The drama. The passion. The elegance. Soaring jumps and whirling spins. Incredible throws and daring lifts. Stories carved into the ice: Figure Skating creates unforgettable moments, deeply etched into the memory of generations. The Olympic Winter Games especially are home of iconic moments of the sport.

1984: Bolero forever - Torvill & Dean

Forever Bolero: Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (GBR) changed Ice Dance with their unique program Photo: ©Getty Images 

At the 1984 Sarajevo Games, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (GBR) stunned the world with their “Bolero” Free Dance. This was a program, nobody had ever seen before. It changed the sport of Ice Dance forever, combining art and athletic ability at a completely different level. 

1988: The epic battle of the Brians 

 The "Battle of the Brians" was one of the highlights at the 1988 Calgary Games Photo: ©Getty Images 

In 1988, at the Calgary Games, the epic “Battle of the Brians” between Brian Boitano (USA) and Canada’s Brian Orser was a true highlight. Two amazing athletes, two World Champions, one mission: The Olympic gold. In the end, Boitano triumphed while Orser took the silver. 

1988: Katarina Witt, the ultimate Carmen

The ultimate Carmen: Katarina Witt (GDR) took her second Olympic gold medal in Calgary 1988 Photo: ©Getty Images 

At the same Games, Germany’s Katarina Witt won her second Olympic gold medal with a mesmerizing performance to “Carmen”. She was the ultimate Carmen on ice. The trio of Witt, Boitano and Orser even starred together in a “Carmen on Ice” movie in 1990.

2002: Sarah Hughes' stunning victory

Sarah Hughes (USA) stunned evreryone with her victory at the 2002 Salt Lake Games Photo: ©Getty Images  

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Hughes (USA) was the underdog heading into the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City even though she had claimed a bronze medal at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021. Sitting in fourth place following the Short Program, Hughes nailed her Free Skating to “Daphnis and Chloé” and won the gold medal, overtaking such accomplished competitors as Irina Slutskaya of Russia and multiple ISU World Champion Michelle Kwan (USA). Her performance was fantastic, her reaction was priceless. 

2010: Virtue & Moir create a sensation 

 Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN) created a sensation at the 2010 Vancouver Games Photo: ©Getty Images 

At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the young Canadian Ice Dance couple of Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir created a sensation by striking gold in their Olympic debut. Their Flamenco Original Dance and their Free Dance to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 were masterpieces of artistry and technique that generations of ice dancers have been looking up to. Incredibly, eight years later, Virtue & Moir repeated their Olympic triumph with another iconic performance to “Moulin Rouge”.

2018: Yuzuru Hanyu, one of a kind

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) is one of a kind and proved it at the 2018 PyeongChang Games Photo: ©Getty Images 

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu is one of a kind and he proved it once more at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Coming off an ankle injury, he had missed all competitions after withdrawing from the NHK Trophy and only resumed on ice training in January, shortly before the Olympic Games. Hanyu’s courageous performances to “Ballade” by Frédéric Chopin in the Short Program and “Seimei” in the Free Skating gave him his second Olympic gold medal.

2018: Savchenko & Massot - The ice, seen from the sky 

 Aljona Savchenko & Bruno Massot (GER) created magic on ice at the 2018 PyeongChang Games Photo: ©Getty Images 

The PyeongChang Games also saw the magical performance of Aljona Savchenko & Bruno Massot. The Germans stood in fourth place following an error in the Short Program but rose to gold. Their Free Skating performance to “La Terre vue du ciel” ("The Earth, seen from the sky") belongs to the most beautiful in the history of Pair Skating. Savchenko finally won gold in what was her fifth Olympic Games with her third partner. 

2022: Sui & Han's unforgettable triumph

Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) triumphed at the 2022 Beijing Games with a spectacular performance Photo: ©Getty Images 

China’s Wenjing Sui & Cong Han were edged out of the gold in PyeongChang but they triumphed four years later with their spectacular “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Free Skating on home ice at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games – another performance to remember. Now the 2022 Olympic Champions are back for Milano Cortina.

2026: ???? Wait and see 

There are many more memorable and unique Olympic performances that have shaped the sport of Figure Skating. Watch out for more at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.