Richard BUTTON

First gold through innovation

Two days before the free skating portion of the Olympic Winter Games in 1948, 18-year-old Richard "Dick" Button successfully completed a double Axel for the first time. Despite its newness, he attempted the move in competition anyway. Landing it perfectly, eight of the nine judges awarded Button first place and he went home with the gold medal.

In 1952 at the Olympic Games in Oslo the young skater decided to take another risk. Despite a high probability of winning the competition with the safe programme, Dick decided to attempt a triple look. No skater had ever performed a triple jump in competition before him. Once again, Button hit his innovative jump perfectly with the judges unanimously voting him the winner.