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History
Figure skating can trace its origins to Jackson Haines, an American who is
credited with adding elements of ballet and music to the sport. A master of
ballet, Haines found little American interest in his art after the Civil War
and moved to Vienna in 1863, and began teaching ballet movements to skaters
and setting their figures to music. Haines also was the first to construct
a one-piece boot and blade, allowing greater freedom of movement. Still, it
was not until the first decade of the 20th century that the "international"
style was accepted in the United States. One of those influenced by Haines
was Louis Rubenstein, one of the first to recognize the need for organization
in a sport that had largely existed as an informal collection of skating clubs.
In the late 1880s, Rubenstein was the force behind the formation of the Amateur
Skating Association of Canada, now known as the Canadian Figure Skating Association,
as well as the National Amateur Skating Association of the United States and
the International Skating Union of America, both of which were forerunners
to the United States Figure Skating Association. While Rubenstein laid the
groundwork for a future governing body, it was George H. Browne and Irving
Brokaw of Cambridge, Mass., who staged the first U.S. championship in the
new international style. File Photo Figure skating did not become widely popular
in the United States until 13-year-old Sonja Henie (pictured) of Norway started
a streak of 10 consecutive world championships in 1927 and won three Olympic
gold medals. Henie turned professional in the United States in 1936 and made
a number of successful films, which often featured her skating. She is credited
with making figure skating the most popular of Winter Olympic events.