Dick Button was more than the most accomplished men’s figure skater in history. He was one of his sport’s greatest innovators and promoters.
Button, winner of two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships, died Thursday, said his son, Edward, who did not provide a cause. He was 95. As an entrepreneur and broadcaster, Button promoted skating and its athletes, transforming a niche sport into the showpiece of every Winter Olympics. “Dick was one of the most important figures in our sport,” Scott Hamilton said. “There wasn’t a skater after Dick who wasn’t helped by him in some way.
“Dick Button is the custodian of the history of figure skating and its quintessential voice,” 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano said in Button’s autobiography. “He made the words ‘lutz’ and ‘salchow’ part of our everyday vocabulary.” After a 1961 plane crash killed the entire U.S. figure skating team on the way to the world championships, which then were canceled, Button persuaded ABC Sports executive Roone Arledge to televise the 1962 event on “Wide World.
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Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95As an entrepreneur and broadcaster, Dick Button promoted skating and its athletes, transforming a niche sport into the showpiece of every Winter Olympics
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Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of figure skating, dies at 95Dick Button was more than the most accomplished men's figure skater in history. He was one of his sport's greatest innovators and promoters.
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Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95Dick Button, winner of two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive figure skating world championships, died Thursday, said his son, Edward, who did not provide a cause. He was 95.
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Dick Button, Two-Time Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Dies at 95Dick Button, a legendary figure skater who won two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships, died Thursday at 95. He was renowned not only for his athletic prowess but also for his innovative jumps, pioneering broadcasting contributions, and tireless promotion of the sport.
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Dick Button, Figure Skating Legend and Broadcast Icon, Dies at 95Dick Button, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion figure skater, passed away at 95. Known for his innovative skating style and groundbreaking achievements, Button also became a prominent figure in broadcasting, popularizing the sport through his insightful commentary on ABC's 'Wide World of Sports'. His legacy extends beyond the ice, having created opportunities for skaters after their competitive careers and leaving an enduring mark on the history and development of figure skating.
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Dick Button, Legendary Figure Skater and Broadcaster, Dies at 95Dick Button, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion, revolutionized figure skating with his groundbreaking performances and tireless promotion of the sport. He died at 95.
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