Guide Note: Figure skating, or artistic skating, is not only the oldest sport in the Olympic Games, but it is also popular with the entertainment industry. Several movies were made with Figure Skating as their themes.
Fast Facts:
- Women first competed 1902
- The U. S. Figure Skating operating budget is ~$13 million per year
- The 1994 Olympic ladies short program ranks third in televised sporting events
- Tara Lipinski is the youngest Olympic gold medalist
- Torvill & Dean were once coached by entertainer Michael Crawford