kind – a triple loop – in 1952. He also invented the flying camel spin, which was originally known as the "Button camel". He "brought increased athleticism" to figure skating in the years following World War II. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, Button represented the "American School" of figure skating, which was a more athletic style than skaters from Europe.
Notable achievements
- First skater to land a double Axel
- First skater to land a triple jump (a triple loop)
- First skater to land a combination jump of three double jumps
- First male skater to perform the camel spin and inventor of the flying camel spin (also known as the Button Camel, after him)
- Only American to win the European title
- First American World Champion
- First American to win the Olympic title in figure skating
- First and only American back-to-back Olympic champion in figure skating
- First and only male skater to simultaneously hold all the following titles: National, North American, European, Worlds, and Olympics
- Youngest man to win the Olympic title in figure skating (age 18)
Sources
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Dick Button's Timeline
| 1929 |
July 18, 1929
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Englewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States
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| 2025 |
January 30, 2025
Age 95
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North Salem, Westchester County, New York, United States
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