Top 10 Favorite Figure Skaters of All Time
Figure skating has this unique ability to combine raw athleticism with an almost magical artistry, capturing fans worldwide. There's something extraordinary about watching skaters who seem to fly on the ice, blending grace, strength, and years of discipline into performances that stay with you. Every skater brings their own style and flair - some are known for their speed and power, others for their emotional storytelling, and some for their daring jumps that leave audiences holding their breath. From heart-stopping spins to intricate footwork, the athletes on this list have inspired countless fans, not just with their medals but with unforgettable performances that showcase the beauty and challenge of figure skating.
Yuzuru Hanyu, a Japanese figure skating icon, is renowned for his technical precision and artistic elegance, securing two Olympic gold medals in 2014 and 2018. He is celebrated for his innovative approach, especially with the quad jumps, pushing the boundaries of men's figure skating. I think he is one of the biggest talents in figure skating history. He's very versatile, and he's got the full package. His jumps are spectacular, his speed is amazing, and his presence on the ice is immense.
Watching him is truly captivating and a huge pleasure. What I especially love about him is his will to compete against all odds. He has the spirit of a top athlete, along with his own unique charm and artistic mind. I wish him good luck. He's the best of the best, one of a kind - an alien, even. I'm happy to be a witness to his well-deserved success.
Yulia's spins are out of this world. No one can touch her flexibility, the ingenuity of her positions, her speed, or the overall beauty of a spinning Yulia Lipnitskaya. If I were a judge, Yulia would be the only one to get Level 4 on spins. Her Level 4s simply cannot be compared to others in the field.
Take a Biellmann spin, for example. Most skaters struggle to do one, let alone a hyperextended Biellmann. And even when they hit the position, they merely turn slowly for three to four rotations. Not Yulia. Yulia's thigh practically touches her head, and she spins her Biellmann at a wonderful speed, rarely seen among top skaters. She is the queen of spins and spirals.
I've been lucky to see all the great legends of the past decades, and I'm so happy to have witnessed the rise of one of the most exciting elements in male ice skating: Daisuke Takahashi. For me, he is the ultimate star of the ice world. He has the invention and genius that Toller Cranston had in his time, as well as elegance and sensibility.
But he also has brilliant technique. For once, the jumps were secondary. The quality of the skating and the meaning of each movement were sculpting something unique. I miss seeing him perform every day, but I'm grateful for what he has offered to his audience. May he be happy and blessed forever.
Yuna Kim, often called "Queen Yuna," is a South Korean figure skater who achieved global fame by winning the 2010 Olympic gold and 2014 silver. Known for her impeccable technique and grace, Kim is widely recognized as one of the most influential athletes in the sport. Yuna Kim is truly a phenomenon in figure skating. Her technical skills, speed, performance ability, emotional expressions, music choice, fashion sense, and personality are all nearly perfect! Moreover, I appreciate the sound of her skating because it shows how professional and relaxed she is, even during major competitive tournaments. It also matches the music very well.
Some people say that Yuna looks effortless when skating, but in my opinion, achieving that "effortless" appearance requires exceptional skills and spirit. Indeed, I haven't seen any other female skaters from Yuna Kim's era who possess this "effortless" ability.
She was the most tweeted-about skater in the Sochi Olympics for a reason. As they say, it takes one to know one, and many of those tweets came from elite skaters. Unbeatable skating skills, divine musicality, wonderful spirals, and breathtaking spins set her apart.
She pushes the technical envelope for female skaters more so than any other. She personifies artistry more than anyone else. She demonstrates sheer tenacity more than any other skater. So why is Mao Asada my favorite skater of all time? Her skating career speaks for itself. She may not always have the best skate, but she is always the best skater. She is *the* skater among skaters.
I love the way he moves his body. The line, the position, the harmony between the upper and lower body, the delicate body control, and the natural grace of his legs are all incredible. When he moves his legs in such beautiful ways, he looks like he's floating on the ice, free from all the laws of physics! I had never seen anything like that before, and this is true beauty. It's just absolute, pure, ideal beauty. I appreciate Evgeni because he has left so many beautiful artistic performances for this planet.
One of the greatest and most charismatic figure skaters of all time. He radiates power, beauty, and energy. The sheer command he has over the ice and the audience is spellbinding.
There will never be a male figure skater as emotional, passionate, and technically masterful as him. He is one of a kind - a Tsar on ice!
Yagudin is perfect in every way! His skill is remarkable, but his artistic performance is even better than his technical skills.
He is a real example of overcoming adversity and displaying unfaltering courage in sport. He has opened a new era in men's single figure skating, an era of the highest technique combined with great artistry. His Olympic programs will go down in the history of figure skating as some of the best performances ever.
They were breathtaking!
The best skater ever. He blends beautiful technical mastery with artistic skills. He always succeeds in "telling" the story behind each piece of music he interprets.
No one - of any era - can compare. Michelle is in a realm beyond figure skating itself. She's beyond because she mastered skating: her edges, her execution before, during, and after a jump, her ability to emote without ever sacrificing basic figure skating fundamentals are unmatched.
And then she just shares herself, fully, without reservation, from the heart.
Figure skating is a better sport because of Michelle Kwan. The judging system may change and Olympic gold medals may continue to be awarded, but Michelle Kwan's legendary presence, exuberant elegance, and timeless artistry will always be remembered. No other artist can exude the same brand of genuine emotional expression on ice except her.
Stéphane Lambiel is only a "contender"? I don't trust this survey as being valid. Lambiel is unquestionably the greatest male figure skater out there in this day and age. I'm not just saying that because I happen to personally adore him (which I do). I make this statement objectively, in light of his consistent perfection and unearthly artistry. But why restate the obvious? Because apparently, some prefer to ignore the obvious. Listing him as a mere "contender" does have shock value, though.
A triple axel in the days when few women had a triple lutz! She is like the Nadia Comaneci of skating, so far ahead of her time. A triple lutz in her day is like a woman skater doing a quad toe in 2014. And no one has done that on a World stage.
Even today, only Mao Asada of Japan is doing a triple axel at World competitions, and she is very iffy, usually hitting less than 50%. Ito never fell on her triple axel. If they were using today's code of points, she might even beat Yuna Kim because her difficulty points are out of this world. Besides the triple axel, she also did two triple/triple combos in her free skate, the second triple/triple toward the end of her program.
The Newcomers
She is very beautiful and the greatest skater! Cool girl!
Congratulations to the world record beautiful Eugenia, you are our new Yuna Kim forever - Queen! Love forever…
I adore her Sailor Moon performance! Victories on all stages of the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Finals, Russian National Championship, European Championships, and of course the World Cup.
Improving the world record - wow!
I wonder what the programs of Stephane Lambiel will be like. I'm eagerly awaiting the new season! I wish for her to confirm her status as the Queen of figure skating.
We are all waiting for your new, colorful, and charismatic wins! You are the best skater in the world. You have shown this through your hard work and love for your jumps, especially the best 3A in the world.
Your speed and the originality of last season's programs prove that Mishin is a genius! I want to see the first women's quad in your jumps!
The girl that I've liked since her childhood was so confident, feisty, and beautiful that everybody prophesied her a great career and a medal in Sochi. However, it wasn't that way. She had a bad injury and body problems.
No one else believed in her. But this season, the queen Liza is back, more motivated and strong. She overcame all her problems and became an improbable skater!
Serafima Sakhanovich is known for her consistency and technical difficulty. I believe her skating is perfect. She would have no problem medaling at the GP and JGP because she is the best, destined to become the only queen in the upcoming season.
Her quad jump in juniors should silence all her critics. Forward, Serafima!
Serafima remains in the junior division, and we look forward to her winning! She hasn't yet moved up to the adult level in the Grand Prix and she still wouldn't fit in with adult competitors.
However, in the junior division, our Serafima will continue to reign as a real queen because she is still a junior.
Brian had power and grace. He had a dramatic presence on the ice and also managed a great professional career.
She felt the music in her skating and, at her time, gave skating that little bit extra!
She is adorable because she is so genuine. She is just very open and kind-hearted! I really dream of meeting her one day.
Although I've never really had any idols and prefer to live my own life, she is just so relatable that it feels like meeting her would be like meeting an old, lost friend from high school. I adore her! She is just lovely!
Elena Ilinykh is a true artist on the ice, a talent I like to call RUSLENA! RUSLENA combines the highest level of artistry with amazing skating skills and technique. What excites me most is that they seem to have two programs they believe in for the new season. When you believe in your programs, like "Carmen," nothing can go wrong!
The Free Dance choice by Ruslena, set to the Frida soundtrack, is superb. I'm already savoring this delectable performance. Kudos to them for choosing such a compelling story to portray and for collaborating with Najarro once again. Kustarova's "unexpected and original" comment has piqued my interest for the Short Dance. What does she mean?
A beauty on ice, it's a treat to watch her skate. She's classy, wonderfully talented, and technically superb. A two-time Olympic gold winner, and rightfully so.
She has also won the World Championships and European Championships ten times. That's twelve gold medals in total. This makes her one of the most successful figure skaters of all time.
Hugely inventive on ice and immensely popular and loved, this German skater represents alluring symmetry on ice.
Kati, what an amazing girl! She should be at least in the top 10. Super talented and skillful, stylish, and beautiful. A massive pleasure to watch her skating. It's breathtaking! Simply magic! Especially those performances in Calgary 1988, which earned her a second consecutive Olympic gold medal, just wow! And what makes Kati even greater is the fact that she is (and has always been) very lovely as a human: open, friendly, and happy. She's still in very good shape, even though she is already 55. You are a true legend, Kati!
I was deeply impressed by his performances. While watching him skate for a few minutes in a competition, I felt like I was watching a whole movie or an entire performance of ballet. His movement is not just beautiful. In every single movement, he has a message he wants to show the world - a message of love.
Yes, it's a pity he no longer competes, but I'm looking forward to seeing him perform another artistic program, something like East of Eden or Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
He is still a very good skater after his retirement as an athlete. I recently saw PIW in Yokohama, Japan, and found that Tatsuki and his skating are so beautiful and powerful, and his work is so talented. His new work is his best, which means he is still growing as a great artist.
I am deeply appreciative of his work and respect Mr. Tatsuki Machida.
Elena is a fighter. She has won at least four medals at the Russian National Championships, a medal at the World Championship, two medals at the European Championships, and two medals at the Grand Prix Finals!
She grew significantly last season but is still one of the best skaters!
Very interesting programs, great technique, and very emotional! She has everything to be the best female skater!
I appreciate her innocent personality. She should cherish this trait, as it particularly shines during exhibitions, which are wonderful.
She is the only person in the world of figure skating who has transformed it into an art. It's actually like ballet on ice, and a great ballet at that! This is the level of skating where even her perfect technique doesn't play a role anymore because pure beauty dominates over everything.
It amazes, stuns, hypnotizes, and gives a natural sensation of eternal harmony. Other great skaters are heroes. Katya is an artist.
There are only a few things in this world that can always give you joy, regardless of your mood and state of mind: the sea, the sun in the sky, the poetry of Shakespeare, the music of Bach, the paintings of El Greco, films with Katharine Hepburn or Dustin Hoffman, and the skating of Katya Gordeeva. Ekaterina, I'm so grateful that you exist! THANK YOU!
Denis' artistry and musicality are unparalleled within the current generation of men's singles competitors. You can tell he is really connected to the music, whether it be in competitions or shows, and he always seems to skate from the heart. He has also changed the landscape of figure skating in his home country, Kazakhstan, and inspired many others with his wonderful skating as well as his insights and wise words off the ice.
On good days, his technique, posture, and style shine through, and his performances really draw you in. They are so entertaining and enjoyable to watch! He has grown so much as a performer and has managed to achieve so much over the past few years. I will look forward to seeing how he develops in the future.
Please vote for this incredibly talented skater!
Brian Joubert was never afraid of circumstances or hard work. He is someone who never gives up, a person who takes your breath away the minute he appears on the ice. With Brian's retirement, an entire era of figure skating has come to an end.
He left as a great champion, a fierce fighter, and an extraordinary skater. He was the gladiator on ice, the French musketeer, and last but not least, a man with the most charming smile in figure skating. Merci, Brian!
He is one of the few skaters who have lasted so long in competitions without taking a season off for over ten years and still performed at a high level. A real fighter! The King of quads!
He has a great connection with the crowd! He's the James Bond of the ice!
One of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. She's three years older than me. I've watched her for all the years she's skated.
I saw her interview on TV a month or so ago and know what she felt like in her time of sorrow. I now feel her pain and wonder how she made it through. I wish I could meet her.
I like her because she is amazing - in Stars on Ice, the Olympics, and she deserves fame.
Who the heck is disliking the comments on her? You cannot deny that she is one of the most graceful skaters ever. No one could beat her in artistry.
It's just too bad she couldn't ever focus all the way through a program. I think she was a nervous competitor. That was her problem.
She is amazing, and I absolutely love her spiral. She is a great skater. I watch her all the time on YouTube, and her outfits are out of this world.
Since I'm a figure skater, I try to skate like her, but it's just impossible since she is so good. I love watching her.
From his junior days, his skating has been wonderful, and he caught my attention early on.
As he moved up to the senior level, his step work became more intricate and clever. I always look forward to watching his steps now.
There's a beautiful flow to his performance - very smooth and pleasant to watch. His music choices also add to the enjoyment.
He looks great skating to classical music, but he pulls off pop music just as well. Even with vocal music, his performances are impressive, and I love watching him perform.
I hope he continues to stay active in the sport from here on out.