Elaine Zayak

Elaine Zayak was considered a strong possibility to become the next great American figure skater after winning the 1979 World Junior title. In 1981 she won the US Championship and placed second at the World Championship, and she seemed on her way. In 1982, after stumbling to third at the Nationals, she won the World Championship, but after that her career stalled a bit. Zayak was one of the first truly great female jumpers, often landing multiple triple jumps in a routine. Because of this, in 1982 the ISU passed what many call the Zayak Rule, stating that a skater may not repeat a triple jump more than twice in a routine, and the later jump must be done in a combination or sequence. Zayak was second at the 1983 US Championship, skipping the Worlds that year due to injury. In 1984, she placed third at both the US and World Championships, but a horrible compulsory performance and a stumble in the short program kept her off the podium at the Sarajevo Olympics.

Zayak then turned professional, but skated for only a few years, her routines often lackluster, and she then drifted away from the sport. But when professionals were allowed to compete at the 1994 Winter Olympics, she sought reinstatement and competed at the 1994 US Championships, finishing fourth, but wowing the crowd with her ability to still land triple jumps. Zayak then became a skating coach, working at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey.