Elvis Stojko Biography

1972-

Canadian figure skater

During the 1990s Canadian skater Elvis Stojko (pronounced STOY-ko) revolutionized the field of men's figure skating with his athletic prowess. In 1991 he became the first figure skater to land a quadruple jump followed by a double jump at the world championships, and then in 1997 he surpassed himself by becoming the first person to land a quadruple-triple combination. Although Stojko was often hampered by judges who preferred dance-based, graceful programs to Stojko's athletic, often martial arts-inspired offerings, he still won the world championships three times, twice finished second at the Olympics, and earned the unofficial title "the King of Jumps" from sportswriters and fans.