Successfully landed the first Double Axel Jump in competition (1948) as well as the first Triple Loop Jump in competition (1952, which was also the first triple jump of any kind). In the 1940s he invented the variation Flying Camel Spin.
Won back-to-back gold medals in Figure Skating (men's singles) at the 1948 St. Moritz Winter Olympics and at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics. He is the only American man to win two consecutive gold medals in Olympic men's figure skating.
Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 (charter member).
He was on the top 100 list of nominees, although not inducted, for the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services and contributions to Sports in the following years: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.