Figure Skating profiles many individual skaters, including some 148 World and Olympic champions, all of whom, in Dick Button's words, "left the sport better because they were in it." Hines describes hundreds who have contributed to the sport, including Ulrich Salchow and Axel Paulsen, who gave their names to distinctive jumps; Madge Syers, who entered and medaled at the previously all-male World Championships in 1902; and Sonja Henie, who took skating to the silver screen. The history extends to more recent times, when such skaters as Michelle Kwan and Irina Slutskaya captured the public's attention and an unfortunate judging decision rocked the pairs' competition, resulting in the adoption of a new judging system.Beyond the contributions of individual skaters, Figure Skating also traces the growth of competitions and show skating (professional and amateur) and discusses relevant social, political, and ethical concerns that have affected the sport. In addition to over seventy magnificent historical pictures spread throughout the book, a gallery features the picture of every World and Olympic champion, complete through 2005. Read Less