8 Olympic Figure Skaters You Were Obsessed With As A Kid, Then And Now

8 Olympic Figure Skaters You Were Obsessed With As A Kid, Then And Now
Gold medalist Tara Lipinski, right and silver medalist Michelle Kwan display their medals after the victory ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne on Saturday, March 22, 1997. The 14-year-old Lipinski is the youngest world champion ever. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Gold medalist Tara Lipinski, right and silver medalist Michelle Kwan display their medals after the victory ceremony at the World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne on Saturday, March 22, 1997. The 14-year-old Lipinski is the youngest world champion ever. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Between the artistry, the thrill of watching fearsome athletes hurl themselves into epic jumps, and the costumes (oh, the costumes!) it's no wonder figure skating has made many a fangirl.

On the eve of a new Olympic Games, one that's already seen its share of skating-related drama here in the U.S., we're taking a moment to reflect on the beloved champs of our youth. These are the ladies who made it all look so easy that we developed a twisted sense of our own skills and ate it, many a time, at the local rink trying moves we had no business trying. (Unfortunately, as we soon learned, most of us cannot execute a perfect double axel and triple toe loop.)

Here are eight figure skaters from the Olympics past that were true stars -- girls and women we loved for their strength, their guts and their showmanship -- and where they are today. (Otherwise known as a trip back to a time when Olympians didn't weirdly cover their skates with sheer hose -- a look ESPN says is thankfully fading away.)

Peggy Fleming: Then

8 Figure Skating Stars We LOVED, Then And Now

Before You Go

Margo Oberg

21 Photos That Showcase Women's Athleticism

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