If you noticed someone with a Dorothy Hamill haircut in the audience while watching the men’s free skate at the 2026 Olympics on February 13th, here’s who it was…
Dorothy Hamill was present at the event, marking the 50th anniversary of her gold medal win at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics.
Dorothy Hamill, now 69, says she has no memory of the actual skating performance that won her the championship. She told Today on February 18th that watching old videos of it is a fun way to relive the moment.
She explained that standing on the podium brought every thought and feeling sheād ever had rushing back. It was a mix of sadness and excitement, and she wondered what the future held. Achieving a lifelong goal at just 19 was surreal. She didnāt know what came next, but she felt a huge sense of relief knowing she didnāt have to keep training endlessly.
Retiring after just one Winter Olympics might seem incredibly young, but it’s important to remember the context of the time. Notably, Hamill was the last solo skater to win Olympic gold without performing any triple jumps in her routine.
The skater who created the “Hamill Camel” move actually went on to win a world championship shortly after, and then transitioned to professional skating. This meant she lost her amateur status, which was necessary to compete in the Olympics until the 1994 Lillehammer Games, when professionals were first allowed to participate.
Hamill finally started making money from commercials, like the one for Clairol shampoo, where she showcased the popular wedge haircut that everyone was getting. She also appeared in TV specials and other projects.
Let me tell you, my life has been wonderfully varied! Beyond acting, I actually spent eight years performing with the Ice Capades, which was an incredible experience. And you might be surprised to learn I even won a Daytime Emmy for playing Juliet in the TV movie Romeo and Juliet on Ice back in 1983 ā a really unique project that combined my love of performance and skating!
She continued to compete in the public eye, appearing on Dancing With the Stars in 2013. Unfortunately, a back injury caused her to withdraw after just two performances. Later, in 2017, she reached the final round of Chopped‘s “Star Power: Culinary Muscle” competition.
Unlike many athletes who retire much earlier, Hamill continued skating well into her forties, even after receiving a diagnosis of osteoarthritis.
Despite her success, Hamill didn’t become a skating commentator like many other famous skaters. She avoided it because she wanted to preserve the joy she originally found in simply skating.
She began skating primarily because she was shy, as she shared on Today. She enjoyed music but didn’t feel suited for dancing or gymnastics, so ice skating offered a perfect outlet. She appreciated the solitude and the lack of need for communication, admitting sheās not naturally a strong communicator.
Many people have been inspired by Hamill’s life and her ability to overcome difficulties, both in skating and in life, and they would disagree with that statement.
In her 2007 memoir, A Skating Life: My Story, the athlete wrote about her battle with depression, a condition that affected her family and often overshadowed her successes.
She explained that when you achieve a long-held goal, like winning an Olympic medal, you often expect it to instantly solve all your problems and make you feel completely different. However, speaking on CBS Sunday Morning in 2007, she recalled expecting her gold medal to fix everything, but finding that she felt no different afterward.
Even after all this time, Hamill described it as a constant struggle, admitting there were days when he could barely manage to get out of bed, and that it was truly exhausting.
The next year, she received a breast cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, after treatment like surgery and radiation, doctors confirmed she was cancer-free in 2010. She then dedicated herself to raising awareness by starting the Be WisER+ About Breast Cancer campaign.
In a 2016 interview with People magazine, Mark Hamill shared that when facing difficult times, you have a choice: you can ask yourself ‘Why me?’ or you can use the experience to learn and become stronger.
Back then, skating was still a helpful outlet for the star, who had been divorced twice before marrying her current husband, John MacColl, in 2009.
Mark Hamill admitted that frequent work travel made it difficult to maintain relationships. Reflecting on it in 2016 on Today, he said heās grateful for the good things he has now, even if it took a while to realize it ā better late than never.
Since retiring from skating, Hamill has found comfort in remaining involved with the sport, especially after the loss of her daughter, Alexandra Forsythe, who passed away in November at the age of 37. Alexandra was Hamillās only child with her second husband, Kenneth Forsythe.
Speaking to NBC Olympics in Milan, Hamill described Alexandra as “the love of my life,” praising her kindness and quick wit. He said she was incredibly funny and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Watching the U.S. figure skaters compete at the Olympics has been really enjoyable for Hamill, and she was particularly touched by the strong sense of friendship and support between the women after their performances on February 17th.
Oh my gosh, did you see Alysa Liu skate? She’s in third place going into the free skate, and honestly, her skating is justā¦powerful and lyrical! And her hair? Seriously stunning. But Isabeau Levito, even finishing eighth, was absolutely breathtaking. I just can’t stop thinking about both of them!
Hamill was disappointed for Amber Glenn, who struggled during her performance and finished in 12th place. Glenn received zero points for a jump that was supposed to be more difficult, impacting her short program score. “Anything can happen in figure skating, so we were really hoping for a better outcome,” said the 1976 Olympian.
Hamill might not remember her own success clearly, but she understands that someone else is on the verge of a life-changing experience.
Read on to catch up on the lives of more of your favorite Olympic figure skaters:
A two-time Olympian, Hamilton won gold at the 1984 Sarajevo games, becoming the first American man to win the event since David Jenkins in 1960. He later became a four-time World Champion and enjoyed a successful career touring professionally, followed by years working as a commentator for CBS and NBC.
Lewis Hamilton has openly discussed his fight with testicular cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1997. He shared with Coping magazine that surviving cancer made him feel capable of overcoming any challenge. He also received treatment for a non-cancerous brain tumor that reappeared.
He shared with People magazine in 2015 that he’s always been resilient, always finding a way to bounce back from setbacks. He explained that skating, with all its falls, taught him how to persevere. His advice to others was to stay strong through tough times, because better days are ahead.
Hamilton and his wife, Tracie, have four children, including two they adopted from Haiti in 2014.
I was so thrilled to see that he still has the amazing costume he wore when he won the gold! He actually showed it off on NBC Sports’ “Olympic Ice” while talking about the 2022 Beijing Games, right from his home in Tennessee. It was such a special moment for a longtime fan like me!
To celebrate ten years with the event, Hamilton will be back as a commentator for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Brian Boitanoās gold medal performance at the 1988 Calgary Olympics was historic. He not only won the gold, but he also became the first Olympic skater to successfully land all six types of triple jumps. Heād actually achieved this feat earlier, at the 1983 World Championships, making him the first skater ever to land them all.
Brian Boitano, an Emmy Award-winning figure skater known for his performance in Carmen on Ice, gained unexpected pop culture fame when he was referenced in the 1999 song āWhat Would Brian Boitano Do?ā from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. He later hosted the Food Network show What Would Brian Boitano Make and made appearances in the films Ice Princess and Blades of Glory.
When President Barack Obama appointed him to the U.S. delegation for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, he decided to publicly come out as gay. He hadn’t originally intended to do so, but was motivated by Russia’s recent passage of anti-gay laws and wanted to protest them.
As a lifestyle advocate, I believe itās crucial to live authentically, and thatās why I felt I needed to share this part of who I am. Representing the United States on a global stage like the Olympics in Russia is an incredible honor, and I wanted to do so as my whole self. Itās a really important moment for me, and I see it as a chance to make a real impact.
During the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Brian Boitano worked with NBC Sports. He’s now partnering with USA TODAY columnist Christin Brennan to host the “Milan Magic” video podcast, which will cover the 2026 Winter Games.
The 1992 Olympic gold medalist initially gained recognition as a pairs skater. They partnered with Rudy Galindo to win the U.S. Junior Championships in 1986 and the World Junior Championships in 1988.
Competing on her own proved to be the right decision, a fact highlighted by her victory in Albertville. Following the Olympics, where she made history as the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal, Kristi Yamaguchi enjoyed a successful professional skating career. She also established the Always Dream Foundation, which supports after-school programs and provides educational resources for children in need.
She’s had a busy and successful career beyond her athletic achievements. She’s appeared in several TV shows and movies, written a popular childrenās book, launched a fitness video, and even designed her own line of activewear. Plus, in 2006, she made history as the first Olympic figure skating champion to win Dancing With the Stars.
Tiffani Yamaguchi has been married to former hockey player Bret Hedican since 2000. They met in a charming way at the 1992 Olympics, where both were representing Team USA, and have two daughters together.
As the 2026 Winter Games approach, she reflected on her career with thankfulness. “I’m incredibly grateful for how everything unfolded,” she shared with the Nob Hill Gazette. “I often think about how different my life could be if things hadn’t gone so well.”
Nancy Kerrigan had previously won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics. However, she became widely known after a shocking attack where she was hit in the knee just before the 1994 U.S. Championships in Detroit. The attack was orchestrated by the ex-husband of her fellow skater, Tonya Harding.
Following her impressive silver medal win at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, Kerriganās life quickly changed. She received numerous endorsements, hosted Saturday Night Live, and experienced other benefits that come with fame. However, she also faced some awkward moments, like when a microphone picked up her describing the Walt Disney World Parade as unbelievably cheesy.
Kerrigan enjoyed a successful career as a professional skater and became a popular public speaker. She also appeared on television many times and wrote a book called Artistry on Ice. In 2017, she competed on Dancing With the Stars, finishing in sixth place.
While competing on the ballroom show, Kerrigan revealed she had experienced six miscarriages over eight years after having her first child, Matthew, in 1996. She and her husband, Jerry Solomon, later welcomed two more children: Brian in 2005, and Nicole in 2008.
As the 2022 Beijing Olympics approached, Kerrigan shared with NewsNation’s Morning in America that watching her own children ā Brian in gymnastics and Nicole in ballet ā has made her especially grateful for the support her parents gave her years ago.
She fondly remembers skating in “Holiday Spectacular on Ice” during the 2025 holiday season and still keeps her skates nearby.
Tonya Harding wasn’t widely loved when she qualified for her second Olympic team in 1994, and she’s not considered a hero now. However, looking back, and especially after the 2017 film I, Tonya offered a new perspective, she’s no longer seen as simply a villain either.
Just a month after winning the U.S. championship, her performance at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics was upsetting; her routine was stopped short when her skate lace broke. Then, in June, she lost her national title when an investigation into the attack on Nancy Kerrigan revealed that her ex-husband and others had planned it to prevent Kerrigan from competing in the Olympics. Harding maintained she didnāt learn about the plan until after it happened.
People often made fun of Harding. For a long time, she was known mostly for scandalous behavior, including creating a sex tape, participating in celebrity boxing, and getting arrested for assaulting her boyfriend. She admitted guilt in the assault case and served a brief jail sentence.
Following Margot Robbieās acclaimed portrayal of Tonya Harding in a film that received an Oscar nomination, public perception of Harding seemed to soften. In 2018, she competed on Dancing With the Stars with other athletes and finished third. The following year, she won Worst Cooks in Americaās celebrity edition, generously donating her $250,000 prize to St. Jude Childrenās Research Hospital.
She’s been married to third husband JosephĀ Price since 2010Ā and is mom to son Gordon, born in 2011.
Despite never winning an Olympic gold medal ā she earned silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002, and was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Games due to injury ā this nine-time U.S. champion (who shares the record with 1930s Olympian Maribel Vinson) remains a hugely recognizable figure in American figure skating.
Following the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, while on the Champions on Ice Tour ā where she was the highest-paid skater and consistently received standing ovations ā Michelle Kwan spoke to the Los Angeles Times about how the audience responded to her. She described their reaction as supportive rather than sympathetic, explaining they seemed to be saying, ‘Itās okay, life isnāt perfect.’ Kwan felt they understood the disappointment of not winning, but phrased it as an acceptance that things donāt always go as planned, and that you just have to accept it and keep moving forward.
Looking back after almost twenty years, she told People magazine in 2021 that having the chance to represent her country was an incredible honor ā truly unlike anything else.
In 2016, Kwan supported Hillary Clinton’s campaign as a public spokesperson, and in 2020, she did the same for Joe Biden. She also produced the 2021 YouTube special, Recipe for Change.
She announced the birth of her first daughter, Kalista Belle Kwan, in 2022. Then, in 2025, she welcomed her second daughter, Della Rose Kwan.
We all know who you’re thinking of ā the 1998 Olympic gold medalist who now provides commentary on figure skating with Johnny Weir, having become part of the NBC Sports team in 2013.
In a 2018 interview with GQ, she described meeting Weir as finding a soul mate later in life, saying she couldnāt picture her life without him.
Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe how amazing Katarina Lipinski was! She was only FOURTEEN when she became the world champion in 1997 ā can you even imagine?! Then, just a year later, at the Nagano Olympics, she absolutely dominated and won gold! She was fifteen! FIFTEEN! No one had ever won Olympic gold that young in figure skating. And the best part? She beat everyone, even Michelle Kwan, who everyone thought was a shoo-in for the gold! Michelle had to settle for silver, but honestly, Katarina was just on another level.
She told TopMob News that she could still feel her legs shaking when her name was announced ā something that had never happened to her before. But she remembers even more vividly the feeling after her skate, not the win itself. It was the moment the music stopped and she skated across the ice, overwhelmed with relief and joy at performing well on such a huge stage ā the Olympic Games, in front of millions of people.
I was so thrilled when I learned about how Erin met her husband, Todd Kapostasy! She actually presented him with an award at the Sports Emmys back in 2015, and they fell in love soon after, marrying two years later. It’s amazing to see them collaborating creatively too ā they produced a really compelling documentary called Meddling in 2022 for Peacock. It dives into the whole scandal surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the pairs skating event where they ended up awarding two gold medals!
Lipinski recently started appearing on reality television, joining the cast of The Traitors on Peacock for its fourth season.
Even those who consistently follow figure skating were surprised by Sarah Hughes’s performance at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. She won gold in her first Olympic appearance, captivating audiences with a joyful and impressive long program.
It’s understandable if people didn’t expect her to win. While she’d won the U.S. junior championship in 1998, she only earned a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships before making the U.S. Olympic team. At the Olympics, she wasn’t a frontrunner either, finishing fourth in the short program. Michelle Kwan was in the lead going into the final long program, and ultimately won the bronze medal.
Okay, so this is huge and everyone needs to know! Peggy Fleming? Amazing, obviously. But listen to this ā she’s the only American woman EVER to win Olympic gold in figure skatingā¦ and she never won a single national or world championship! Itās wild, right? I mean, Olympic gold is the biggest, but stillā¦ it’s just such a unique situation, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since I found out. Itās a total anomaly!
She earned degrees from Yale and the University of Pennsylvania Law School and now works as a lawyer in New York. She previously represented Michelle Obamaās Letās Move! campaign and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. In 2021, she publicly shared her experience with egg freezing on her website, expressing her excitement to return to ice skating after the process was complete.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE how amazing they were! They won the national championship in 2006, and then went on to get SILVER at the Olympics in Turin! Can you imagine?! After that, they took a break from competing for three years, but they never stopped skating! They were still performing all over the place ā touring, doing shows, even lighting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree! It was incredible, they were always giving us something to adore.
She nearly qualified for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, becoming a team alternate after finishing fourth at the U.S. Championships, but she decided to retire from the sport later that same year.
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE how amazing Ilana Cohen is! She’s been on TV a ton, and she’s seriously brilliant ā she actually graduated from Columbia with a degree in political science back in 2016. But get this ā she wrote a whole memoir, Fire on Ice, when she was just nineteen! Sheās always been so honest about how much pressure she felt while competing, and honestly, it just makes me admire her even more. It’s incredible!
She explained to US Figure Skating Fan Zone in 2021 that young Olympic athletes often dedicate their teenage years to training and competing, only to retire while still very young. This creates a difficult transition, as they go from being highly skilled and celebrated with lots of attention and support, to quickly being seen as past their prime.
Cohen married Tom May, a hedge fund manager, in August 2016, but they divorced two years later, in 2018. In October 2019, on her birthday, she shared on Instagram that she felt more mature, stronger, and was gaining clarity on whatās truly important. She and her husband, Geoffrey Lieberthal, welcomed their son, Dashiell, in 2020.
Oh my gosh, after Brian Boitano’s amazing win in ’88, it felt like U.S. men’s figure skating justā¦ faded for a while! It was so heartbreaking. We only had a couple of bright spots ā Paul Wylie grabbing silver in ’92 was incredible, and then years later, Timothy Goebel’s bronze in 2002! Those moments were everything, proving our guys were still out there competing, even if it didn’t feel like a consistent presence. I was obsessed, desperately hoping for another gold!
After narrowly missing a medal in 2006, finishing fourth, two-time national champion Evan Lysacek finally won gold in Vancouver in 2010. His performances also gained attention for his stylish Vera Wang costumes.
That spring, he took second place on Dancing With the Stars and was also honored as the U.S. Olympic Committeeās SportsMan of the Year.
Following his retirement from competitive skating, Lysacek transitioned to a career in commercial real estate, even working with Wang in New York for a period. In 2019, he married real estate developer Duangpatra Bodiratnangkura in a wedding ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand.
He told People magazine how incredibly lucky he felt to have found his then-fiancƩe, calling her amazing and saying she helps him be his best self.
In 2026, Lysacek will be attending the Opening Ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics as a member of the U.S. delegation.
Though he won three national championships, this skater never reached the Olympic podium in 2006 or 2010. However, his flamboyant and energetic performances always captivated audiences and earned him admiration.
So, Weir explained that he and his colleague, Tara Lipinski, brought a total of 17 suitcases with them to Beijing in 2022. He joked to TopMobās Daily Pop that it was actually fewer than usual, suggesting they’re either becoming more efficient packers or simply know each other’s wardrobes too well.
The duo’s chemistry and expertise have made their commentary must-watch parts of the Olympics.
Lipinski said to TopMob that if they showed figure skating on screen, both she and her companion would immediately jump up, and she’d instinctively reach for his hand.
Johnny Weir and Victor Voronov got married in 2012, but their marriage ended in a difficult split less than two years later. Weir fondly recalled that Lipinski supported him when they both competed at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
He shared with GQ in 2018 that Tara was his only support during a difficult divorce. He acknowledged asking a lot of her so early in their friendship, but she was there for him as long as he needed, helping him stay focused on work. Despite his personal life falling apart, they were incredibly successful at work, gaining popularity nationwide. This shared experience quickly created a strong bond between them.
As a lifestyle expert, I remember being so thrilled when Meryl Davis and Charlie White made history at the Sochi Olympics! After taking silver in Vancouver and racking up six national and two world championships, they finally brought home the first-ever US gold medal in ice dancing. They even contributed to a team bronze! It was fun to see them playfully debunk any romance rumors ā they were just incredibly dedicated partners, and you could feel their joy at achieving something truly special.
Months after winning Dancing With the Stars, Davis and White performed in exhibitions before retiring in February 2017. In June 2019, she married retired figure skater Fedor Andreev in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Provence, France.
The bride shared with Town & Country that they focused on breathing and really soaking in the moment, calling it incredibly meaningful. After dating and loving each other for years, experiencing that together was especially beautiful and is now one of her most cherished memories.
A little cold, but wedding days will do that to a person, even an Olympic gold medalist.
In 2015, White married Tanith Melvin, a retired ice dancer who is Canadian-American, and they now have a son.
Though he didn’t win an individual medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the 2016 national champion helped the U.S. team win bronze. More importantly, he won over fans with his energetic personality, artistic skating, and positive attitude, both on and off the ice.
Sally Fieldās son, Sam Greisman, shared a funny conversation he had with his mother on Twitter. In it, she playfully urged him to pursue someone, saying, āSamā¦ heās insanely pretty. Find a way.ā It seems this person definitely caught Samās attention!
Following his success at the Pyeongchang Olympics, Adam Rippon won Dancing With the Stars and was named one of TIME‘s 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Since then, heās juggled a career in entertainment ā including guest-hosting RuPaulās Drag Race and appearing in Taylor Swiftās āYou Need to Calm Downā music video ā with his work as a human rights advocate.
He married husbandĀ Jussi-Pekka KajaalaĀ on Dec. 31, 2021.
In January 2022, Adam Rippon told TopMob News he hoped viewers would remember that Olympic athletes are people with feelings. He emphasized that athletes are aware of how theyāre discussed and celebrated, and that theyāve dedicated their lives to reaching these moments, regardless of the outcome.
As the 2026 Olympics approach, Adam Rippon teamed up with Chase Cain to host the latest season of the My New Favorite Olympian podcast.
The athlete, a two-time national champion and CoverGirl model, won a bronze medal with her teammates at the first-ever team event in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Though many expected her to compete again at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, she decided to step away from the sport to focus on her well-being.
I’ve been so impressed with how openly she’s talked about the pressures athletes face and the impact on their mental wellbeing. She really put it into perspective for me when she shared her own battles with an eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. In a 2019 interview with the New York Times, she described a feeling I think a lot of people can relate to ā wanting to be seen and get help, but being too afraid to actually ask for it. She called it living in a ‘terrible limbo,’ and it really resonated with me. It takes incredible courage to speak so honestly.
Along with athletes like Michael Phelps and Lolo Jones, Gracie Gold was featured in the 2020 documentary The Weight of Gold, which explores the mental health struggles of Olympic competitors. While she didn’t qualify for the 2022 U.S. Olympic team, finishing tenth in the national competition, Gold still participated in the excitement by appearing on Kevin Hart’s Winter Olympics Tailgate Party.
A three-time national champion, Wagner earned a team bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. However, she didn’t make the U.S. team in 2018 and openly expressed her disappointment, telling the press she was “absolutely furious” with her scores at the U.S. Championships that year.
Iāve always admired her honesty ā sheās always been upfront and genuine, and she shared that after the show on TODAY. She believes the judges made the right decision with this team, based on what they were looking for. While she still wonders if the scoring was always fair, sheās ultimately accepted the outcome and respects it. Itās refreshing to see someone so real!
When asked about her initial reaction to the results, Wagner said she was completely heartbroken and devastated. She explained that she had spent 22 years working towards that moment and was incredibly proud of what she had accomplished.
In 2023, she married Alex Clark, who teaches science at the middle school level. They soon after welcomed their daughter, Rosalie Starbird Clark.
In a 2021 interview with NBC Sports, Wagner admitted she never actually enjoyed skating. She viewed it as a way to achieve her goals, and once she stopped, she was completely finished with it.
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2026-02-19 00:55