Mon Feb 03 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Figure Skating Legend Dick Button Dies at 95

**NEW YORK** – Dick Button, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time world champion, and pioneering figure skater, passed away Thursday at age 95 in North Salem, New York. His death was confirmed by his son, Edward, though the cause was not disclosed. Button’s impact extended far beyond his competitive career; he revolutionized the sport as an innovator, promoter, and broadcaster.

Button’s legacy includes inventing the flying camel spin and popularizing figure skating through his insightful and often brutally honest commentary on ABC’s *Wide World of Sports*. He was the first American man to win Olympic gold (St. Moritz, 1948), the first to perform a double axel in competition, and the first to land a triple jump (a loop) in competition (Oslo, 1952). His dominance of the sport earned him the prestigious Sullivan Award in 1949.

Beyond his athletic achievements, Button’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish professional skating events, providing a post-competitive platform for skaters like Scott Hamilton and Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. He also ventured into acting and television production.

His death comes as a further blow to the figure skating community, which is still reeling from the tragic plane crash on Wednesday that claimed the lives of 14 people, including two teenage skaters, their mothers, and two former world champions.

Tributes poured in from fellow skaters and commentators. Scott Hamilton lauded Button as “one of the most important figures in our sport,” noting his lasting influence on generations of skaters. Brian Boitano called Button “the custodian of the history of figure skating and its quintessential voice.” Johnny Weir, a current NBC Sports analyst, highlighted Button’s candid commentary style, stating he “created an open and honest space…where no topic or moment was off-limits.”

Button is survived by his partner, Dennis Grimaldi, and his two children, Edward and Emily. His contributions to figure skating will be remembered for generations to come.

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