Tracing the History of Women’s Figure Skating

It was a whack on the knee that changed the profile of women’s figure skating.

The Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding fiasco seven years ago was a tremendous influence in the rise in popularity of the sport, according to a new A&E; documentary, “Fire on Ice: Champions of American Figure Skating,” premiering Sunday on the cable network.

Both women were in steep competition for the gold medal at the ’94 Olympics. But Kerrigan’s dreams for the gold almost vanished when she was attacked, hit on the knee after a practice for the U.S. National championships by a henchman hired by Harding’s husband.

When they both competed in the Olympics less than two months later, the TV ratings for both their short and long programs went through the roof. “It took skating to the front page of magazines and newspapers,” says executive producer Robert Dustin.

“What it really did was generate this huge boom,” Dustin says. “Quite frankly, there has always been a small group of people who loved it--mainly a female demographic--and it was kind of relegated to sports and afternoon specials. Every four years at the Olympics it would get some great attention. [Now] it has transcended sports more and has become more of an entertainment vehicle.”

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Kristi Yamaguchi, who won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, is thrilled ice skating has reached a new level. When she started skating more than 20 years ago, “there were a couple of household names you’d know of like Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill and Katarina Witt. Now there is so much more exposure that figure skating gets. It’s wonderful that skaters are being able to be recognized and more performances are seen on TV. It’s great for the sport.”

“Skating has been around longer now,” adds Tara Lipinski, who, at 15, became the youngest woman to ever win the gold medal in women’s figure skating when she accomplished that feat in 1998.

“People now get attached to the skaters,” Lipinski says. “It keeps the interest up.”

“Fire on Ice” examines the evolution of women’s figure skating, profiling the six American women who have won the gold: Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss Jenkins, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Yamaguchi and Lipinski. The two-hour documentary explores how skating first burst on the scene in America with the popularity of three-time Norwegian Olympic gold medalist Sonja Henie, who became a popular film star in the ‘30s and ‘40s. The film also chronicles the devastating 1961 plane crash that killed members of the U.S. figure skating team, as well players, coaches, officials and judges.

Dustin says that he decided to concentrate on women’s figure skating because of the wealth of stories about these champion athletes.

“Women have had more success than men,” he says, noting that more U.S. women skaters have won Olympic gold medals than female skaters from any other country. “So there were really compelling stories that hadn’t been told.”

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One of the most compelling was that of Albright, who won the Olympic gold in 1956. As a youngster, she overcame a bout of polio to become one of the most innovative performers of her time. And less than two weeks before the Olympic competition, she cut her foot so badly in practice, she had to have several stitches and was in severe pain during her programs.

“Fire on Ice” also illustrates how the skaters’ lives were changed by winning the gold.

“There is a huge difference between the gold and the silver,” Dustin says. “Olympic gold medalists are legends and they will always be legends. Brian Orser from Canada is a two-time Olympic silver medalist, but no one thinks about that. The gold medal means so much in the public’s perception.”

Both Albright and Heiss Jenkins, who won gold in 1960, had opportunities to continue skating after winning their medals, but chose to pursue different paths. Albright became a doctor and Heiss Jenkins got married, raised a family and became a coach.

“It was a different time back then,” Dustin says. “People were expected to have an education and to go to college.”

Lipinski, who tours with Yamaguchi with “Target Stars on Ice,” makes personal appearances and TV movies, acknowledges she wasn’t prepared for the gold medal. “That’s your dream and then one day it comes true and it’s just a shock,” she says. “But, obviously, it is the best thing in the world that happens to you and so you just enjoy it for the rest of your life.”

“I had no idea what to expect because you don’t know you are going to win the Olympics,” says Yamaguchi, who still competes professionally. “You are preparing for the actual competition. You don’t realize the magnitude of all the things that . . . go along with winning the Olympic gold medal.”

Dustin says the one thing the ice skating champions have in common is the love of the sport. “The true champions always find time to be on the ice,” he says.

“I still love it,” says Yamaguchi, “though priorities change. The lifestyle [of touring] is getting a little harder. I am married now and time away from my husband is really hard.”

And there is the physical toll. “I had hip surgery this past fall and after dealing with that [injury] for a couple of years you have a new appreciation for being on the ice and skating,” Lipinski says.

On Tuesday, A&E;’s “Biography” will present a profile of Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton. Following the documentary is the premiere of the skating special, “Target Stars on Ice.”

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* “Fire on Ice” can be seen Sunday at 8 p.m. on A&E.; “Biography: Scott Hamilton” can be seen Tuesday at 8 p.m., followed by “Target Stars on Ice” at 9 p.m. on A&E.;