The International Skating Union (ISU) and the global figure skating community mourn the passing of legendary two-time Olympic champion Richard (Dick) Button, who passed away on January 30, aged 95. Mr. Button’s incredible achievements as an athlete and TV analyst leave a lasting impact on the development of Figure Skating worldwide to this day.

1948: Winter Olympic Games, St Moritz. Figure skating Harvard freshman, Richard (Dick) Button ©Allsport Hulton/Archive

Born on July 18, 1929 in Englewood, New Jersey, Dick Button started Figure Skating as a child and committed to serious training at the age 12. His father sent him to Lake Placid to train under coach Gus Lussi who would remain his mentor throughout his entire career. 

Under the tutelage of Mr. Lussi, the young Skater progressed rapidly, winning his first of seven consecutive U.S. national titles at the senior level in 1946 at just 16 years old. He also competed in Pair Skating at the junior level.

Mr. Button made his ISU World Figure Skating Championships debut in 1947, earning a silver medal. He went on to collect five World titles and two Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952. He won his first Olympic gold in St. Moritz, Switzerland at just 18, becoming the youngest male Olympic Figure Skating champion, a record that still stands today. In 1948, he also became the only non-European man to win the ISU European Championships, at the time, the Championships were open to non-European Skaters.

A true pioneer in the sport, Mr. Button made history by becoming the first to perform a double Axel (at the 1948 Olympic Winter Games) and a triple jump   - a loop (at the 1952 Olympic Games in Oslo, Norway). He is known as the inventor of the flying camel spin, which was also called the “Button Camel”. 

In 1949, Mr. Button became the first Figure Skater to win the prestigious Sullivan Award for amateur athletes in the USA.

American Figure Skater Dick Button leaves New York on the liner 'SS Mauretania' en route to St Moritz in Switzerland, to compete in the Winter Olympic Games, January 1948. ©Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The two-time Olympic Champion was not only an accomplished athlete but also graduated with a law degree from Harvard.

After winning his fifth World title, he became a professional Skater and performed with the Ice Capades. Figure Skating would always be part of his life, as he started working as a TV analyst in 1962 for ABC, bringing his deep knowledge and candid commentary to millions of viewers. His insightful and forthright analysis earned him an Emmy Award for excellence in broadcasting.

Mr. Button also created new opportunities for Skaters following their competitive careers with events such as the World Professional Figure Skating Championships and the Challenge of Champions.

“I had achieved everything I could have dreamed of doing as a skater,” Button said once in an interview. “I was able to enjoy the Ice Capades and keep my hand in skating, and that was very important to me.”

“Dick was one of the most important figures in our sport,” 1984 Olympic Figure Skating Champion Scott Hamilton told the U.S. media. “There wasn’t a skater after Dick who wasn’t helped by him in some way.”

“The two-time Olympic champion’s pioneering style and award-winning television commentary revolutionized figure skating,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “His legacy will live on forever.”

ST. LOUIS - JANUARY 14: Dick Button is honored at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Championships at the Savvis Center on January 14, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri. © Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Mr. Button passed away on January 30 in North Salem, New York. He is survived by his two children, Edward and Emily.

The ISU pays tribute to Richard Button’s rich contribution to Figure Skating and will remember him with deep appreciation and affection.