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IT'S THE FREAKING 81ST BIRTHDAY OF ~LIVING LEGEND~ FIGURE SKATER/ANNOUNCER EXTRAODANAIRE
TIME FOR A HISTORY LESSON
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Richard Totten "Dick" Button (born July 18, 1929 in Englewood, New Jersey) is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst.
Button is a two-time Olympic champion (1948 and 1952) and 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"
Button won the 1946 U.S. Championships at age 16, winning by a unanimous vote. According to Button, this was the first time anyone had won the men's novice, junior, and senior titles in three consecutive years.[1] This win earned Button a spot to the 1947 World Figure Skating Championships.
At the 1947 World Championships, Button was second behind rival Hans Gerschwiler following the compulsory figures part of the competition, with 34.9 points separating them.[1] Button won the free skating portion, but Gerschwiler had the majority of first places from the judges, three to Button's two.[1] Button won the silver medal at his first Worlds. It was the last time he placed lower than first in competition.
At the competition, Button was befriended by Ulrich Salchow. Salchow, who was disappointed when Button did not win, presented him with the first International Cup Salchow had won in 1901.[1]. Button later passed on this trophy to John Misha Petkevich following the 1972 Olympics and World Championships.[2]
At the 1948 Winter Olympics, Button led Gerschwiler by a 29.6 point lead following the figures portion of the competition, having won four of the five figures.[1]. Button had been attempting the double axel jump in practice but had never landed it. In practice on the day before the free skating event, Button landed one in practice for the first time. He decided to put it into his free skate for the next day. Button landed it in competition, becoming the first skater in the world to do so. Button received eight firsts and two seconds, for a total of 10 places. Gerschwiler had 23.[1] That combined with the figures results gave Button the gold medal.[3] He became, and remains, the youngest man to win the Olympic gold in figure skating.[4] Button went on to the 1948 World Championships, where he faced Gerschwiler for the last time. Button won the event. At the time, the U.S. Championships were held after the World Championships, and Button finished his season by defending his national title.
In February 1948, Button, his coach, and his mother were in Prague to perform an exhibition. They were stranded there after the Communist uprising and had to be extracted by the U.S. Army.[1]
In 1949, Button won the Sullivan Award as the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. He is the only male figure skater to win this award.[4]
Button had intended to attend Yale University beginning in the fall of 1947, but deferred a year due to the Olympics.[1] Although he had originally been assured that his skating would not be a problem as long as his grades were good, he was later informed that he could not continue competing if he wanted to attend Yale. On advice from people from the Skating Club of Boston, Button applied to, and was accepted at, Harvard University. Button was a full-time student at Harvard while skating competitively and graduated in 1952.
Button won every competition he entered for the rest of his competitive career. He trained at the Skating Club of Boston while attending Harvard, commuting to Lake Placid during breaks.
As reigning and defending champion, as well as being the first skater to perform a double axel and a flying camel, Button was under pressure to perform a new jump or spin every season. In 1949, he performed a double loop-double loop combination. In 1950, he performed the double loop-double loop-double loop. In 1951, he performed a double axel-double loop combination and a double axel-double axel sequence.[1] For the 1952 Winter Olympics, Button and Lussi began working on a triple jump. They settled on training the triple loop. Button landed it for the first time in practice in December 1951 at the Skating Club of Boston, and for the first time in exhibition in Vienna following the European Championships.[1]
Dick Button's 1952 Olympic gold medal
At the 1952 Winter Olympics, Button had the lead after figures, with 9 first places, over Helmut Seibt. Button's point total was 1,000.2 to Seibt's 957.7.[1] During his free skate, Button successfully landed the triple loop, becoming the first person to complete a triple jump in competition.[1] He then went on to defend his titles at the 1952 World Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Championships
THIS SHIT WAS REVOLTUIONARY BACK IN THE DAY OK
IF YOU HAVE ANY FAVE DICK MOMENTS/MEMORIES FEEL FREE TO SHARE
TYFYT
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS
IT'S THE FREAKING 81ST BIRTHDAY OF ~LIVING LEGEND~ FIGURE SKATER/ANNOUNCER EXTRAODANAIRE
TIME FOR A HISTORY LESSON
THERE IS SOME INTERESTING STUFF HERE
Richard Totten "Dick" Button (born July 18, 1929 in Englewood, New Jersey) is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst.
Button is a two-time Olympic champion (1948 and 1952) and 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"
Button won the 1946 U.S. Championships at age 16, winning by a unanimous vote. According to Button, this was the first time anyone had won the men's novice, junior, and senior titles in three consecutive years.[1] This win earned Button a spot to the 1947 World Figure Skating Championships.
At the 1947 World Championships, Button was second behind rival Hans Gerschwiler following the compulsory figures part of the competition, with 34.9 points separating them.[1] Button won the free skating portion, but Gerschwiler had the majority of first places from the judges, three to Button's two.[1] Button won the silver medal at his first Worlds. It was the last time he placed lower than first in competition.
At the competition, Button was befriended by Ulrich Salchow. Salchow, who was disappointed when Button did not win, presented him with the first International Cup Salchow had won in 1901.[1]. Button later passed on this trophy to John Misha Petkevich following the 1972 Olympics and World Championships.[2]
At the 1948 Winter Olympics, Button led Gerschwiler by a 29.6 point lead following the figures portion of the competition, having won four of the five figures.[1]. Button had been attempting the double axel jump in practice but had never landed it. In practice on the day before the free skating event, Button landed one in practice for the first time. He decided to put it into his free skate for the next day. Button landed it in competition, becoming the first skater in the world to do so. Button received eight firsts and two seconds, for a total of 10 places. Gerschwiler had 23.[1] That combined with the figures results gave Button the gold medal.[3] He became, and remains, the youngest man to win the Olympic gold in figure skating.[4] Button went on to the 1948 World Championships, where he faced Gerschwiler for the last time. Button won the event. At the time, the U.S. Championships were held after the World Championships, and Button finished his season by defending his national title.
In February 1948, Button, his coach, and his mother were in Prague to perform an exhibition. They were stranded there after the Communist uprising and had to be extracted by the U.S. Army.[1]
In 1949, Button won the Sullivan Award as the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. He is the only male figure skater to win this award.[4]
Button had intended to attend Yale University beginning in the fall of 1947, but deferred a year due to the Olympics.[1] Although he had originally been assured that his skating would not be a problem as long as his grades were good, he was later informed that he could not continue competing if he wanted to attend Yale. On advice from people from the Skating Club of Boston, Button applied to, and was accepted at, Harvard University. Button was a full-time student at Harvard while skating competitively and graduated in 1952.
Button won every competition he entered for the rest of his competitive career. He trained at the Skating Club of Boston while attending Harvard, commuting to Lake Placid during breaks.
As reigning and defending champion, as well as being the first skater to perform a double axel and a flying camel, Button was under pressure to perform a new jump or spin every season. In 1949, he performed a double loop-double loop combination. In 1950, he performed the double loop-double loop-double loop. In 1951, he performed a double axel-double loop combination and a double axel-double axel sequence.[1] For the 1952 Winter Olympics, Button and Lussi began working on a triple jump. They settled on training the triple loop. Button landed it for the first time in practice in December 1951 at the Skating Club of Boston, and for the first time in exhibition in Vienna following the European Championships.[1]
Dick Button's 1952 Olympic gold medal
At the 1952 Winter Olympics, Button had the lead after figures, with 9 first places, over Helmut Seibt. Button's point total was 1,000.2 to Seibt's 957.7.[1] During his free skate, Button successfully landed the triple loop, becoming the first person to complete a triple jump in competition.[1] He then went on to defend his titles at the 1952 World Figure Skating Championships and U.S. Championships
Click to viewTHIS SHIT WAS REVOLTUIONARY BACK IN THE DAY OK
IF YOU HAVE ANY FAVE DICK MOMENTS/MEMORIES FEEL FREE TO SHARE
TYFYT