A LEGENDARY figure skater who won America’s first Olympic gold medal in the sport has died at the age of 95.
Dick Button, regarded as a pioneer in the sport, landed back to back titles at the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics.
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Button won his first Olympic title in 1948 and wowed with the jump, known as a double axel.
Four years later, he repeated the feat and landed the medal after performing what’s known as a triple loop.
He won his second Olympic gold while studying at Harvard university.
He graduated with a law degree in 1956.
But, Button appeared to downplay his achievements.
“It didn’t seem like an enormous accomplishment,” to win back-to-back Olympic golds,” he said in 1999.
“It just seemed that it was the most natural thing in the world to go on and compete in the next championship.”
During his illustrious career, Button also won five consecutive world championships.
After hanging up his skates, he turned to broadcasting and was an entrepreneur.
He was part of NBC’s Winter Olympics team in 2006 and 2010.
Button was also inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2015.
Tributes have poured in as news of his death emerged.
“The two-time Olympic champion’s pioneering style and award-winning television commentary revolutionized figure skating,” officials at US Figure Skating said.
“His legacy will live on forever. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Johnny Weir, a three-time US figure skating champion, hailed Button for his broadcasting.
“He told it like it was, even when his opinion wasn’t a popular one,” he said.
“His zingers were always in my mind when I would perform for him, and I wanted to make him as happy and proud as I would my coaches.
“Nobody could do it like Mr. Button.”
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