1983 US Figure Skating Championships: Three Rivers, Three Pins.

Last Updated on April 5, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

An historic first in Pittsburgh for the US Championships

The Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers weave through downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, merging to form the mighty Ohio River. Navigating this landscape requires bridges—446 of them, to be exact—earning Pittsburgh the title of the city with the most bridges in the world. But beyond its architectural record, Pittsburgh made its mark in elite figure skating history when it hosted the 1983 US Figure Skating Championships at the now-demolished Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Although the competition itself may not be the most widely remembered, the 1983 US Figure Skating pins remain to commemorate the week-long event.

Like Pittsburgh’s three rivers, three pins were issued for the event—each a unique piece of memorabilia. These included two logo pins in different sizes and color configurations and a mascot pin featuring Patches the Panda. Until that time, no other US Championships had produced more than two pins, making the 1983 event a historic first.

Pins Gallery: 1983 US Figure Skating Championships

The smallest of the logo pins stands out for its diminutive size, still ranking among the smallest ever issued for a national championship. Crafted from a gold-colored base metal with a striking black and gold enamel fill, it takes on a distinctive rhomboid shape—an uncommon design choice. The larger logo pin maintains the same rhomboid form but is rendered in black and white. Both pins feature a silhouette of a pairs or ice dance couple on the right, poised above the word “Nationals,” while “Pittsburgh ’83” is emblazoned on the left. Although not the most visually striking of pins, their unique shape adds a touch of creativity.

The mascot pin featuring Patches the Panda mirrors the color configuration of the small logo pin. Set on a gleaming gold-colored base, this pin shows Patches decked out in a flowing neck scarf attempting a spiral but appearing on the verge of toppling over—an endearing, if not entirely graceful, depiction. Encircling the design are the words “Pittsburgh 1983 Nationals,” a nod to the common practice of using shorthand for the event’s official title.

Whether it’s the smallest national championship pin, the distinct rhomboid design, or the charmingly off-balance Patches, each pin tells a small but meaningful piece of figure skating history. For collectors, the pins from the 1983 US Figure Skating Championships offer a tangible link to a moment when Pittsburgh’s rivers weren’t the only thing making waves in the Steel City.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on May 8, 2021, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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Figure Skating Flashback: 1983

• America’s sweetheart, Dorothy Hamill, shared a deeper look into her life and career with the release of her autobiography, Dorothy Hamill: On and Off the Ice. The book offered fans never-before-known stories about her journey, both on the ice and beyond, adding another chapter to her lasting legacy.
• In November 1983, Ryan Bradley, the perennial “class clown” of US figure skating, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. A fan favorite, Bradley competed for the US senior men’s title 11 times, finishing as high as second in 2007 before finally being given the title four years later, claiming his place in skating history.
• The 1983 World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland, delivered unforgettable moments, including a wave of perfect 6.0s for British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Their free dance to Barnum earned straight 6.0s for Artistic Impression, a rare and thrilling sight as the announcer repeated the scores nine times in Finnish: kuusi pistettä nolla. Meanwhile, in the ladies’ event, Rosalynn Sumners captured her first and only world title, besting future two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt, who placed fourth. Defending champion Elaine Zayak was forced to withdraw due to a stress fracture, setting the stage for a new champion to emerge.
• Later that year, Skate America 1983 took place in Rochester, New York, commemorated not only with a red, white, and blue event pin but also a special welcome letter from President Ronald Reagan, published in the official program—a rare presidential nod to the sport.
• The 1983 Skate America event also holds a special place in the memory of The Curator of the Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins, who met longtime friends Bob and Nancy Quinn and Dale Mitch in Rochester. The Quinns left their mark on the skating community with their book Figure Skating Pins, a 152-page journey through the history of collectible skating pins. Dale Mitch, meanwhile, made significant contributions as both the editor of Skating magazine and later as the director of the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame. Their dedication to preserving the sport’s history remains deeply appreciated.

From thrilling performances to collectible treasures, 1983 was a year of milestones in figure skating—both on and off the ice.

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