Top female figure skaters: Who are the 15 greatest female figure skaters in the world?

Figure skating is one of the most graceful sporting events, but it simultaneously requires concentration, alertness, and synchrony to achieve perfection. They are some of the best athletes, as the sport requires super dedication, endurance, and creativity. These are the top female figure skaters in the world who have perfected their skills.

Great female figure skaters are known for breaking records and sparking emotions in their fans. One instance is Ekaterina Gordeeva's performance in remembrance of her late husband and skating partner, Sergei Grinkov. Other great female figure skaters include Kim Yuna, Sonja Henie, Michelle Kwan, and Peggy Fleming.

Top 15 female figure skaters

To be a top figure skater, every performance aspect must be done to perfection. It takes immense hard work, talent, and dedication to achieve this feat. Here are some of the best female figure skaters to ever grace the ice:

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15. Sasha Cohen

Cohen is widely regarded as one of the best Olympic female figure skaters. The star has one Olympic silver medal in her cabinet. She also holds three world championships, a Grand Prix final championship and a US Championship. Her flexibility and musical prowess put her above other figure skaters.

14. Chen Lu

She is one of the most successful Chinese female figure skaters. She has a gold medal in the world Championships and silver and bronze medals. She also boasts of two bronze medals in the Olympic games. The star athlete also has a gold medal in the Asian winter games.

13. Surya Bonaly

She is one of the few black female figure skaters to grace the stage. The French star has multiple accolades to her name, including five-time European Champion, three-time World silver medalist and a world junior championship.

She is also a nine-time French champion. One feat she achieved that seems impossible to match is that she remains the only figure skater to land from a backflip while on one blade successfully.

12. Barbara Ann Scott

The 1984 Olympic Champion boasts of being a two-time World Champion and a four-time Canadian Champion. She is one of the finest Canadian female figure skaters ever. She mainly participated in the ladies' singles and is the only Canadian to have won the Olympic ladies' singles gold medal.

11. Ekaterina Gordeeva

She is one of the best Russian female figure skaters to grace the stage. She is widely known for her overwhelming tribute to her late husband, who also doubled up as her partner, Sergei Grinkov. She boasts of being the Olympic Champion in 1988 and 1994 while also being the World Champion four times in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990.

10. Janet Lynn

The American boasts various medal wins in the Olympics, World Championships, and the North American Championship. The talented athlete won silver and bronze medals in these competitions. She is also honoured as the best free skater at both basic and advanced levels. She is ranked among the best, and her cute smile always mesmerised fans.

9. Midori Ito

At the tender age of 12, the Japanese legend became the only woman to execute triple combination skating successfully. She also won the World Championship in 1989 and another silver medal in 1992. She is one of the most famous female figure skaters in the world.

8. Kristi Yamaguchi

The American boasts two World Championships and a US Championship, pitting her as one of the most successful US figure skaters. Another medal on her coveted list is the 1992 Olympic Gold medal and the World Junior Championship, where she partnered with Rudy Galindo. The talented star was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005, culminating in her achievements.

7. Tara Lipinski

Yet another American on this list boasts of being the youngest skater, male or female, to win a gold medal at the Women's single Olympic and the World Figure skating Championships. The star won the Grand Prix final twice and was also the 1997 US Champion.

6. Michelle Kwan

She is one of the most decorated female figure skaters in the US and the world. She has multiple silver and bronze medals in the Olympics, shy of a gold medal. She is a five-time World Champion and nine-time US Champion. She also boasts of being among the highest-paid figure skaters in the US.

5. Peggy Fleming

Many describe her as an icon and a role model to upcoming and young figure skaters. She is also one the most graceful figure skaters to take the stage. She won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1968 and the North American Championship in 1967. She is also a three-time World Champion.

4. Oksana Baiul

So, who is the most graceful figure skater? Definitely has to be Oksana Baiul. The Ukrainian ace boasts of being the first female skater to win an Olympic Gold medal in independent Ukraine, making history. She will forever be remembered for her graceful skating, ballet movements and expression of her art.

3. Carol Heiss

Apart from bossing the skating stage, she is also an actress, a great combination. She is one of the best athletes who knew how to merge it with gracefulness ensuring her success and making her the first female skater to execute the double axle. She has a 1960 gold medal and the 1956 silver medal, together with their five World Championships, in her cabinet.

2. Katarina Witt

The German has two Olympic Gold Medals, four World Championships and six European Championships. She is one of the top female figure skaters ever, and she is especially known for her incredible gestures that make her skating aesthetically pleasing and mesmerising the fans.

1. Sonja Henie

So, who is the best female figure skater ever? Sonja Henie deserves the top spot. The legend has three Olympic Gold Medals, ten World Championships and six European Championships.

She pioneered legendary moves such as short routines and skirts. Before, there never used to be skirted, and this revolutionised the sport, making it more pleasing. She is also among the most beautiful athletes ever to grace the Olympics.

Sonja Henie takes the top spot for the best female figure skaters. Figure skating may not be the most popular sport, especially due to climatic hindrances in different regions, but it is widely celebrated in many countries. Figure skaters remain some of the most talented athletes with a niche for creativity and expressing emotion.

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