24 Olympic Moments That Defined the Sport of Figure Skating

Olympic storylines tend to center on young up-and-comers, but the longtime skaters capping their careers often deliver the most emotional moments of the Games. After barely missing the podium at the 2014 Olympics, Javier Fernández upped his game over the next four years, even beating training mate Yuzuru Hanyu at the World Championships twice. In 2018, what was sure to be his last Olympics, Fernández earned bronze, becoming the first Spanish skater to win an Olympic medal. In retirement, Fernández has continued to break new ground for figure skating in Spain, launching an academy in Madrid in 2020.

Watch Fernández's bronze-medal-winning free skate here.