Origins & Early Life

Richard Totten Button (July 18, 1929 – January 30, 2025) was an American figure skater and skating analyst. He was a two-time Olympic champion (1948, 1952) and five-time consecutive world champion (1948–1952). He was also the only non-European man to have become European champion. Button is credited as having been the first skater to successfully land the double Axel jump in competition in 1948, as well as the first triple jump of any kind – a triple loop – in 1952.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He also invented the flying camel spin, which was originally known as the "Button camel". He "brought increased athleticism" to figure skating in the years following World War II. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, Button represented the "American School" of figure skating, which was a more athletic style than skaters from Europe. Button was born on July 18, 1929, and raised in Englewood, New Jersey.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He graduated in 1947 from the Englewood School for Boys (now Dwight-Englewood School). He began skating at an early age but did not begin training seriously until the age of 12, after his father overheard him being told he would never be a good skater. Button's father sent him to Lake Placid...

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