US Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalists Share a Private Bond/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ America’s Olympic figure skating champions are linked by a private text group known as the “OGM chain.” The invite-only chat includes every US skater who has won Olympic gold, spanning generations. From celebrations to tragedies, the group offers a rare support system rooted in shared experience.
US Figure Skating OGM Chain – Quick Looks
- “OGM chain” stands for “Only Gold Medalists”
- Includes every US Olympic gold medalist in figure skating history
- Nathan Chen was added after his 2022 Beijing win
- Five new members joined after the latest team gold
- Used to celebrate wins and respond to tragedy
- Members describe it as a lifelong bond
Deep Look: US Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalists Share a Private Bond
MILAN (AP) — The message that appeared on Nathan Chen’s phone moments after his long-awaited Olympic triumph in Beijing was short, simple, and deeply meaningful.
“Congratulations,” it read. “Welcome to our chat.”
Chen had just captured Olympic gold in 2022, completing one of the greatest comeback stories in modern figure skating. His reply summed up the moment: “This is everything.”
With that exchange, Chen was inducted into one of the most exclusive groups in American sports — a private text message thread known simply as the OGM chain, short for “Only Gold Medalists.”
A Club Decades in the Making
The OGM chain includes every US figure skater to win Olympic gold, stretching from 90-year-old Tenley Albright to Chen himself. It is a living timeline of American skating history, connecting champions across eras.
“It’s really fun,” said Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic champion. “You go into the chat and think, ‘Wow, I’m actually in this community.’ Not just the Olympic community — the gold medalist community.”
Boitano shared a glimpse of the thread with The Associated Press, describing it as equal parts awe-inspiring and grounding.
A Golden Legacy
The United States’ figure skating success dates back more than a century. Its first Olympic medal was a bronze won by Theresa Weld in 1920. Dick Button delivered the country’s first gold in 1948 and defended it in 1952, setting the foundation for generations to follow.
Button, who died last year at age 95, is the only US Olympic figure skating gold medalist no longer alive.
Names in the OGM chain read like a hall of fame: Carol Heiss, Scott Hamilton, Dorothy Hamill, Kristi Yamaguchi, Meryl Davis, and Charlie White, among others.
Before this season, the group numbered 24. That total grew by five more on Sunday night.
New Names, Same Bond
At the latest Winter Games, Ilia Malinin anchored the US team event, defeating Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama head-to-head to help Americans defend their Olympic team gold.
Joining Malinin in the OGM chain were Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O’Shea. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates were already members after the 2022 team win.
“It means a lot personally,” said Heiss, now 86. “We all know how it feels to stand on that podium.”
Hamill echoed the sentiment: “It happens so fast — four minutes on the ice, two minutes on the podium, and then boom. Life changes.”
Support Beyond Celebration
The OGM chain isn’t just for joyful moments. It became a lifeline after a devastating plane crash last year, when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River, killing 67 people. Many victims were part of the US figure skating community, including young skaters returning from a development camp.
“The chain was very active then,” Hamilton said. “Everybody was talking. It was just such a tragedy.”
Out of those conversations came action. Members coordinated support and ultimately participated in the “Legacy on Ice” benefit, raising money for victims’ families.
“Everybody came together,” Boitano said. “That’s what’s so unique about our sport. We’re all part of a family.”
A Private Thread, a Public Legacy
The OGM chain may be private, but its meaning is universal — a reminder that Olympic gold is not just a medal, but a shared experience that lasts a lifetime.
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