1988 World Junior Figure Skating Pins: They Come From a Land Down Under.

Last Updated on April 26, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

Championship marked the first ISU event ever held in the Southern Hemisphere

Hosting major figure skating events hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Australia, the “land down under.” Despite securing the rights to prestigious competitions, the country has faced its share of hurdles. Brisbane was unceremoniously dropped as the host city for the 2000 World Figure Skating Championships just seven months before the event, with the International Skating Union (ISU) shifting the competition to Nice, France. More recently, Sydney’s opportunity to welcome the 2021 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships was lost when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Australia has had better luck with the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, successfully hosting the event twice—in 1988 and 1996. The 1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships pins commemorate this historic occasion, marking the first ISU event ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Pins Gallery: 1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships

The main logo pin from the 1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships is made of a gold-colored base metal and features an interpretive outline of Australia with a small diamond shape representing Tasmania. The left side includes three symbols: a globe for the international competitors, a skate blade for the sport, and a kangaroo for the host country. These elements, while meaningful, appear somewhat separate—like three things simply stacked together, rather than a cohesive design.

To the right is the event year, name, and location: “1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships Brisbane.” The most visually striking feature, however, is its rich green background—an uncommon choice for figure skating pins. This deep hue likely nods to Brisbane’s lush summer landscape in December, when the event took place. The pin’s rectangular shape is softened with gracefully rounded edges.

Also in the lineup of pins from the 1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships is one specially marked “Judge.” It mirrors the design and color scheme of the main logo pin but with a distinct variation—the event name, year, and location are arranged slightly differently. Most notably, a gold-banded section along the bottom elegantly curves upward at the sides, highlighting the word “Judge.” This pin was produced in limited quantities, reserved exclusively for event officials.

Enjoy this week’s figure skating pins blog: 1988 World Junior Figure Skating Championships Pins: They Come From a Land Down Under.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on February 11, 2023, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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Figure Skating Flashback: 1988

• One of the most compelling stories in figure skating history unfolded in 1988 at the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada, with the legendary “Battle of the Brians.” American Brian Boitano and Canadian Brian Orser each performed free programs with military-inspired themes, delivering powerful and technically impressive performances. But it was Boitano who ultimately prevailed, capturing the gold medal with a clean skate and a final, symbolic thrust of an imaginary sword. Orser was once again edged out, earning the silver and solidifying his reputation as “Mr. Second Place.”
• Meanwhile, the ladies’ event was dubbed the “Battle of the Carmens,” as both Debi Thomas of the United States and Katarina Witt of East Germany selected music from the opera Carmen for their long programs. While Thomas faltered and took bronze, Witt hung on to an early lead to collect her second Olympic gold. But it was Canada’s Liz Manley who electrified the crowd with a fearless and joyous performance, earning a well-deserved silver medal and the admiration of a nation.
• The ladies event had other drama as well. After placing seventh in the compulsory figures and fifth in the short program (sixth overall), Caryn Kadavy—then a rising star in U.S. ladies’ figure skating—was forced to pull out due to a severe flu. It was an emotional blow for fans and a painful moment in what should have been a highlight of her career.
• Later that same year, all-event tickets to Skate America in Portland, Maine, were priced at just $49. By contrast, all-event tickets to the 2024 Skate America in Allen, Texas, cost $351.85—a staggering increase of more than 618% over the course of 36 years.
• Also in 1988, coaching pioneer Gustave Lussi celebrated his 90th birthday in Lake Placid, New York. Revered for revolutionizing the technical foundation of the sport, Lussi coached greats like Dick Button and Barbara Ann Scott and influenced generations of skaters around the world. He passed away just three years later, shortly after turning 93.

From rivalries that defined an era to enduring legacies, 1988 was a pivotal year in the history of figure skating.

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