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Button, Richard T. (Dick)
- Captured back-to-back Olympic titles in 1948 and 1952 and is the only American skater to ever win two Olympic titles; first American to ever win the Olympic men's title
- Won five consecutive World Championships between 1948-1952 (most by any U.S. man)
- Won seven consecutive U.S. Championships between 1946-1952 (tied with Roger Turner for most U.S. titles by any U.S. man)
- Received the Sullivan Award in 1949 (only skater to ever win the award)
- Inducted into the U.S. & World Figure Skating Halls of Fame in 1976
- At age 18 in 1948, Button became the youngest man to ever win the Olympic title - a distinction he still holds today
- Was the first skater to ever land a double Axel in competition when he did it to win the gold on the outdoor rink at St. Moritz, Switzerland. "The lift was strong, the revolution certain and the landing sure," Button says of the historic jump. B
- Was the first skater to ever land a triple loop in competition when he did it to win his second consecutive Olympic title in 1952 in Oslo, Norway
- Graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School - after law school was admitted to the bar of Washington, D.C.
- Has provided commentary for figure skating for ABC Sports since 1962
- Received the 1980-81 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst
- Only skater to ever win what could be considered the "grand slam" of figure skating - U.S., North American, European, World and Olympic championships - in one year (1948)
- Has appeared in TV specials ("Omnibus," "Hans Brinker & The Silver Skates"), theater ("Mr. Roberts," "South Pacific") movies ("The Young Doctors," and "The Bad News Bears Go To Japan") and au
- As founder and president of Candid Productions, created a series of sports competitions including The Superstars, The Superteams, Battle of the Network Stars and the World Professional Figure Skating Championships
- Has been an investor and producer on Broadway in such productions as "Sweet Sue," starring Mary Tyler Moore and Lynn Redgrave; and Tom Stoppard's "Artist Descending a Staircase." · Is an authority on American furniture and decorative a
Dick travels the globe as a figure skating commentator for ABC Sports, covering about 9 or 10 events per year. He also keeps busy developing other projects, such as writing books about his experiences with the sport of figure skating.
On his health after suffering a head injury: "I'm fine. I'm here ad I'm wreaking havoc as usual."
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Born: 18-July-1929
Hometown: Englewood, N.J.
Sport: Figure Skating
Event: Figure Skating
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