Peggy Fleming

Olympic medal record
Figure skating
Representing the USA

Peggy Fleming
Peggy Fleming
Born	July 27, 1948 (age 76)
Height	5 ft 4 in (162 cm)
Figure skating career
Country	USA
Retired	1968
Medal record
Representing the USA
Ladies' figure skating
Olympic Games
World Championships
North American Championships

Peggy Gail Fleming^[2] (born July 27, 1948) is an American figure skater. She is the 1968 Olympic Champion in Ladies' singles and a three-time World Champion (1966–1968). Fleming has been a television commentator on figure skating for over 20 years, including several Winter Olympic Games.

Life and career

Fleming was born in San Jose, California, the daughter of Doris Elizabeth (née Deal) and Albert Eugene Fleming, a newspaper journalist.^[2] She began skating at age nine^[3] when her family moved to Cleveland and soon began skating in earnest on the advice of her father. In 1961, when Fleming was twelve years old, her coach William Kipp was killed in the crash of Sabena Flight 548 along with the rest of the United States figure skating team while on route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. Fleming was subsequently coached by Carlo Fassi. Her unusual style led to five U.S. titles, three World titles and the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. Her award in Grenoble was singularly important for the American athletes and the nation as a whole, for this was the only gold medal that the U.S. Olympic team won in the 1968 Winter Games. It signaled a return to American dominance in the sport of women's figure skating following the unprecedented tragedy of the 1961 plane crash.

Within six months, she starred in the first of five television specials. For several years she toured the U.S. as a special guest star in the Ice Follies ice show, cheered on by huge crowds of admirers at certain large cities along the show's tour route. One of the memorable highlights during her ice shows was a solo skate in blue light to the music of "Ave Maria." Peggy Fleming has skated for four U.S. presidents and was a featured performer at the 1986 rededication of the Statue of Liberty. She has been a commentator on figure skating for ABC Sports for over 20 years, as well as a spokesperson for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

In 1970, she married dermatologist Dr. Greg Jenkins (who as a young man had competed as an ice dancer). They live in the San Francisco Bay Area. They have two sons, Andrew and Todd (born 1977 and 1988) and three grandsons.

In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a national sports study.^[4] Fleming was ranked as the 3rd most popular athlete in America, behind fellow Olympians Mary Lou Retton and Dorothy Hamill.^[5]

Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. The cancer was detected in its early stages, and surgery was successful. She became a breast cancer activist who recommends not procrastinating and advocates for early detection.^[6]

Fleming and her husband also own and operate Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery in California. The winery produces close to 2,000 cases of wine a year with such brands as "Choreography Cabernet" and "San Francisco Bay Syrah Rosé."^[7] Profits from the "Victories Rosé" go towards charities that support research towards breast cancer.^[7]

In 2007, she appeared in the movie Blades of Glory as a judge.

Along with former Olympian Vonetta Flowers, Fleming was injured and briefly hospitalized after a traffic accident while riding in US Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010.^[8]

In 2011 Fleming became spokesperson for the Robitussin® Last Names Giveaway because her last name sounds like one of the cold and flu symptoms Robitussin® treats per the rules of the contest. ^[9]