This year, U.S. Figure Skating is celebrating its centennial anniversary as it recognizes those members, clubs and fans who have given so much to U.S. Figure Skating over the past 100 years. This page honors the top athletes of the 1980s whose competitive achievements defined the decade. Learn more about the athletes from the last 100 years below, and check out the Centennial Celebration section of our website for more content.
20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 90s | 2000s | 10s
The Eighties – Hamilton, Boitano rule the decade
Linda Fratianne
Fratianne stepped into the limelight, winning the U.S. title from 1977 to 1980. She collected World medals of every color, claiming the title in 1977 and 1979. She earned the Olympic silver at the 1980 Games in Lake Placid, New York, missing gold by a fraction of a point. Fratianne also became known in part for her statement costumes that were accessorized.
Olympic silver medalist – 1980
Olympian – 1976, ’80
World champion – 1977, ’79
World silver medalist – 1978
World bronze medalist – 1980
U.S. champion – 1977, ’78, ’79, ’80
Elaine Zayak
After winning the World Junior title in 1979, Zayak quickly rose through the ranks in the 1980s, winning a World medal of every color. Zayak won the 1982 World title in Copenhagen, Denmark, rallying from seventh place after the short program. It marked perhaps the greatest comeback in history, at least under the old scoring system. Zayak became the first lady to win both the World junior and senior titles. She was also the 1981 U.S. ladies champion and represented the United States at the 1984 Olympics. Zayak is considered one of the sport’s most consistent jumpers, having landed multiple triple jumps at major events.
Olympian – 1984
World champion – 1982
World silver medalist – 1981
World bronze medalist – 1984
World Junior champion – 1979
U.S. champion – 1981
Rosalynn Sumners
Sumners quickly ascended the ranks in the 1980s, winning the World Junior title in 1980 and the World title in 1983. Sumners held the U.S. title from 1982 to 1984 and capped her career with the Olympic silver medal at the 1984 Games in Sarajevo.
Olympic silver medalist – 1984
Olympian – 1984
World champion – 1983
World Junior champion – 1980
U.S. champion – 1982, ’83, ’84
Dr. Debi Thomas
Thomas achieved numerous landmark firsts in her rise to the top of the world stage. She is the first and only African American U.S. ladies champion, gaining the title in 1986 and 1988. Thomas collected a World medal of every color during her career and became the first Black figure skater to win the World title in 1986. Thomas claimed the Olympic bronze medal in 1988, skating to the same music from Carmen as East Germany’s Katarina Witt in what became known as the “Battle of the Carmens.”
Olympic bronze medalist – 1988
Olympian – 1988
World champion – 1986
World silver medalist – 1987
World bronze medalist – 1988
U.S. champion – 1986, ’88
Jill Trenary
Trenary enjoyed her best season in 1990, winning her third U.S. gold medal and the World title. She also collected the World bronze medal in 1989 and also held the U.S. title in 1987 and 1989. Trenary represented the U.S. at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, where she finished fourth.
Olympian – 1988
World champion – 1990
World bronze medalist – 1989
U.S. champion – 1987, ’89, ’90
Charles Tickner
Tickner put the U.S. men back on top of the World podium — Tim Wood was the last U.S. man to win a World title in 1970 — with his victory in 1978. He also earned the Olympic bronze medal in 1980 and held the U.S. title from 1977 to 1980.
Olympic bronze medalist – 1980
Olympian – 1980
World champion – 1978
World bronze medalist – 1980
U.S. champion – 1977, ’78, ’79, ‘80
Scott Hamilton
Hamilton brought the U.S. men back to World dominance, holding World and U.S. titles from 1981 to 1984. He was the first U.S. man to win four consecutive World titles since Hayes Jenkins (1953 to 1956.) Hamilton was the flag bearer at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, and won the coveted title at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo.
Olympic champion – 1984
Olympian – 1980, ’84
World champion – 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84
U.S. champion – 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84
Brian Boitano
Boitano took up the mantel of the top U.S. man when he won the first of four titles in 1985. That year also marked Boitano’s first of four World medals, with him securing the top spot in 1986 and 1988. He was frequently rivaled by Canadian Brian Orser for World supremacy. At the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Boitano claimed the title in what was dubbed the “Battle of the Brians.”
Olympic champion – 1988
Olympian – 1984, ’88
World champion – 1986, ’88
World silver medalist – 1987
World bronze medalist – 1985
World Junior bronze medalist – 1978
U.S. champion – 1985, ’86, ’87, ’88
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner
Babilonia and Gardner won the second of only two World pairs titles for the United States, in 1979. They remain one of the most decorated pairs in U.S. history with five U.S. titles and three World medals (one gold, two silvers). The team was favored to win the 1980 Olympic title but had to withdraw due to a groin injury to Gardner that was re-aggravated before their Olympic short program.
Olympians – 1976, ’80
World champions – 1979
World bronze medalists – 1977, ’78
U.S. champions – 1976, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80
Caitlin Carruthers and Peter Carruthers
Under coach Ron Ludington, the Carruthers siblings earned an Olympic pairs medal for the U.S. for the first time in 20 years when they claimed silver at the 1984 Games in Sarajevo. They also held the U.S. title from 1981 to 1984 and picked up the World bronze medal in 1982.
Olympic silver medalists – 1984
Olympian – 1980, ’84
World bronze medalist – 1982
U.S. champions – 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84
Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert
Blumberg and Seibert dominated the U.S. ice dance field in the early 1980s, holding the title from 1981 to 1985. They also won three consecutive World bronze medals from 1983 to 1985. They barely lost out on a collecting a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, despite winning the compulsory and original dance segments.
Olympians – 1980, ’84
World bronze medalists – 1983, ’84, ’85
U.S. champions – 1981, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85
Haydenettes
The Haydenettes won their first of 28 U.S. titles (to date) in 1988. The team based out of the Boston area has won five World bronze medals and went undefeated at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in the 2010s.
World bronze medalists – 2010, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’16
U.S. champions – 1988, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’97, ’98, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20
Other U.S. Olympic medalists in the 1980s
Pairs
Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard – 1988, bronze
Other U.S. World medalists in the 1980s
Ladies
Tiffany Chin – 1985, bronze; ’86, bronze
Caryn Kadavy – 1987, bronze
Men
David Santee – 1981, silver
Christopher Bowman – 1989, silver
Pairs
Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard – 1987, bronze
Other U.S. champions in the 1980s
Ladies
Tiffany Chin – 1985
Men
Christopher Bowman – 1989
Pairs
Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard – 1985, ’87, ’88
Gillian Wachsman and Todd Waggoner – 1986
Kristi Yamaguchi and Rudy Galindo – 1989
Ice Dance
Stacey Smith and John Summers – 1980
Renee Roca and Donald Adair – 1986
Suzanne Semanick and Scott Gregory – 1987, ’88
Susan Wynne and Joseph Druar – 1989
Synchronized Skating
Fraserettes – 1984, ’85, ’87
Hot Fudge Sundaes – 1986
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