Imagine being the first person to ever land a double-axel jump at the most important figure skating competition in the world. That is exactly how Dick Button won the first U.S. Men’s Olympic gold medal for figure skating. With excitement in his eyes, he went up to accept his gold medal. Little did he know, that would not be the last time he would accept a gold medal. Button is the winner of seven consecutive U.S. championships. Dick Button was born on July 18, 1929, in Englewood, New Jersey. When he was young, his mother wanted him to play piano and his father wanted him to play ice hockey. But when Button received his first pair of figure skates when he was twelve years old, he dreamed of being a figure skater. On Saturday afternoons, Button spent hours skating at a nearby skating rink. In the summer of 1942, Button’s father sent him to train with ice-dancing coach, Joe Carroll, in New York. Soon after, Carroll recommended that Button go train with Switzerland-born skier and skating coach, Gustave Lussi. Button practiced an average of seven hours every day just perfecting different routines. All of Dick’s hard work and time spent training shortly paid off. Not only did Dick Button make himself well-known, but he also impacted Scott Hamliton’s figure skating career immensely. At the 1984 Winter Olympics, Scott Hamilton had the honor of winning a gold medal for figure skating (Hoover 2). Ever since Hamilton was a child, he looked up to Button and wanted to win the gold medal like he did. Button and Hamilton ironically became friends later in life. They were both at the 2010 Winter Olympics cheering for another figure skater (Jenco 1). Lucky for Hamilton, he got to become friends with one of his idols. When Scott Hamilton was learni... ... middle of paper ... ... Champions." The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 June 1993. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. "More Coverage." Daily Herald. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Salem, Press. “Dick Button.” Great Athletes (Salem Press) (2001): 367. History Reference Center. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. Nancy Armour@nramourUSA TODAY, Sports. “Lysacek unsure he likes the view of OLYMPICS.” USA Today n.d.: Newspaper Source. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Gregorian, Vahe. “Lysacek makes amends for 2006.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) 17 Feb. 2010: Newspaper Source. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. Boccella, Kathy. “Aging gracefully- as synchronized skaters with Philly Spirit.” Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) 06 Nov. 2011: Newspaper Source. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. Hoover, John E. “Golden memories: Retired Tulsa doctor ruled the skating rink at the Winter Olympics 50 years ago.” Tulsa World (OK) 18 Feb. 2010: Newspaper Source. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
Posnanki, Joe. “To Hall With These Guys?.” Sports Illustrated 115.4 (2011): 14. MAS Ultra – School Edition. Web.
Can you imagine embarrassing the infamous Adolf Hitler in front of the whole world? Jesse Owens did that in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It was not an easy road for him to get there, but he did it by putting enough effort and hard work forward. Jesse Owens was able to overcome racial judgment by surviving a poverty struck childhood, training hard in school, and by winning the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
After being mesmerized by figure skating at the age of eight, I became a member of the Markham Skating Club. As a competitive figure skater, I must perform various jumps and spins in a choreographed program. I have participated in numerous competitions in Central Ontario and have received multiple medals for my achievements. Yet, my achievement as a figure skater stem from the adversity that I faced throughout my skating journey. This sport has imposed challenges to both my mental and physical strength that have ultimately constructed the qualities of dedication and humility within myself.
(The Grolier Library of North American Biographies. Athletes ed. Vol. 2. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, 1994. Pg 86-88. Print. North American Biographies.)
Hill, Christopher R. "The Cold War and the Olympic Movement." History Today. History Today, 1999. Web. 18 May 2014. .
"Los Angeles: A Tale Of Two Trials." Newsweek 120.7 (1992): 37. MAS Ultra - School Edition.
Kindersly, Dorling. The Olympic Games: Athens 1896-Sydney 2000 Chronicle of the Games, 1 July 2000
...ws. July 1, 1996: 38+. Sports. Eleanor Goldstein. Vol. 5. Boca Raton: SIRS, 1996. Art. 13.
Print. The. Jane Laing, ed., pp. 113-117. Chronicle of the Olympics, 1896-1996. New York: DK Pub., 1996.
The Olympic Games of 1972 and 1980 were games to remember for their surprising outcomes. The Cold War had been going on for since 1947 and the bitter rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union was at a peek. Both the United State’s basketball team and the Soviet Union’s hockey team remained undefeated until these games. During these Olympics, the superior team was beaten by the weaker one, and tensions between the two nations were affected. Each nation experienced extraordinary Olympic victories, but for very different reasons.
Schoeller, Martin. “Olympics Gabby Douglas Team USAs Flip Artist Comments. Time, Inc, 2014. Web. 21 Feb. 2014
When Finny trains Gene for the 1944 Olympics, Gene becomes more mature. Through Finny's coaching of Gene, Gene acquires many characteristics of the already grown-up Fi...
Athlete Endorsements – What’s in a Name." The Business of Sports. Wordpress. Web. 12 Sept. 2011.
On one of my early jumps I had flown a distance over 27 feet, but unfortunately the judge ruled that my foot had crossed the board. After winning the gold medal by half a foot with an olympic record, I stood atop the podium, and it was one of the best moments of my life. I was able to represent my country and show off my skills on an international stage. Although I was both a world record holder and a gold medalist, my world record fell only nine days after a won gold. This was the pinnacle as my career as my jumper, as I got second place in 1930 at the NCAA finals to future Olympic gold medalist Edward Gordon. Although I liked being a jumper, it was impossible to make a living as an ametur athlete, so I decided to drop out of Georgia Tech and pursue a career in business, which ultimately led me to become a manager at Coca-Cola. The games also only took place over 16 days, rather than several months as previous games had done. In addition to these changes, the German team was finally able to compete in the games for the first time since 1912 due to their participation in the first world
As I entered the building which housed the rink, the warm, nostalgic scent of popcorn hit that part of my brain where dusty, cobwebbed memories live, memories of my own adolescence. I made my way past a group of exuberant teenagers at the snack bar until I reached the skating rink. Skinny, hard benches, made for small butts, lined one wall. I took a seat and scanned the rink. My eyes paused to read a sign; white, block letters on a black background warned, "Skate at Your Own Risk."