February 5, 1948. That day marked a significant moment for the figure skating community in the USA, as they experienced a previously unattainable success. Before this date, American male figure skaters had never secured a gold medal in the Olympic Games. Nearly 77 years ago, on that day in February, an individual from Englewood, New Jersey, achieved greatness in the sport and put the USA on the international skating map. We are talking about none other than the phenomenal Dick Button.

From the very start, he aimed for nothing short of greatness. Button secured two consecutive gold medals at the St. Moritz and Oslo editions of the Olympic games. Among other things, the figure skater is fondly remembered for his double axel. Adding to his long list of achievements, Button was the first figure skater to land the first triple jump (a loop) in Oslo. He was an all-around figure skater who knew how to entertain the audience. His simple yet compelling moves captivated the audience. 

Leaving behind an illustrious career that speaks for itself, Dick Button passed away on Jan 30th. 2025. Button’s life and achievements continue to motivate the generations after him.  Nothing can fill the void of his absence. The figure skating community shall always remember his contributions and impact. However, the path to greatness was not without occasional hindrances.

Before his Olympic victory in 1948, he defied a norm prevalent in figure skating to make his way forward. The report published in CT Insider explained it in detail. It was about Button’s sartorial choices on the skating rink. The report claimed, “Button said he shocked people back in 1947 when he decided to go against the “very, very formal” norm and put on a white mess jacket while skating, instead of a black one, earning comments like, “What does he think he is? A waiter?”” Button would not listen, however. He went his own way and things worked out for him just fine. 

He continued to don the white jacket for the next year until he realized something was off. It dawned upon Dick Button that the white outerwear hardly stood out against the snowy background. Soon enough New Jersey native opted for the once-standard black jacket. There were qualms about whether the community would accept his new avatar but it did! Being the champion he is, we can rest assured he would have emerged victorious, regardless of the color of his jacket. None of his achievements seem too big. After all, the figure skating luminary was a champion from his very childhood.

Dick Button knew to fly over the barricades 

“When Dick Button started skating at the age of 12, he was allegedly told by his teacher that ‘hell would freeze over before he became a real skater’. Thankfully, Button wasn’t easily deterred and went on to become a legend in his own lifetime.” Meanwhile, the screen shows Button skating in the arena. The clip reflected his years of developing himself as a skater. It claimed that since his early days, Button nurtured his love for the sport without bothering too much about what others had to say. 

According to Dick Button’s book, his teacher didn’t have any expectations of him doing well in a sport like figure skating. He wrote, in fact, “Taking one look, the teacher said I would never learn to skate until a ‘snowball learned to live in Hades.'” Well, that did not deter fiery and determined Dick Button. He knew what he wanted and he worked hard for it. In the upcoming years, Button became the youngest American male to claim the gold medal in the 1948 Olympics. Even after this phenomenal achievement, he was just getting started.