7 of the Most Iconic Winter Olympians

About Tori Thurmond

Tori Thurmond combines her creative writing background with her marketing experience in her role as the Content Specialist at Brookdale. When she's not writing, she's probably spending time with her two cats or knitting.

a woman in tan tying a pair of white ice skates

With the 2026 Winter Olympics just around the corner, you may be planning watch parties, digging out your best patriotic gear or marking your schedules to watch your favorite events. From the opening ceremonies to the closing, the Milano Cortina 2026 games are sure to be an exciting watch.

As we look forward to watching a new round of Olympians make their mark on the games, let’s take a look at some of the most iconic Winter Olympians to date to help get us in the spirit.

1. Dick Button (United States)

Dick Button was the first skater to land a double axel in competition at the St. Moritz 1948 Olympic Winter Games, allowing him to become the first American man to win gold in figure skating singles. His record-setting performances continued at the Oslo 1952 Olympic Winter Games, where he became the first skater to land a triple jump in competition, winning him another gold medal. After retiring from the rink, Button went on to have a successful television analyst career, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality.

2. Jean-Claude Killy (France)

Jean-Claude Killy won the “Triple Crown” of alpine skiing in the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. But winning was no foreign concept to this French skier, as he won 12 World Cup races during the 1966-1967 season. Killy went on to serve as co-president of the 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter Games in addition to becoming an International Olympic Committee member in 1995.

3. Peggy Fleming (United States)

Peggy Fleming is best known for earning the only gold medal for the United States during the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games. Fleming began figure skating at the young age of nine and went on to earn five U.S. titles and three World titles in addition to her Olympic win. At the Sports Illustrated 20^th Century Sports Awards in 1999, Fleming was named one of “Seven Athletes Who Changed the Game.” Later in her career, she became a television commentator and spokesperson for women’s health after her battle with breast cancer.

4. Kristi Yamaguchi (United States)

The 90s figure skating icon, Kristi Yamaguchi, started off skating in pairs, but once deciding to go solo won her first world championship title in 1991. In 1992, Yamaguchi brought home the first gold medal for the United States women’s figure skating team since her childhood hero, Dorothy Hamill won the same title in 1976. Hamill even approached Yamaguchi at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, encouraging her to “have fun” before she went on to take the gold for her original program.

5. Bjørn Dæhlie (Norway)

One of the most decorated Winter Olympians of all time, Bjørn Dæhlie from Norway, has earned eight gold medals and four silver medals in cross-country skiing. Dæhlie won medals at the 1992 Albertville Winter Games and at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games. After an impressive victory in the 50km event, he returned to his hometown, where a display of more than 1,500 roses arranged into the Olympic symbol greeted him. Each one of the roses was donated by someone living in the town to celebrate his victories.

6. Marit Bjørgan (Norway)

Marit Bjørgan is the most decorated winter Olympian of all time with 15 medals. She started her international cross-country skiing career at just 19 years old in 1999, and won her first Olympic medal at Salt Lake City 2002. Her victories weren’t limited to the Olympic Games though; she took the overall World Cup titles in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2015. Bjørgan is the third most decorated Olympian of all time, coming in behind U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps and Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina.

7. Shaun White (United States)

If you know anything about snowboarding, you probably know who Shaun White is. Nicknamed “The Flying Tomato” because of his red hair, White is known for his impressive tricks. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, taking home medals at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Games, and holds 13 Winter X Games titles in superpipe and slopestyle.

If you’re planning on tuning into this year’s games, listen to see if any of these Olympic icons of the present and past are mentioned! These games are sure to be filled with new record-breaking moments.