USA TODAY Sports released its latest "Milan Magic" episode covering the 2026 Winter Olympics. In preparation for the Milano Cortina Winter Games, "Milan Magic" hosts Christine Brennan and Brian Boitano — an Olympic gold medal champion figure skater — are covering all topics regarding the games extensively and sitting down with Winter Olympics legends in order to get a behind-the-scenes look at these remarkable winter events.
After an enthralling conversation with "Quad God" Ilia Malinin, the duo have returned, now speaking with 1976 Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill, an icon of the figure skating world.
Hamill did far more than win in the Olympics though. She also won the 1976 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, after winning silver each of the two years prior. She is a four-time United States champion as well (1969, 1974-76).
Despite being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 40 years old and suffering from chronic back pain. Hamill continued to participate in skating events and shows until 2013.
Hamill spoke on numerous topics including the pressure facing most Olympic figure skaters as they take the ice. She even recalled a time when competing in Munich where the home crowd didn't appreciate the marks given to the German skater before Hamill, prompting a cascade of boos as Hamill took the ice. Hamill said, "I just wanted to get it over with." Boitano expanded, recalling that Hamill's father needed to come over to her to calm her down before she skated, and that Hamill's toughness to be able to perform one of the greatest routines of her life to that point as boos rained down was one of the best moments of Hamill's career.
