Button, World Title Holder, Presents Fast, New Jumps

On Tuesday night in London Richard T. (Dick) Button '52 firmly established hmself for the third successive year as the world's greatest living figure skater. Since he captured the United States Novice Championship seven years ago in his first national competition, Button has swept 12 other national, world, and Olympic titles, besides introducing to competitive skating a tremendous variety of jumps that were unknown before he came on the scene.

Currently on a two-week leave of absence from the University, Button went through a rigorous training routine at Lake Placid before flying to England; for the next three days he will be competing in Paris for the Grand Prix de France, a new prize, and then will return to Cambridge for a 9 A.M. class Monday morning.

In compiling his unprecedented record the Englewood, New Jersey and Lowell House sophomore has been more outstanding in the field of improvised, so-called "free" skating than in the compulsory events. It is to this phase of the sport which he has brought so many new elements, among them the flying camel jump, better known now as the "Button" camel (see picture).

In his latest triumph Button introduced two intricate series of jumps off one foot, thought to be the fastest movements a human can make. With six as the best possible mark, he never failed to score 5.7 in his "free" events. Judge Harry Meistrup gave him the only perfect performance on execution given in the three-day competition.