Dick Button, Olympic Skating Legend and Pioneering Commentator, Dies at 95

The two-time Olympic gold medalist transformed figure skating with groundbreaking athleticism and decades of candid, influential broadcasting.

Dick Button was the first skater to land a double axel and a triple jump in competition, revolutionizing the sport's athleticism.
He won two Olympic gold medals (1948, 1952), five World Championships, and seven U.S. titles, remaining the only American male skater to achieve this Olympic feat twice.
Button's broadcasting career spanned five decades, where his sharp, insightful commentary elevated figure skating's prominence in American sports media.
He founded Candid Productions, creating professional skating events and TV specials that expanded opportunities for athletes and popularized the sport.
Button's legacy includes his Emmy-winning analysis, innovative contributions to skating, and his role as a cultural touchstone for multiple generations of fans.