Linda Fratianne

Linda Fratianne (born August 2, 1960) was an American Olympic figure skater, who won four consecutive U.S. Championships (1977-1980). Throughout her career, she was coached by Frank Carroll, who later became the long-time coach of Michelle Kwan. At the World Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo, Japan in 1977, she won her first world title by upsetting the favorite going into the Champinionship: East Germany's Anett Poetzsch.

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August 2 - 1960 - American - Figure skater - 1977 - 1980 - Frank Carroll - Michelle Kwan - World Figure Skating Championship - Tokyo - Japan

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In 1979, she was able to regain her world title, which she had lost to Poetzsch in 1978 in Ottawa, Canada. At the 1980 Winter Olympics, Fratianne placed third in the compulsory figures yet she was flawless in the short and free programs. Despite the mistake-filled short program and less-than-inspiring free skate by Poetzsch, however, the judges placed Fratianne second, prompting accusations of unfair judging by the Eastern-bloc judges.

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1979 - 1978 - Ottawa - Canada - 1980 Winter Olympics

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After the 1980 season, Fratianne turned professional and enjoyed a long career performing as the lead skater of Disney on Ice and other touring ice shows. She currently coaches in Sun Valley, Idaho.

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Disney on Ice - Sun Valley, Idaho

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Fratianne was particularly known for her ability to easily and beautifully complete difficult triple jumps, and she became the first female skater to land two different types of triple jumps (toe loop and salchow) in her free skating programs in 1976 at the U.S. National Championships. Her strong free skating technique complemented her elegant style, which made her the best overall American skater of the period.

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Toe loop - Salchow - 1976 - U.S. National Championships

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While Fratianne was the first female skater to consistently complete well-executed triple jumps, she is perhaps better remembered for setting the fashion for female skaters to wear costumes dripping with beads, sequins, and chiffon, although she was criticized at the time for dressing more like a Las Vegas showgirl than an athlete.

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Bead - Sequin - Chiffon - Showgirl

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