Peggy Fleming facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peggy Fleming
Fleming at a joint Canada–USA event during the 2010 Winter Olympics
Personal information
Country represented	United States
Born	(1948-07-27) July 27, 1948 (age 76) San Jose, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 4 in
Former coach	William Kipp, Carlo Fassi
Skating club	Arctic Blades FSC, Lake Arrowhead Broadmoor Skating Club, Colorado Springs
Retired	1968
Medal record Figure skating: Ladies' singles Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1968 Grenoble Ladies' singles World Championships Gold 1968 Geneva Ladies' singles Gold 1967 Vienna Ladies' singles Gold 1966 Davos Ladies' singles Bronze 1965 Colorado Springs Ladies' singles North American Championships Gold 1967 Montreal Ladies' singles Silver 1965 Rochester Ladies' singles

Peggy Gale Fleming, born on July 27, 1948, is a famous American figure skater who is now retired. She won the gold medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics in ladies' singles. She was the only American to win a gold medal at those Games. Peggy also became a three-time World Champion from 1966 to 1968. After her skating career, she worked as a television commentator for figure skating for over 20 years. This included covering several Winter Olympic Games.

Peggy Fleming's Skating Career

Peggy Fleming was born and grew up in San Jose, California. Her father, Albert Eugene Fleming, was a newspaper journalist and a former U.S. Marine. Peggy started skating when she was nine years old. Her father took her and her three sisters to the ice rink.

Early Challenges and New Coaches

In 1961, when Peggy was twelve, a terrible accident happened. Her coach, William Kipp, died in a plane crash. This crash also killed the entire United States figure skating team. They were on their way to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. After this tragedy, Peggy was coached by Carlo Fassi.

Olympic Gold and Unique Style

Peggy Fleming developed a unique skating style. This helped her achieve amazing success. She won five U.S. titles and three World titles. Her biggest win was the gold medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. A philosopher named Spencer Wertz said her Olympic free skating program was a turning point. He felt it greatly improved the artistic side of competitive skating.

Peggy's mother chose a special color for her Grenoble skating costume: chartreuse. This color is named after a green liqueur made by monks in that region of France. Perhaps this helped Peggy get support from the local French audience. Her performance was almost perfect.

A Special Win for the U.S.

Peggy's gold medal in Grenoble was very important for American athletes and the country. It was the only gold medal the U.S. Olympic team won in the 1968 Winter Olympics. Her win showed that American women's figure skating was strong again. This was especially meaningful after the sad plane crash in 1961.

Elegance and Influence

Figure skating writer Ellyn Kestnbaum noted Peggy's image. Even though she came from a regular family, she looked like a graceful and well-behaved upper-class lady. Peggy's mother made her costumes. They showed a simple and classic elegance. Peggy also used ballet moves in her skating. She had graceful positions and an upright body posture. She often skated to classical music.

Kestnbaum also recognized Peggy's impact. Her fame helped women get more attention in sports. This was important in a world where men's sports were usually more popular. Peggy helped open doors for women in many public areas of life.

Life After the Olympics

After becoming an Olympic champion, Peggy Fleming became a professional skater. She performed in many TV shows, including five of her own specials on NBC. She also toured with famous skating shows like Ice Capades. Peggy even filmed a TV show in the USSR and skated in China.

Since 1981, she has been a skating commentator for ABC Sports. In 1993, a national sports study found that Peggy Fleming was the third most popular athlete in America. She was ranked behind fellow Olympians Mary Lou Retton and Dorothy Hamill.

Peggy Fleming's Personal Life

On June 13, 1970, Peggy Fleming married her high school sweetheart, Greg Jenkins. Greg is a dermatologist and used to be an amateur figure skater. They have two sons, Andy (born in 1977) and Todd (born in 1988). They also have three grandchildren. The family lives in Denver, Colorado.

Health and Advocacy

In 1998, Peggy Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily, the cancer was found very early, and surgery was successful. After her recovery, she became an activist for breast cancer awareness. She encourages everyone to get checked early and not to delay.

Other Ventures and Appearances

Peggy and her husband used to own a winery in California called Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery. They made about 2,000 cases of wine each year. Some of their wines had names like "Choreography" and "Victories Rosé." Profits from the "Victories Rosé" wine went to charities that supported breast cancer research. Their winery closed in 2011.

In 1988, a special all-porcelain doll of Peggy Fleming was made by Franklin Mint Heirloom Porcelain Dolls. In 2007, Peggy appeared in the movie Blades of Glory as a judge. In 2010, a 30-minute documentary was made about Peggy by Art of the Olympians. She is also an artist and has her artwork displayed with the Art of the Olympians.

In 2010, Peggy Fleming was briefly hospitalized after a traffic accident. This happened while she was riding in U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Another former Olympian, Vonetta Flowers, was also injured.

Performance Highlights

Awards and Honors

• In 1967, Peggy Fleming was named Athlete of the Year by ABC's Wide World of Sports.
• In 2003, she received the "Lombardi Award of Excellence." This award honors Coach Vince Lombardi's legacy. It is given each year to someone who shows the same spirit as the coach.

See also

In Spanish: Peggy Fleming para niños

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards