Peggy Fleming is an American former figure skater and the only American in the 1968 Winter Olympics in France to bring home a Gold Medal. She has been a television commentator for over 20 years, including several Winter Olympics Games.
Fleming won her first US championship in 1965 and won continuously for five years. She won her first championship in 1966 and was the only American to earn a gold medal that year.
The American skater turned professional in 1968 and appeared in various television shows like ice Capades, Holiday on Ice, and Ice Follies. Peggy also served as an ABC commentator for skating events in 1981.
Peggy was represented in the California Hall of the frame on December 14, 2022, for embodying the state’s spirit of innovation and making history.
Apart from her, chef Roy Choi, physicist Steven Chu, sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild, choreographer Alonzo King, teacher and former astronaut Barbara Morgan, and artist Ed Ruscha were also listed in the hall of fame.
Moving on, She married her teenage love, Greg Jenkins, on June 13, 1970. Along with being a dermatologist, her husband is also an amateur figure skater.
There is a lot of information about her career, net worth, Olympics, and married life. So, please stick to the article to the end to know everything about her.
Before that, let’s have a look at her quick facts.
Peggy Fleming was born on July 27, 1948, in San Jose, California, to newspaper journalists and former U.S. marine Albert Fleming and Doris Elizabeth Fleming.
Albert inspired his little girl to skate and took all his daughters skating. After that, she began to slide professionally at the age of nine.
She is the second oldest of four sisters. The former ABC commentator has an older sister named Janice Fleming and two younger sisters named Maxine and Kathy Fleming.
Flaming With Her Mother Doris (Source:americanskater.com)
Sadly, Peggy lost her younger sister and her father to heart disease. Her father passed away months before she won Olympic gold at age 17.
The Olympian is very close to her family, especially her mother, Doris Elizabeth. However, she credits her father for helping her find her sport and passion.
She also thanks her mother for giving her the support and inspiration needed to continue.
One of her famous quotes regarding her success and her parents is: “I wouldn’t have started skating if it weren’t for my Dad, but I became a skater because of my mom.”
Her first coach was William Kipp, who died tragically with the United States figure skating team in Sabena Flight 548 crash. Then, she was coached by Carlo Fassi.
The former athlete was very good at her sport and won five U.S. titles before winning an Olympic gold medal.
She attended Hollywood Professional School and graduated with excellent academic performance. After that, she joined Colorado College to achieve a degree.
How Old Is Peggy Fleming? Age, Height, And Weight
The Olympic Champion is 75 Years Old as of 2024. However, she doesn’t look a day old from 50.
The mother of two adults looks healthy, fit, and strong. She is 1.63m tall and weighs about 110 pounds. She has a slim well-endowed body, all thanks to her balanced diet.
Fleming At Olympic Winter Fest (Source: gazette.com)
Besides this, Fleming has long brown hair and stunning blue eyes that look beautiful with her fair complexion.
Peggy was only nine when she dreamed of becoming World Champion and started working towards her skating dreams.
Her parents were her most powerful support system and the reason for her dream come true. Although she is not from a sports family, athletic energy is in her blood.
Her dedication and hard work are truly reflected in her performance. After her coach’s tragic passing in a plane crash, she was coached by Carlo Fassi.
Along with the coach’s excellency and hard work, the then-teenage fleming won five U.S. titles consecutively from 1964 to 1968.
The Gold Medalist With Fellow 1968 Olympic Winners (Source: Instagram)
Also, in 1968, Fleming was the only American athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympics held at Grenoble, France.
Moreover, she also won the World Championship title for three consecutive years, from 1966 to 1968. She officially retired in 1968 at the age of 20.
Nevertheless, she did not quit skating. The former athlete is widely known as “the ice fairy” for her angelic performance on the ice.
According to the non-profit news agency, The Associated Press’s 1993 edition, she was one of the most famous figure skaters, just behind gymnast Mary Lou Retton and figured skater Dorothy Hamill.
Career In Other Fields
After her Olympic win, Peggy gave numerous performances on television shows. The “ice fairy” appeared in five NBC specials.
Moreover, she toured with several well-known skaters in skating shows such as Ice Capades. Besides that, she filmed a T.V. show in Russia and skated in China during the Cold War.
As a result of great appreciation from fans, she was offered to be a commentator for ABC. Sports. After accepting the job, she was always in the spotlight and a familiar face in the athletic business.
Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Working For ABC (Source: americanprofile.com)
Notwithstanding that, she is famous for her commentating and analytical skills. Besides figure skating, she has explored many other fields in her life.
After winning her battle against cancer, she became a breast cancer activist and encouraged women to discuss it and vouch for early detection.
She also owned a winery along with her husband. The winery located in California was called Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery.
Fleming has an award named after her called the Peggy Fleming Award. The trophy is given to skaters with excellent skills.
Peggy awards the trophy in collaboration with the Broadmoor Skating Club. 2018 was the trophy’s inaugural year. It has had four sessions, and the 2021 Peggy Fleming trophy was awarded to Karen Chen.
Fleming With Peggy Fleming Award Winner 2022 (Source: peggyfleming.com)
Tomoki Hiwatashi of DuPage FSC wins the fifth season of the Peggy Flaming award. She received the prize money of $3000.
Achievements
Fleming received a gold medal at United Figure Skating Association (USFSA) Bay Area Juvenile Championship in 1959.
She then won three gold medals at USFSA Pacific Coast Juvenile Championship in 1960, 1961, and 1962.
Peggy also won a silver medal in 1962 at the USFSA National Novice Championship. She then won a bronze medal at USFSA National Junior Championship in 1963.
U.S. Figure Skater Peggy Won America’s Only Gold Medal Of The Winter Olympic Games In Grenoble, France (Source: madison.com)
The Olympian was placed sixth and seventh at the Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games and International Skating Union (ISU) World Championship in 1964.
Similarly, flaming won five gold medals at the USFSA National Championship from 1964 to 1968. Fleming also won three gold medals at the ISU World Championship from 1966 to 1968.
She also won a bronze medal at the ISU World Championship in 1965. Likewise, she was named ABC Athlete of the Year in 1967.
Fleming received the Babe Didrickson Zaharias Award in 1988. She also won a gold medal for women’s figure skating in Grenoble Winter Olympic Games in the same year.
The former figure skate was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1974, the USFSA Hall of Fame and World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976, and the International Women’s Sports Hall in 1981.
Moreover, she was awarded U.S. Olympic – Committee Olympic Spirit Award in 1967.
Peggy Fleming | Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Flaming was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was fifty years old. However, since the tumor was detected in its early stages, she could beat it with radiation therapy.
Also, she had surgery to remove the malignant tumor on the 30th anniversary of her Olympic gold medal win.
Peggy Delivers The Keynote Speech At The Pink Ribbon Symposium In Florida (Source: jacksonville.com)
After her recovery in 1998, Peggy became a spokesman for making people aware of Screening and early detection. She also contributed to philanthropy and raised millions for non-profit organizations.
Peggy Fleming | Marriage And Kids
Fleming was happily married to Greg Jenkins in 1970. The duo met when they were teenagers and soon fell in love with each other.
Since then, they have been together through thick and thin. Correspondingly, Peggy considers Greg her soulmate and best friend with whom she can share anything.
Former ABC Commentator Peggy With Her Husband, Dr. Greg Jenkins, At Their Winery (Source: sportsbible.com)
The pair is one of the most adorable teenage sweethearts with the most epic love story.
Jenkins is a dermatologist and an amateur figure skater. Moreover, he is a well-experienced doctor with a good reputation among his patients.
The married couple has two handsome sons, Andy Jenkins and Todd Jenkins. Both of their kids are settled and have a family. Furthermore, they also have three grandchildren.
Peggy Fleming | Net Worth And Salary
The three-time World Champion has an impressive amount of wealth. She has built chiefly her net worth from skating, acting, shows, and other businesses.
Furthermore, she used to be a commentator on ABC Sport and owned a winery, which was pretty successful.
Peggy’s net worth is approximately over $8 million.
Moreover, her husband is a dermatologist with over 21 years of experience. An average dermatologist with expertise can earn over $368,402 annually.
The pair reside in a beautiful, lavish home in the San Jose suburb of Los Gatos and own multiple cars and possessions. Previously, they lived in their California house for 40 years.
Peggy Fleming | Social Media Presence
Peggy Fleming is available on Instagram. The former athlete mostly shares her life updates, throwback pictures, and work life with her followers.
Apart from Instagram, she is not available on other social media platforms. However, her fans have created multiple accounts under her name.
Olympic champ Peggy Performing At Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame (Source: Instagram)
Peggy Fleming | Popularity
Fleming is quite popular among the people; all credit goes to her successive career at the 1968 winter Olympics.
Fleming Google Graph (Source: googletrends.com)
The table shows her google search for 12 months.
Peggy Fleming | FAQs
Is Peggy Fleming on the Dancing with the stars show?
No, Peggy Fleming is not in Dancing with the stars.
How much is Peggy Fleming worth?
The champion figure skater has an impressive amount of wealth. According to a recent estimation, she is worth over $8 million.
She earned most of her wealth from skating, businesses, working on ABC, and other works.
How old is Peggy Fleming?
Born in 1948, the three-time World Champion is 75years old as of 2024. Nevertheless, she still looks like she’s forty years old.
The former athlete leads an active and healthy lifestyle. As a result, she is strong and fit.
Where did Peggy Fleming win gold?
Peggy Fleming won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. That particular year, she was the only athlete from America to take the gold home.
What is Peggy Fleming’s haircut?
Peggy Fleming has had several haircuts to date. However, back then, she was famous for her bob haircut.
Why is Peggy Fleming famous?
Peggy Fleming is known as one of the most beautiful ice skaters. She is known for her beauty and grace on and off the ice.
Was Peggy Fleming featured in Canon Commercial?
Peggy Fleming was featured in a Canon AE-1 camera commercial in 1979.
How did John Madden help Peggy Fleming?
John Madden provided transportation to Peggy Fleming when her flight from New York to her home in Los Gatos, CA, was grounded due to the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
What is Peggy Fleming doing now?
Peggy Fleming is enjoying her retirement life and spending more time with her family. She also indulges in several humanitarian works and awareness programs from time to time.
Recently, she was involved in an awareness program to help educate women and their families about peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This disease affects the legs and raises the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Did Peggy Fleming have plastic surgery?
Many rumors are busting out in social media claiming that Peggy Fleming has undergone nose plastic surgery. However, the story isn’t officially accepted by Peggy.
Why did Peggy Fleming skate as Ave Maria?
Peggy Fleming skated Ave Maria in one of her performances following her win at the Olympics in Grenoble as a tribute to her father, Albert Fleming, and coach Carlo Fassi.
My name is Urusha Niroula. I have been working as a writer at Playersbio.com since September 2020. I have always had a great fondness for English writing, speaking, and reading. Furthermore, my hobbies include going on walks and short rides, watching Netflix, and sometimes sitting idly.
