Carol Heiss

Carol Heiss is a two-time Olympic medalist and five-time world champion in figure skating. Born in New York City, Heiss first gained national prominence after winning the 1951 U.S. novice ladies Figure Skating title at age 11. She placed second in three straight national championships before making the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team. At the Olympic Winter Games Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956, Heiss won the silver medal, sparking one of the most dominant runs in Figure Skating history. She would win five straight world championships between 1956-60 and become the first woman to land a double axel jump. A favorite at the Squaw Valley 1960 Games, Heiss captured the gold medal and was ranked first by all nine judges. After her competitive skating career, Heiss starred in the 1961 film, “Snow White and the Three Stooges.” She coached a number of successful figure skaters, including Timothy Goebel, Tonia Kwiatkowski and Miki Ando, and was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.