Sports Greats Who Died In 2025: Olympic Gold Medalist Dick Button

On January 30, Olympic gold medalist Dick Button died from natural causes.

Button, 95, won gold medals in figure skating during the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics. Outside of the Olympics, Button won five World Championships and seven U.S. National Championships in figure skating.

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He also won the 1948 European Championship title because non-Europeans were allowed to compete. Button is the only American ever to win the European Championship.

Scott Hamilton, a former figure skater, mentioned the impact Button had on the community and how much he would help others. “Dick was one of the most important figures in our sport. There wasn’t a skater after Dick who wasn’t helped by him in some way,” Hamilton said.

After Button retired from competing, he began his broadcasting career, initially serving as an analyst for CBS during the Winter Olympics. He eventually became the voice of figure skating, mainly for ABC Sports.

His final broadcast was at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

During his time as a broadcaster, Button won a Sports Emmy, one of the most prestigious awards a broadcaster can receive.

Button’s legacy and impact on figure skating will live on forever.