Topzle Topzle

Dick Button

Updated: Wikipedia source

Dick Button

Richard Totten Button (July 18, 1929 – January 30, 2025) was an American figure skater and skating analyst. He was a two-time Olympic champion (1948, 1952) and five-time consecutive world champion (1948–1952). He was also the only non-European man to have become European champion. Button is credited as having been the first skater to successfully land the double Axel jump in competition in 1948, as well as the first triple jump of any kind – a triple loop – in 1952. He also invented the flying camel spin, which was originally known as the "Button camel". He "brought increased athleticism" to figure skating in the years following World War II. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, Button represented the "American School" of figure skating, which was a more athletic style than skaters from Europe.

Infobox

Full name
Richard Totten Button
Born
(1929-07-18)July 18, 1929Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Died
January 30, 2025(2025-01-30) (aged 95)North Salem, New York, U.S.
Country
United States
Skating club
SC of BostonPhiladelphia SC & HS
Retired
1952

Tables

Competition placements since the 1944 season · Results
Winter Olympics
Winter Olympics
Season
Winter Olympics
1948
1st
1952
1st
World Championships
World Championships
Season
World Championships
1947
2nd
1948
1st
1949
1st
1950
1st
1951
1st
1952
1st
European Championships
European Championships
Season
European Championships
1948
1st
North American Championships
North American Championships
Season
North American Championships
1947
1st
1949
1st
1951
1st
U.S. Championships
U.S. Championships
Season
U.S. Championships
1944
1st N
1945
1st J
1946
1st
1947
1st
1948
1st
1949
1st
1950
1st
1951
1st
1952
1st
Season
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
Winter Olympics
1st
1st
World Championships
2nd
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
European Championships
1st
North American Championships
1st
1st
1st
Championships
1st N
1st J
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st

References

  1. Dick Button on Skates
  2. Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning
  3. Hines 2011, p. 48.
  4. United Press International
    https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/07/18/Famous-birthdays-for-July-18-Vin-Diesel-Kristen-Bell/8771563155558/
  5. encyclopedia.com
    http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Dick_Button.aspx
  6. Sports Reference
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170702100005/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bu/dick-button-1.html
  7. Richard "Dick" Button, Dwight-Englewood School. He attended Harvard College graduating in 1952, then also from Harvard L
    http://www.d-e125.org/alumni/richard-button.html
  8. Lake Placid Figure Skating. A History
  9. Hines 2011, p. 49.
  10. Figure Skating: Championship Techniques
    https://archive.org/details/sportsillustrate00petk
  11. teamusa.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180207061627/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/February/05/Dick-Button-Reflects-On-First-Olympic-Gold-Medal-70-Years-Later-And-State-Of-Figure-Skating-Today
  12. Olympic.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111212231909/http://www.olympic.org/multimedia-player/all-video/1900-1950/1948/01/30/lot4-button-1948-wm-cio-high/
  13. Skating
  14. Olympic.org
    http://www.olympic.org/richard-button
  15. "United States Olympic Committee – Button, Richard T. (Dick)"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070928005756/http://www.usoc.org/26_597.htm
  16. Hines 2011, p. xxv.
  17. "ABC SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Dick Button"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070404154807/http://www.abcmedianet.com/shows05/sports/commentators/button.shtml
  18. Kestnbaum 2003, p. 109.
  19. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/sports/dick-button-dead.html
  20. Courier-Post
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104397042/courier-post/
  21. Landing It
    https://archive.org/details/landingitmylifeo00hami
  22. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/11/AR2006021101460.html
  23. Lohud.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140712173136/http://www.lohud.com/article/20130906/LIFESTYLE01/309060066/Dick-Button-s-garden-glory?nclick_check=1
  24. "Official Site World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame: Hall of Fame Members"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070905174119/http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/Museum_HOF_Inductees.htm
  25. New York
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111118092552/https://nymag.com/news/features/47179/
  26. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/13/archives/new-jersey-pages-5-are-arrested-in-club-attack-in-central-park-came.html
  27. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/17/archives/3-sentenced-in-attack-using-bats-against-6-in-central-park-in-78.html
  28. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/15/sports/olympics/15button.html
  29. Brain Injury Association of America
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100128140222/http://www.biausa.org/spokespersons.htm
  30. "Olympic figure skater, commentator Dick Button dies at 95"
    https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/43631465/olympic-figure-skater-commentator-dick-button-dies-95
  31. "Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95"
    https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/dick-button-olympic-great-voice-skating-dies-95-118292366
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.