The competitive figure skating world is a cut-throat industry. Only the finest make it to the top of the ladder, and even then, it's incredibly easy to fall back down again. So, there's a lot of pressure on professional figure skaters to dedicate their lives to the sport and beat out the competition to be the best of the best. All of the figure skaters on this list did just that at one point in their lives, but it's safe to say that they're living very differently now that they've retired.
Debi Thomas - Then
As the figure skating world has primarily consisted of white skaters, Debi Thomas was a refreshing addition to the sport - and she even became the first African-American to take home a medal at any Winter Olympic Games. Of course, Debi knew that she'd have to work hard to make her mark in the skating world, but to use it seemed completely effortless. Within her first few years of competitive skating, she'd dominated the World Championships.
Not everything was easy breezy for Debi, though. Although her talent shone through, she was often pipped against Katerina Witt in a bitter skating rivalry - and it's not known how deep this ran.
Debi Thomas - Now
Although many athletes choose to retire young, it was a shock to everyone when Debi Thomas decided to retire from figure skating at just 21 years old. Many people thought that she'd have a much bigger career ahead of her, but it quickly became apparent that she had bigger dreams when she graduated from Stanford. And while she originally studied engineering, she later pivoted to study medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
She spent the next few years studying hard and moving around for residencies, but she has noted that she's struggled to anywhere too long due to the fact that she suffers from bipolar disorder.
Peggy Fleming - Then
While Team USA is and has been home to some of the best athletes in the world, there's no doubt about the fact that they typically win more golds at the Summer Olympics than at the Winter Olympics. And that's exactly why Peggy Fleming is so famous. When she competed in the ladies' singles events at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, she became the only American athlete to win gold for Team USA that year.
Before her historic win, however, Peggy had already established herself in the figure skating world and won even more medals at the World Championships. She officially retired in 1968, though.
Peggy Fleming - Now
Although some of the famous figure skaters on this list have chosen to fade into the background after retirement, it seems as though Peggy Fleming has wanted to stay as close to the ice as possible. And over the past couple of decades, you may have even heard her voice without realizing it was her. That's because she has served as a figure skating commentator across Winter Olympic Games and World Championships.
However, there's no doubt that Peggy prefers a quieter life now, and when she's not filling her boots with ice skating she's in the studio working on her art pieces.
Dorothy Hamill - Then
When Dorothy Hamill stepped onto the ice rink as an eight-year-old, it was like a light switched on for her. She knew that she was meant to be on the ice, and she then spent every spare moment taking lessons and preparing herself for competitions. In fact, it's been noted that her father spent at least $20,000 in her early figure skating career to pay for everything from lessons to her skating costumes.
It was worth the money, though, as Dorthy Hamill later won both Olympic and World Championship medals. Alongside this, she's also credited for creating a brand-new skating move called the "Hamill Camel."
Dorothy Hamill - Now
Since retiring from competitive figure skating in 1976, Dorothy has tried to stay in the limelight. She managed to score a leading role in Broadway on Ice, but it soon became clear that she needed to hang up her ice skates and focus on something else instead. And while she thought that her second chance would come in the form of the popular TV show Dancing With the Stars, Dorothy sadly suffered an injury after just two episodes.
Since then, she's tried her hand at other celebrity-based competitions - like the cooking show Chopped - but now largely keeps herself to herself. She still has money coming in from her two autobiographies, though.
Katerina Witt - Then
Hailing from Germany, Katerina Witt made her mark in the world of international figure skating from an early age. In fact, she attended a school in her home country specifically for athletically talented children. Because of this, it wasn't long before she was skating competitively and winning over judges and fans with her impeccable talent and her glamorous appearance on the ice. But while some figure skaters prefer to compete as a duo, Katerina was a solo artist through and through.
In 1988, she even became the first woman in over five decades to win back-to-back gold medals in the singles competition at the Winter Olympics. At that moment, she firmly solidified her place in the history books.
Katerina Witt - Now
Although Katerina Witt decided to retire from competitive figure skating in 1988, it seems as though she just couldn't stay away. In 1994, she made a remarkable comeback when she decided to enter the rink once more at the Winter Olympics. Her routine went down a storm with her fans, and many were eager to see what she would do next. And while she continued to skate for a little while longer, she officially retired again in 2008.
Since then, the former figure skater has chosen to test her chances in the entertainment world. She has not only appeared in countless magazines, but she has also appeared in countless television shows and movies in both Germany and the U.S.
Sasha Cohen - Then
When she was younger, Sasha Cohen never imagined that she would be a competitive figure skater. Her first foray into the sporting world was as a gymnast, but she decided to make the switch from the gym to the ice when she was seven. And while it took her a few years to get the grips of figure skating, it wasn't long before she was dominating junior competitions. This worked in her favor later down the line when she was finally able to compete as an adult.
In fact, this famous figure skater retired with a whole host of accolades under her belt - including three World Championship medals, a U.S. Championship medal, and an Olympic silver medal.
Sasha Cohen - Now
After retiring from the sport in 2010, Sasha decided to go back to her legal name of Alexandra and enrol at Columbia University to study political science. While she had her head in the books she also made a couple of appearances in television shows and movies - and it was during this time that she met her former husband, hedge fund manager, Tom May. Sadly, their marriage ended in divorce.
However, Sasha has since remarried equity partner Geoffrey Lieberthal, and has a steady job working for Morgan Stanley. Since getting hitched, the couple has also welcomed two children into the world.
Sarah Hughes - Then
Sarah Hughes first started figure skating when she was just three years old, and her father, an ice hockey player, encouraged her to head onto the ice. Before too long, she was skating circles around her dad and competing at junior championships. And while she was already building up an impressive reputation for herself in the figure skating world, it was at the 2001 World Championships that she truly shone, taking home a bronze.
Spurred on by her first medal, Sarah jumped two steps ahead of the game just one year later when she won the gold medal in the Winter Olympics. From that moment on, she became a legend.
Sarah Hughes - Now
Despite her Olympic win, Sarah decided to retire from competitive figure skating just one year later - and instead chose to focus on her studies. In 2003, she was accepted to Yale University and graduated six years later with a joint honors in U.S. politics and communities. However, it seems as though that just wasn't enough for the retired figure skater, as she opted to head back to school a few years later.
In fact, she later went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and word on the street is that she's currently studying at Stanford University to chase her dream of a business degree.
Torvill and Dean - Then
Ice skating isn't as popular across the pond as it is in the United States, which is why British folks love Torvill and Dean so much. This figure skating duo - who are called Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean - have made huge waves in the sport over the years. In fact, they are most famous for becoming the highest-scoring competitors of all time when judges awarded them perfect 6.0 scores at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
By the time they retired, Torvill and Dean had racked up a whopping 18 figure skating medals - 16 of which were gold medals. Because of this, they have legendary status.
Torvill and Dean - Now
Although they might not be as famous in the U.S. as they once were, Torvill and Dean are still huge names in the UK figure skating world. In fact, they have streets named after them and even a town square in Nottingham, their home town, named after their iconic Bolero Olympic performance. The skating duo have also been the subject of their very own movie, and they're a constant presence on UK television.
Amazingly, the duo still skate together today alongside their work as the Head Judges on the popular skating show, Dancing on Ice. However, they have confirmed that they will retire in 2025.
Kristi Yamaguchi - Then
Although some figure skaters tend to find their niche in either the singles or the doubles, Kristi Yamaguchi was one of the rare skaters who nailed both fields. But what's even more impressive is the fact that Kristi was actually born with a club foot, and was only encouraged to head out onto the ice as a form of physical therapy to correct the issue. From that moment on, she became a formidable force in skating.
As a singles skater, Yamaguchi is a two-time World Champion and even became the first Asian American to ever take home the gold at a Winter Games. Alongside Rudy Galindo, she also became a national pairs champion twice.
Kristi Yamaguchi - Now
Since retiring from competitive figure skating in 1992, Kristi Yamaguchi has certainly kept herself busy - and she's also managed to keep herself in the limelight. In fact, she won fans over when she appeared on the sixth season of Dancing With the Stars and took home the glitterball. As if that wasn't enough, the former figure skater has also added 'New York Times Best Selling Author' to her resume, thanks to her children's books.
When she's not working for herself, Kristi does everything she can to help the young children of the world,. and she has been involved in countless philanthropic efforts to improve children's literacy.
Scott Hamilton - Then
Although competitive figure skating can push many skaters to their limits, the rules and regulations that go into these events can also push their talents down - and that's something that Scott Hamilton experienced. After all, his trademark move was backflipping on the ice, but unfortunately, this was an illegal move in almost all of the competitions he found himself in. That didn't stop him from taking home countless medals, though.
Over the course of his professional career, Scott won four U.S. Championship Medals, four World Championship gold medals, and the coveted Winter Olympics gold medal. So, he was kind of a big deal.
Scott Hamilton - Now
Scott Hamilton has had to deal with a lot since retiring from figure skating. As well as battling and beating testicular cancer, he has also suffered from numerous brain tumors as a result of an undiagnosed childhood condition. Because of this, he has spent a huge amount of time and energy on philanthropic work that aids cancer research and helps those suffering. Alongside this, Scott has also been a popular face on television.
As well as voicing many cartoon characters in the likes of King of the Hill and Fairly OddParents, he has also been a celebrity contestant on a few different reality shows.
David Pelletier and Jamie Salé - Then
While it's important to give single skaters their dues, many duos have also gone down in skating history - and that's definitely the case with David Pelletier and Jamie Salé. What the public loved most about these two was the fact that they weren't just skating partners - they were also romantically involved. And while their chemistry worked in their favor during national and international competitions, it was during the 2002 Winter Olympics that everyone learned their names.
However, this is largely because they were at the center of a judging scandal that resulted in the firing of numerous judges and officials. In the end, though, they still managed to win the gold medal they went for.
David Pelletier and Jamie Salé - Now
Two years after they won their Olympic gold medal, the couple took their relationship to the next level when they got engaged and married. For the next few years, they continued to skate together and even worked as skating commentators together. Alongside this, they also welcomed a son into the world. But, sadly, things just weren't meant to be for the couple, and they ultimately decided to part ways in 2010.
Since then, David has remarried and found a wife in Russian figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva and Jamie married ice hockey player Craig Simpson - but they have since sadly divorced.
Johnny Weir - Then
Although men certainly have their place in the figure skating world, they rarely get the same kind of attention as women - but that all changed when Johnny Weir came along. But what you might not realize is that he never really intended to be a figure skater. He spent his childhood riding horses and hoped to be an equestrian before he stepped on the ice, and everything changed. Thank goodness he did, as he has countless medals to his name.
Famed for his impressive outfits and his classical skating style, Weir became a figurehead in the skating world. And by the time he officially retired in 2013, he had racked up three U.S. Championship Gold Medals.
Johnny Weir - Now
Despite retiring from skating over two decades ago, Johnny is still a huge name in figure skating. This is all thanks to his commentary work across Winter Olympics, U.S. Championships, and World Championships. This hasn't been the only thing keeping him busy, though, as he has also appeared on television as a fashion commentator and as a reality show contestant. Most notably, he appeared on Dancing With the Stars in 2020.
Alongside this, Johnny has been an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and updated fans in late 2023 that he planned to open up a skating school for up-and-coming competitive skaters in Delaware.
Kitty and Peter Carruthers - Then
Kitty Carruthers and her adopted brother Peter first started to dominate the figure skating scene in the 1970s, and it wasn't long before they were topping the podiums and walking away with all kinds of medals. But it was their second stint at the Winter Olympics in 1984 that they truly made a name for themselves when they were able to bag a silver medal - despite the fact that Kitty was struggling with tendinitis during the prestigious event.
And while they retired from competitive skating that same year, for the next decade or so, they decided to put their time, energy, and ice skating talent into a professional career working with the likes of the Ice Capades.
Kitty and Peter Carruthers - Now
Since leaving the professional circuit behind, siblings Kitty and Peter have gone in two different directions, but skating is still at the heart of everything they do. Peter has used his skills, expertise, and experience to become an ice skating commentator, and Kitty has become a coach for up-and-coming skating stars. For the most part, Peter is more in the limelight than his sister, but it seems as though they like it that way.
As the Carruthers's siblings have both been inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame, we don't think anyone will be forgetting about them anytime soon. So, they have their place in the history books.
Brian Boitano - Then
Brian Boitano is one of two very famous figure skaters called Brian - and it just so happened that Boitano and Orser competed at the same level and at the same times. Because of this, the "Battle of the Brians" became a hot topic during the 1980s and early 1990s, and all eyes were on them to see who would come out on top. And it's fair to say that Boitano did extremely well.
As well as taking home the gold in both the 1986 and 1988 World Championships, Boitano also managed to stand on the top podium at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. It was this gold that truly thrust him into stardom.
Brian Boitano - Now
Although Brian Boitano eventually retired from professional figure skating, that wasn't the last we saw of him. In fact, he has been a fairly regular face on our television screens over the years. Perhaps one of his most famous appearances was in the famous movie Carmen on Ice. In the late 2000s, Brian was also given the chance to be the star of his very own cooking show on the Food Network called What Would Brian Boitano Make?
Since then, he has also made appearances on other popular shows such as Hell's Kitchen, Giada at Home, The Brian Boitano Project, and Top Chef Masters. So, he really seems to have entered his cooking era.
Rudy Galindo - Then
Although Rudy Galindo was an impressive solo figure skater in his own right, he truly shone when he was partnered with Kristi Yamaguchi for pairs competitions. It was during their skates that the world saw just how talented both of them were and how good of a fit they were together. This was proven when they won the World Junior Championships and the U.S. National Championships in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
Rudy continued to shine when the duo decided to part ways, though. And at the 1996 U.S. Championships, he blew everyone away with the eight triple jumps in his routine.
Rudy Galindo - Now
Before he retired, Rudy Galindo became the first openly gay skating champion in the U.S, and since then he's been extremely open about his HIV-positive diagnosis. However, he hasn't let that stop him from maintaining his legendary status within the figure skating world. He now uses his expertise and his knowledge to teach the next generation of figure skaters, and he's the coach of Solar4America Ice at the rink he used to train at himself.
Galindo has had some pretty impressive students, too, including the daughter of his former pairs partner, Kristi Yamaguchi. And, thankfully for the figure skating world, he doesn't show any signs of stopping anytime soon.
Surya Bonaly - Then
French figure skater Surya Bonaly certainly made a mark on the ice during her career. After being adopted when she was just a baby, she was then raised in the French countryside and embraced as many hobbies as she could. But it was figure skating that really stuck, and it wasn't long before she was crushing junior competitions and moving on up to the big leagues. In fact, she bagged nine gold medals at the French Championship.
Surya's major claim to fame, though, was the one-bladed backflip that she performed at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Although this move was illegal, she became the first skater in history to land such a move.
Surya Bonaly - Now
After her Olympics appearance, Surya spent the next few decades touring as a professional figure skater and traveled the world for her sport. However, she decided to retire officially from the sport in 2015 when she had to have surgery to remove the many cysts on her spinal cord. Since then, Surya has found a home in Las Vegas and seems to be living a slightly quieter life than when she was competing.
She hasn't left figure skating behind, though. Surya coaches up-and-coming ice skaters in Las Vegas and is still eager to keep the love of her sport alive and in her life.
Oksana Baiul - Then
Even those who don't follow figure skating will probably recognize the name Oksana Baiul. This legendary figure skater will never be forgotten thanks to her impressive achievements over the years, but it's fair to say that she didn't have the easiest of upbringings. After suffering a huge amount of loss as a child, she decided to put all of her focus into her sport - and this move certainly worked in her favor.
To this day, Oksana is celebrated for the Olympic gold medal that she won when she was just 16 years old. And with the promise of a bright future, the Ukranian moved to the U.S. after her Olympic win.
Oksana Baiul - Now
Although Oksana traveled the U.S. and the rest of the world as a professional figure skater after her Olympic win, it's fair to say that she has faced even more struggles as an adult. She has battled with alcohol addiction for many years and once even entered a rehabilitation facility in order to curb it once and for all. However, her life has certainly improved in recent years, and she seems to be on the up.
Since marrying her manager and welcoming a daughter in 2015, Oksana has found a new form of peace and lives a relatively quiet life in Louisana with her family. She'll always be an icon, though.
Nicole Bobek - Then
With her blonde hair and her elegant skating style, there's no doubt that Nicole Bobek was a joy to watch on the ice. However, her reputation wasn't squeaky clean and rumors began to swirl that she was not only difficult to coach, but that she also had poor training discipline. This didn't stop her from winning medals, though, and she became hugely decorated over the course of her figure skating career.
Most notably, Nicole won the 1995 U.S. National Championship and took home the bronze medal at the 1995 World Championships. Sadly, she struggled with injury during a huge portion of her career.
Nicole Bobek - Now
Both before and after her retirement, Nicole found herself in trouble with the law on numerous occasions. From home invasion to the conspiracy to distribute illicit substances, she escaped jail time but had to face a serious fine and undertake community service. However, she seemed to have a wake-up call in 2010 when she decided to get clean and sober and focus on herself - as well as others suffering from addiction.
Since then, Nicole has continued to skate here and there but also developed a new-found love for trapeze and aerial hoop. As a result, she has toured the country with a few different circuses.
Viktor Petrenko - Then
As Viktor Petrenko was born in the Ukrainian SSR, he had a slightly unusual figure skating career. He started off representing the Soviet Union, but then moved on to represent Ukraine, and then finally to represent the Unified Team. But no matter who he was competing for, Viktor always brought his talent and his passion to the ice. In fact, he bagged himself two Olympic medals over the course of his career.
Alongside this, he also retired with 11 other medals under his belt - including four World Championship medals, and seven European Championship medals. So, it's no wonder that he's considered a legend.
Viktor Petrenko - Now
Although Viktor Petrenko's figure skating career wasn't as impressive as some of the others on this list, there's no doubt about the fact that he's made his mark in other ways. In fact, he's generally considered to be one of the best figure skating coaches of all time - helping the likes of Oksana Baiul and Johnny Weir improve their own respective careers. And he's still coaching young figure skaters today.
Today, Viktor lives in New Jersey with his wife and their daughter, and it seems as though he's incredibly proud of his achievements as both a figure skater and a coach. And so he should be.
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner - Then
As far as ice skating duos go, there were high hopes for Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner. Both of them were extremely talented in their own right, but together, they were a serious force to contend with. They proved this when they became five-time U.S. Championship winners and won the 1979 World Championship. They even qualified for two different Winter Olympic Games, but tragedy struck them both times in the form of injury.
At their first Olympics, the duo came in 5th, and there were high hopes that they would take home the gold four years later. However, injury forced them to pull out before they could win.
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner - Now
Despite rumors of a romance between them, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner were never more than in-sync skating partners. In fact, Randy came out as gay in 2006. And while the skating duo decided to stick with their sport in a professional capacity until 2008, they ultimately decided to retire in 2008 due to further injury and the fact that they were getting older. Since then, they have lived relatively quiet lives.
It's not known what Tai or Randy are up to now or whether they still have figure skating in their lives, but one thing we do know is that the figure skating world won't forget them in a hurry.
Elvis Stojko - Then
The world of figure skating is often defined as elegant and demure, but Elvis Stojko made it his mission to disrupt that narrative when he stepped onto the ice. Inspired by his love of heavy-metal music and rock and roll, he would often wear leather outfits and perform moves that many figure skaters refused to even attempt. As a result, he became the first figure skater in history to successfully land the quadruple-triple combo.
As if that wasn't enough, the Canadian figure skater also became a two-time Olympic silver medalist and seven-time champion in his native country. So, he was definitely a big deal.
Elvis Stojko - Now
Amazingly, Elvis Stojko still skates professionally today - although arguably not on the same level as he once does. He regularly tours the world performing for adoring fans, and it seems as though he hasn't lost his spark for the sport. In fact, Elvis also proves his knowledge as a regular figure skating commentator, and he has previously covered major sporting events for the likes of Yahoo! Sports and CTV/TSN.
It seems as though Elvis does now prefer a slightly quieter life to his rockstar skating days, though. When he's not skating, you'll find him on his 140-acre property near Toronto.