Olympic Figure Skaters Who Look Totally Different Today

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The return of the Olympics always brings renewed excitement around the athletes who have spent the last four years perfecting their craft on the world's biggest stage. Each Summer Olympics, stars like Simone Biles, who has had a complete transformation, capture global attention with record-breaking performances. With the Winter Olympics beginning in February 2026 and U.S. figure skating icons Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir competing on the fourth season of Peacock's hit reality game show "The Traitors," interest in the sports and their athletes is naturally surging once again. From skiing to bobsledding, there are countless disciplines that capture the attention of millions of viewers every four years, but figure skating continues to stand out for its blend of athleticism and artistry. 

Often referred to as one of the most demanding sports and ranking in the top 20 toughest sports overall, per ESPN, figure skating requires years and years of elite and intense training, discipline, physical precision, and mental resilience. With most figure skaters retiring by their mid-20s, fans often associate them with their most youthful images and competition looks during their Olympic prime, typically spanning their early teenage years through their early 20s. 

As fans await the upcoming Winter Olympics and the newest figure skaters to proudly represent the U.S., longtime audiences are also likely thinking of the athletes who once defined earlier Olympic eras. While most remain recognizable from their competitive years, time, career changes, and evolving public roles naturally shape how different the skaters look today. From Peggy Fleming to Michelle Kwan, side-by-side images from their peak Olympic moments and recent public appearances offer a glimpse into just how different they look today.

Peggy Fleming shocked the world at the age of 19 in the 1968 Winter Olympics as the only American gold medalist. Fleming's ice skating career was full of poise, elegance, and precision. Decades later, Fleming carries that same graceful presence and warm smile. Enjoying retirement life in Colorado with her husband, Fleming's love for the sport is still going strong as she keeps connected to the sport in every way she can. You'll see her celebrating up-and-coming skaters on her Instagram, reconnecting with fellow Olympics skaters, and making special appearances at major figure skating events. 

Not only was Dorothy Hamill's 1976 Winter Olympics performance gold-medal worthy, but her signature chic wedge cut also became a defining pop culture moment of the era. Half a century later, Hamill's heart has never left the rink, as she serves as a board member of Ice Dance International (IDI), a new form of ice performance. While she looks completely different, it's clear she's still a fan of shorter hairstyles. Her iconic wedge cut defined her competitive figure skating days, but she seems to maintain a modern take on the wedge cut today.

Kristi Yamaguchi has come a long way since her gold medal win at the 1992 Winter Olympics. While fans may remember her fresh-faced Olympic years, she shows off a more refined image now that reflects her evolving career. Yamaguchi reached a new generation of fans after winning the sixth season of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2008 and is also an active philanthropist. In a December 2025 Instagram post, she reflected on her time as an Olympian: "Representing Team USA as an Olympian is one of my greatest honors — and today, I celebrate that journey while continuing to support the next generation."

Many Olympians look quite different today, but no one has had a 180-degree career transition quite like two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan. Not only has she swapped her updos for free-flowing locks, but Kwan also made a career change into international politics as Condoleezza Rice appointed her as the American public diplomacy envoy in 2006. Simultaneously, she earned a master's degree from Tufts University in 2011. In 2022, she became the U.S. ambassador to Belize and served until early 2025.  After welcoming her second child in late 2025, Kwan is enjoying her time being a mom. 

Even if you were too young to watch her become a world champion at the 1998 Winter Olympics, you'll recognize Tara Lipinski from "The Traitors," where she co-stars with Lisa Rinna, whose side-by-side photos make plastic surgery quite obvious. Today, she's given up her slicked-back competition bun and curtain bangs for loose waves and red-carpet-ready glam. The skater famous for being the youngest figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal, has also spent time building a dynamic career as a sports analyst and commentator for NBC. She became a mom as she welcomed her daughter Georgie in 2023.

2002 Olympics gold medalist Sarah Hughes' unconventional career path stands out as yet another notable transition of a former figure skater. After her Olympic win, Hughes, who looks completely different today from her days on the rink with a more composed, professional presence, attended Yale University. She then pursued law school at the University of Pennsylvania, and a few years later, the 2002 gold medalist tackled two master's programs at Stanford University. Alongside her work in law and education, she serves as a board member of the Women's Sports Foundation. In 2025, she started the podcast "Good as Gold."

Nancy Kerrigan is recognizable for her Olympic legacy, even though now she serves red-carpet glam rather than rink-ready looks. She's also known for her resilience following a highly publicized 1994 attack. Despite her injury from the attack, Kerrigan went on to win a silver medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics. Since then, Kerrigan became a mom to three children, competed on "Dancing with the Stars," and published children's book "Stronger Than She Thinks" about skating. She remains deeply connected to figure skating and continues to perform (non-competitively) on ice.

Sasha Cohen looks more grounded today, but her expressive eyes and smile have remained the same. A favorite figure skater among fans, the 2006 Olympic medalist was best known for her fluid movement and graceful lines in her prime. Since retiring from the rink, Cohen has remained in the Olympic community through media work, including a podcast with the United States Olympic Committee. She also became a senior associate at Morgan Stanley. In 2018, Cohen also wrote an insightful opinion piece, "An Olympian's Guide to Retiring at 25," for The New York Times. 

A few years after Gracie Gold's bronze medal win at the 2014 Olympics, the skater took an indefinite break from competitive skating to prioritize the things that mattered most: her mental health and overall well-being. Along that journey, Gold, who still has that same warm glow to her smile that she had when she made her debut on the ice, was able to return to competitive skating with a much healthier mindset by 2020, she released a candid memoir, "Outofshapeworthlessloser," in which she explores difficult subjects, such as the pressures of professional sports, eating disorders, mental health, and sexual assault. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Another 2014 Olympics medalist, Ashley Wagner looks completely different today. She's given up her competition-ready makeup and bun for a more casual and natural look. Wagner remains involved in figure skating as a sports commentator for NBC and Peacock. The skater also has quite the following on Instagram and hosts a lighthearted figure skating podcast, "The Runthrough," with two other figure skaters. She prioritizes mental health awareness so much that she works as a mental performance associate for Persistence Psych, a company focused on helping athletes strengthen their mindset for better performance.