Easily recognizable for the pixie haircut that is her trademark, Dorothy Hamill created one of the first true media frenzies surrounding a figure skater. Hamill reigned as a National, World, and Olympic Champion in the 1970s and helped develop the popularity of professional ice skating shows. During the 1976 Olympics, girls all over the world copied her hairstyle, which led to Hamill becoming a spokesperson for hair care products.

Born in Riverside, Connecticut, to Chalmers and Carol Hamill, Dorothy became interested in skating at the age of eight. She began taking lessons with former Czech champion, Otto Gold, in 1965. Almost immediately, the Hamill family decided that their talented daughter should train seriously, with the idea of competing at the national level. Dorothy passed her first Preliminary Test to compete in 1965. By 1967 she had switched coaches to train with Swiss coach, Gustav Lussi. She later studied...