Peggy Fleming
Encyclopedia
Peggy Gail Fleming (born July 27, 1948) is an American
figure skater
. She is the 1968 Olympic Champion
in Ladies' singles and a three-time World Champion
(1966–1968). Fleming has been a television commentator on figure skating for over 20 years, including several Winter Olympic Games
.
, the daughter of Doris Elizabeth (née Deal) and Albert Eugene Fleming, a newspaper journalist. She began skating at age nine when her family moved to Cleveland
and soon began skating in earnest on the advice of her father. In 1961, when Fleming was twelve years old, her coach William Kipp was killed in the crash of Sabena Flight 548
along with the rest of the United States figure skating team while on route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships
. Fleming was subsequently coached by Carlo Fassi
. Her unusual style led to five U.S. titles, three World titles and the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics
in Grenoble
, France
. Her award in Grenoble was singularly important for the American athletes and the nation as a whole, for this was the only gold medal that the U.S. Olympic team won in the 1968 Winter Games. It signaled a return to American dominance in the sport of women's figure skating following the unprecedented tragedy of the 1961 plane crash.
Within six months, she starred in the first of five television specials. For several years she toured the U.S. as a special guest star in the Ice Follies
ice show, cheered on by huge crowds of admirers at certain large cities along the show's tour route. One of the memorable highlights during her ice shows was a solo skate in blue light to the music of "Ave Maria." Peggy Fleming has skated for four U.S. presidents and was a featured performer at the 1986 rededication of the Statue of Liberty
. She has been a commentator on figure skating for ABC Sports
for over 20 years, as well as a spokesperson for the National Osteoporosis
Foundation.
In 1970, she married dermatologist Dr. Greg Jenkins (who as a young man had competed as an ice dancer). They live in the San Francisco Bay Area
. They have two sons, Andrew and Todd (born 1977 and 1988) and three grandsons.
In 1993, the Associated Press
released results of a national sports study. Fleming was ranked as the 3rd most popular athlete in America, behind fellow Olympians
Mary Lou Retton
and Dorothy Hamill
.
Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer
in 1998. The cancer was detected in its early stages, and surgery was successful. She became a breast cancer activist who recommends not procrastinating and advocates for early detection.
Fleming and her husband also own and operate Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery in California. The winery produces close to 2,000 cases of wine a year with such brands as "Choreography Cabernet" and "San Francisco Bay Syrah Rosé." Profits from the "Victories Rosé" go towards charities that support research towards breast cancer.
In 2007, she appeared in the movie Blades of Glory
as a judge.
Along with former Olympian Vonetta Flowers
, Fleming was injured and briefly hospitalized after a traffic accident while riding in US Vice President
Joe Biden
's motorcade at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010.
In 2011 Fleming became spokesperson for the Robitussin® Last Names Giveaway because her last name sounds like one of the cold and flu symptoms Robitussin® treats per the rules of the contest.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. She is the 1968 Olympic Champion
Figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics
The figure skating 1968 Winter Olympics results in Grenoble, France. Ice Dance was a demonstration event and was won by the team of Diane Towler and Bernard Ford of Great Britain.-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Josef DědičAssistant Referee:...
in Ladies' singles and a three-time World Champion
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
(1966–1968). Fleming has been a television commentator on figure skating for over 20 years, including several Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
.
Life and career
Fleming was born in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, the daughter of Doris Elizabeth (née Deal) and Albert Eugene Fleming, a newspaper journalist. She began skating at age nine when her family moved to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and soon began skating in earnest on the advice of her father. In 1961, when Fleming was twelve years old, her coach William Kipp was killed in the crash of Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548, registration OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707 aircraft that crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States Figure Skating team on its way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.The flight, which...
along with the rest of the United States figure skating team while on route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
. Fleming was subsequently coached by Carlo Fassi
Carlo Fassi
Carlo Fassi was a well-known Italian figure skater and international coach whose students included several World and Olympic champions.-Career:Fassi was born in Milan....
. Her unusual style led to five U.S. titles, three World titles and the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
in Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Her award in Grenoble was singularly important for the American athletes and the nation as a whole, for this was the only gold medal that the U.S. Olympic team won in the 1968 Winter Games. It signaled a return to American dominance in the sport of women's figure skating following the unprecedented tragedy of the 1961 plane crash.
Within six months, she starred in the first of five television specials. For several years she toured the U.S. as a special guest star in the Ice Follies
Ice Follies
Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies was a touring ice show featuring elaborate production numbers, similar in concept to Ice Capades. It was founded in 1937 by Eddie Shipstad, Roy Shipstad, and Oscar Johnson, who also skated in the show. In later years, Olympic skaters such as Donald Jackson, Barbara...
ice show, cheered on by huge crowds of admirers at certain large cities along the show's tour route. One of the memorable highlights during her ice shows was a solo skate in blue light to the music of "Ave Maria." Peggy Fleming has skated for four U.S. presidents and was a featured performer at the 1986 rededication of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
. She has been a commentator on figure skating for ABC Sports
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
for over 20 years, as well as a spokesperson for the National Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
Foundation.
In 1970, she married dermatologist Dr. Greg Jenkins (who as a young man had competed as an ice dancer). They live in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. They have two sons, Andrew and Todd (born 1977 and 1988) and three grandsons.
In 1993, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
released results of a national sports study. Fleming was ranked as the 3rd most popular athlete in America, behind fellow Olympians
Olympians
Olympians may refer to any of the following:*The Olympians of Ancient Greek mythology*Those who have competed in the Olympic Games*Citizens of the ancient Greek city-state of Olympia*Citizens of Olympia, Washington*The Olympians of Marvel Comics...
Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton is an American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist. She was the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the Olympic all-around title, after 14 Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.-Personal life:Retton was born in Fairmont, West...
and Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...
.
Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1998. The cancer was detected in its early stages, and surgery was successful. She became a breast cancer activist who recommends not procrastinating and advocates for early detection.
Fleming and her husband also own and operate Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery in California. The winery produces close to 2,000 cases of wine a year with such brands as "Choreography Cabernet" and "San Francisco Bay Syrah Rosé." Profits from the "Victories Rosé" go towards charities that support research towards breast cancer.
In 2007, she appeared in the movie Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films...
as a judge.
Along with former Olympian Vonetta Flowers
Vonetta Flowers
Vonetta Flowers is an American bobsledder and athlete. Flowers was a star sprinter and long jumper at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and originally aspired to make the U.S. Summer Olympic Team...
, Fleming was injured and briefly hospitalized after a traffic accident while riding in US Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
's motorcade at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010.
In 2011 Fleming became spokesperson for the Robitussin® Last Names Giveaway because her last name sounds like one of the cold and flu symptoms Robitussin® treats per the rules of the contest.
Results
| Event | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
6th | 1st | |||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
7th | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| North American Championships North American Figure Skating Championships The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an... |
2nd | 1st | |||||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
2nd N. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Awards and honors
- ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year, 1967
Tributes
- On February 22, 2011, Trey AnastasioTrey AnastasioTrey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
Band performed a song about Peggy Fleming titled Peggy.
External links
- PeggyFleming.net - Official website
- Peggy Fleming's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery