Peggy Fleming’s famous 1968 gold medal in figure skating made her one of the most prominent women in sport.
Family support
Peggy Fleming came from a family who made great sacrifices to allow her to pursue her love of figure skating. Her mother designed and sewed all of her costumes and her father relocated the family twice to find better training for his daughter.
Famous victory
At the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games, Peggy Fleming won the United States’ only Olympic gold in the entire competition. She built up a huge lead after the compulsory figures and easily won the first-place votes of all nine judges. This was a huge boost for US figure skating and helped launch her subsequent media career.
Continuing inspiration
After her 1968 victory, Fleming began touring professionally and later became a successful television commentator, often working with fellow Olympic champion Dick Button. She continues to represent the sport in the media, as well as campaigning and fundraising for breast cancer charities.
