The triple axel is such a challenging jump that few women have ever landed it — and only five have done so at the Olympics. Japan's Midori Ito was the first. At the 1992 Olympics, Ito attempted a triple axel at the start of her free skate, missed it, then tried again near the end and landed it — a performance that helped earn her the silver medal. Ito was also a pioneer of the triple-triple jump combination, putting her technical content on par with many of the world's top men at the time. Even without Olympic gold to her name, Ito remains one of the most consequential athletes in figure skating history.
Watch Ito land her triple axel here.