40 of the Best Olympic Figure Skating Outfits of All Time

Vera Hrubá represented Czechoslovakia in the 1936 Olympics, and later went on to become an actress in the 1940s and ’50s. Her costume featured a color-block polo with oversize buttons and a flowing skirt for movement.

Sonja Henie skated for Norway in an all-white ensemble with nautical-style striped details at the collar, sleeves, and hem. She paired her outfit with chunky knit mittens, dark tights, and a hat—she’s on ice after all, so why not stay warm?!

Henie was a 3-time Olympic Champion, a 10-time World Champion, and a 6-time European Champion before she went on to be an actress, even starring in one movie appropriately titled Thin Ice.

German figure skater Maxi Herber wore a comfy knit sweater with a plaid skirt at the 1936 Olympics. She became the youngest female figure skating Olympic champion at 15 years old, and held the title until 1988 (when it was given to Tara Lipinski, who was two months younger).

Incidentally, Herber won her gold medal with partner Ernst Baier in pair skating, and the duo later married in 1940.

American figure skater Gretchen Merrill skated in a winter white long-sleeve costume with buttons, a belted waist, and pleated skirt. In 2000, she was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Canadian skater Barbara Ann Scott wore a pearl necklace and hat with her white costume when she won figure skating gold at the 1948 Winter Olympics—at 19 years old. Her popularity prompted a Canadian toy company to make dolls in her likeness.

British skater Jeannette Altwegg wore this printed satin number with a box pleated skirt and posed for the cameras after winning Olympic gold. One year after her win, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire, and 41 years after her win she was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

This trio channeled Easter egg colors on the Olympic medal podium with their blue, green, and pink ensembles. (And let’s give the fluffy trim on the pink outfit a particular shout-out.) East Germany’s Gabriele Seyfert (left) won a silver medal, USA’s Peggy Fleming (center) won gold, and Czechoslovakia’s Hana Maskova (right) won bronze at the Olympics in France.

Karen Magnussen represented Canada (with an umbrella in hand, no less) in a bold red costume with balloon sleeves and an embellished neckline—and really, you’ve got to appreciate her commitment to props. She was a silver medalist this year and was even made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Olympic champion and American skater Dorothy Hamill won gold at the 1976 Games and accepted her medal in this fuchsia V-neck costume. During this performance, she debuted a new skating move—a camel spin followed by a sit spin—which became known as the “Hamill camel.”

American skater Lea Ann Miller looked like an actual ice princess in this wintery blue beaded number with a plunging V-neck and flowing skirt. Her and her partner William Fauve placed 10th in the 1984 Olympics.

Knut Schubert and Birgit Lorenz represented East Germany in these retro green and pink costumes with geometric lines. Schubert’s skates even blended in with his pants, which gives the illusion of longer legs.

American skater Tiffany Chin wore an elegant sky-blue scoop neck outfit with bright floral designs along the neckline and sleeves. With that outfit, she doesn’t even need the crowd to throw her bouquets after her performance. After retiring from Olympic-eligible skating in 1987, she later became a coach for Australian figure skater Kailani Crane, who competed at the 2018 Olympics.

German figure skater Katarina Witt channeled a flamenco dancer in this black and red outfit with *extra* frilly sleeves. Witt represented East Germany (before the Berlin Wall came down in 1989) and won two Olympic gold medals—one in 1984 and one in 1988.

American skater Jill Trenary wore a quintessential ’80s outfit at the Calgary Olympics. It was hot-pink, bedazzled, and had extra padding on the shoulders, of course. I mean, shoulder pads!

Jumpsuit alert! JUMPSUIT ALERT! Debi Thomas performed in this black and purple retro one-piece at the Calgary Olympics, but what really made it such an amazing ’80s fashion moment was her teased hair and bright makeup.

After winning the bronze medal, Thomas went on to become a practicing orthopedic surgeon before declaring bankruptcy.

Midori Ito represented Japan in this gorgeous ombré sequined number with shades of aqua and dark-blue. Although she took home the silver, Japan welcomed her back as if she won gold. Ito was also the first woman to land a triple axel in competition.

The following Olympic year, American skater Kristi Yamaguchi went with a cold shoulder teal outfit with rhinestones cascading from the sleeves and a ruffled hem. She won the gold medal, and in 2008, Yamaguchi also won the sixth season of Dancing With the Stars. Both impressive feats.

Nancy Kerrigan was actually sparkling in this beautiful neutral outfit designed by Vera Wang, with sheer sleeves and tiny rhinestones studded all over the fabric.

It was in January of this year that Kerrigan was attacked by a hired assailant with a police baton. Fellow skater Tonya Harding’s then-husband and his friend conspired to have Kerrigan attacked, but she recovered in time to compete and won a silver medal.