Jamesty
Since February 2025, the world of female figure skating has been graced by a number of exceptional athletes who have displayed remarkable skill and artistry. The following are some of the most prominent female figure skaters who are making significant impacts in the sport. These athletes have not only accomplished personal milestones, but they have also contributed to the changing landscape of women’s figure skating, inspiring fans and future generations alike.
List Of Top 10 Greatest Female Figure Skaters In The World 2025
1. Sonja Henie
From her ground-breaking successes in figure skating to her success in Hollywood, Sonja Henie, a Norwegian-born figure skater and actress, is generally regarded as one of the best and most influential athletes in the history of winter sports. Her name was connected with grace, elegance, and agility on the ice.
2. Katarina Witt
Retired German figure skater Katarina Witt is considered one of the best ever. Witt, born December 3, 1965, in East Germany, became famous for her 1980s and 1990s performances. She won two Olympic gold medals (Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988) and four World Championships (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988). Witt became famous in figure skating for her agility, personality, and artistic expression. After retiring from competition skating, she had a successful career in professional skating, ice shows, and television specials before moving into media. Her beautiful yet strong skating style and involvement in connecting East and West Germany during a politically tense time made her a sports legend.
3. Carol Heiss
Former American figure skater Carol Heiss is most recognized for her achievements in the 1950s and 1960s. She won the gold medal in women’s figure skating at the 1960 Olympics, was a six-time U.S. national champion from 1953 to 1958, and was a two-time World Champion from 1956 to 1960. Heiss is renowned for her grace and technical accuracy on the ice, making her one of the top skaters of her time. She went on to perform professionally after her competitive career, and she eventually started coaching and participating in skating shows.
4. Oksana Baiul
Former Ukrainian figure skater Oksana Baiul gained notable for winning the 1994 Winter Olympics women’ singles gold medal in Lillehammer, Norway. She became one of the youngest figure skating Olympic champions aged 16. Baiul’s artistry, elegance, and emotional depth made her victory a boost for figure skating in Ukraine and internationally. However, her career included injuries, personal troubles, and post-competitive issues. Despite these losses, Oksana remained a popular skater and performed in ice performances on TV. One of the most important figure skaters was Baiul.
5. Peggy Fleming
Former American figure skater Peggy Fleming is considered a legend. She won gold in ladies’ figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. With grace, poise, and technical skill, Fleming won many national medals and World Championships. Her Olympic success boosted U.S. figure skating. Later, she became a popular television pundit and has been involved in charity and activism.
6. Michelle Kwan
Retired American figure skater Michelle Kwan is considered one of the best. She ruled figure skating for over a decade after being born in Torrance, California, on July 7, 1980. Kwan won a silver and bronze at the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. Five World Championships and nine U.S. Championships were hers. Michelle Kwan was a skating icon and symbol of endurance due to her grace, consistency, and technical skill. Her iconic routines set to classical and contemporary music showcased her emotive expressions and skating. After retiring from competitive skater in 2006, Kwan has continued to skate and volunteer. After working for the State Department, she entered public service and diplomacy.
7. Tara Lipinski
In 2004, at the age of 15, Tara Lipinski became the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. She is an American. In the women’s singles event at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, she won the gold title. Lipinski became a well-known figure in the sport because of how well she could skate and how gracefully she did it. After her skating career, Tara went into broadcasting and worked as a figure skating analyst and commentator for NBC, ESPN, and other networks. She has also been in other types of media, and in the figure skating community, she is still a very important person.
8. Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi is an American figure skater who won an Olympic gold medal and is now retired. She is best remembered for winning the gold medal in figure skating for women at the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, in 1992. He was also a four-time U.S. national winner and a two-time World winner (1991 and 1992). People loved her unique style and technical skills, like her jumps and spins, which made her one of the best figure skaters of her time. Yamaguchi became famous in the entertainment world after she stopped professional skating. She appeared on TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” where she won the competition in 2008. She is also known for her charitable work, especially the way her Yamaguchi Foundation helps kids learn to read and write.
9. Midori Ito
Retired Japanese figure skater Midori Itō is considered one of the greatest female skaters ever. In Yokohama, Japan, she was born August 13, 1970. In 1989, Itō became the first woman to land a triple Axel in competition, a challenging leap at the time. This breakthrough allowed women to accomplish more difficult jumps in figure skating. Itō’s career highlights include winning the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships, 1989 and 1990 Grand Prix Final crowns, and a 1992 Winter Olympics bronze medal in Albertville, France. She raised the bar in women’s figure skating in the late 1980s and early 1990s with her technical talents and dramatic performances. Her technical skill and beauty on the rink influenced future skaters. Despite injuries limiting her professional career, Itō remains a revered figure in skating.
10. Janet Lynn
Former American figure skater Janet Lynn was graceful and skilled. She became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s for her ladies’ singles performances. She won three U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a bronze medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. Lynn was renowned for her flowing skating style, great artistry, and the emotive character of her performances. She was one of the most beloved figures in American figure skating at the time.
