2009 ends the first decade of the 21st century. This list looks back at the best and the worst events of those ten years.
The 2002 Olympic Figure Skating Scandal
Photo by Clive Brunskill - Getty Images
There are now two sets of 2002 Olympic pair skating champions due to the controversy that surrounded the pair skating event at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games...
Sarah Hughes - 2002 Olympic Figure Skating Champion
Photo by John Gichigi - Getty Images
2002 Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Sarah Hughes, was not expected to win the gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. She was in fourth place after the short program, but in the freeskate, she landed seven triple jumps. The other competitors made mistakes, and Hughes won gold.
Farewell to the "Perfect 6.0"
Photo by Steve Powell - Getty Images
The 6.0 figure skating judging system was the judging system used at most figure skating competitions. That judging system has been replaced with a new ISU figure skating judging system.
The ISU Figure Skating Judging System Replaced the 6.0 Judging System
Photo by Graham Chadwick - Getty Images
The ISU Figure Skating Judging System is the new figure judging system which was implemented in 2004. The new kind of scoring replaced the old 6.0 figure skating judging system and was created in response to the 2002 Olympic figure skating scandal. The idea was to attempt to make figure skating competitions more objective and fair.
The United States Wins the First Olympic Medal in Ice Dancing in Thirty Years
Photo by Elsa/Staff - Getty Images
In 1976, ice dancing was first introduced in the Olympics. Americans Colleen O'Connor and Jim Millns won a bronze medal in ice dancing at that Olympics. No other American skaters have won an Olympic medal in ice dancing until Belbin and Agosto won the silver medal in 2006.
First Throw Triple Axel
Photo by Clive Rose - Getty Images
Rena Inoue and John Baldwin are the first and only figure skating pair team to land a throw triple axel. They performed this historical move at the 2006 Olympics.
Skating Legend Michelle Kwan Named First Public Diplomacy Envoy for the U.S.
Photo Courtesy Champions On Ice
Michelle Kwan was appointed as a public diplomacy ambassador for the United States in 2006. In this position, the figure skating legend represented American values and will did much traveling.
Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent Land the First Quad Throw Salchow
Photo by Patrick Kovarik - Getty Images
On November 17, 2007, U.S. pair skaters, Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent landed the first quadruple throw salchow at a figure skating competition.
Horrible Accident - Australia's Ice Skating Team
Sean Carlow Saved His Mother's Life - Photo by Matthew Stockman - Getty Images
On March 28, 2007, two Australian figure skating officials and one young prominent Austraian figure skater were killed in a tragic accident. Other influential people in the Australian figure skating community were injured.
Figure Skating Champion Christopher Bowman Dies
Photo by Chris Cole - Getty Images
After many years troubled with drugs and alcohol, two-time U.S. men's figure skating champion, Christopher Bowman, was found dead in a motel room in Los Angeles on January 10, 2008. He was forty years old at the time of his death. Sources say he weighed over three hundred pounds when he died. Some say that he died of a drug overdose that could have been suicide. Others say he just died in his sleep.
2008's American Girl of the Year Was a Figure Skater Named Mia St. Clair
Photo Courtesy Stephanie Spanos, Public Relations, American Girl Company
American Girl dolls have been loved and played with by little girls for many years. The dolls teach girls about American history and life's values. Each year, a modern day limited edition doll is introduced. 2008's doll was a figure skater named Mia St. Clair.
Figure Skating Champion Nicole Bobek Is Arrested
Public Domain Photo
Nicole Bobek, who was once an ice skating star, is now an alleged criminal. It is said she could face up to ten years in prison.
