1985 World Junior Figure Skating Pins: Rocky Mountain High.

Last Updated on January 19, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

Colorado Springs hosted the first World Junior Championship held in the U.S.

The 1985 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, held at the historic Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, stand out in the annals of figure skating history as the first World Junior Championships held in the U.S. and for the rise of Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov. “G&G” claimed victory in pairs skating and embarked on a path to becoming legends of the sport before their journey was tragically cut short by Sergei’s death in 1995. And although the 1985 World Junior Championships as a competition do not particularly stand out in figure skating history, the lapel pins issued to mark the occasion for the up-and-comers in figure skating do, and are at least competently designed and produced.

Pins Gallery: 1985 World Junior Figure Skating Championships

Like a number of figure skating pins from major events, the 1985 World Junior Championships pin incorporates a globe motif, executed here with a clean, modern aesthetic. The main logo pin features a gold-colored base metal with enamel detailing. A medium blue dominates, highlighting key elements such as the event year and venue name, which are in gold at the center. The design is supported by an old-style skate blade, with latitude and longitude lines in vibrant blue, yellow, green, and red that fill the globe. The event’s name encircles the pin in gold text on a blue background.

A larger version of the pin was produced exclusively for competitors and officials. Apart from size, it matches the main logo pin in design. And a third pin, also produced for and given to officials (judges and likely others with an official role at the event), is a miniature version of the main pin, only executed on a silver-color base metal. This pin comes from the estate of Geoffrey Yates, a 1936 British Olympian and later an international judge who judged the men’s and pairs events in Colorado.

The 1985 World Junior Championships marked one of the last major skating events to be held at the original Broadmoor World Arena, located on the grounds of The Broadmoor resort. The arena, steeped in skating history, was demolished in 1994, representing a significant loss for the skating community and its rich history.

That’s this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1985 World Junior Figure Skating Pins: Rocky Mountain High.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on January 29, 2022, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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