The Exclusive World of the 'OGM Chain'
In the high-pressure world of Olympic figure skating, a unique digital sanctuary exists for America's elite champions. Known as the "OGM chain," this private text group connects every US figure skater who has ever won Olympic gold, creating a tight-knit community that spans generations.
A Golden Welcome
Nathan Chen experienced this exclusive welcome firsthand. Moments after securing his long-awaited gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics with a breathtaking free skate, his phone buzzed with a simple yet profound message: "Congratulations. Welcome to our chat." Chen's immediate reply captured the significance: "This is everything."
The text arrived unexpectedly, inviting him into what is arguably one of the most selective groups of American athletes. The "OGM chain" stands for "only gold medalists," and as the name suggests, membership is strictly limited to US figure skaters who have captured Olympic titles. The group spans from 90-year-old Tenley Albright, a pioneer of the sport, to Chen, who was just 22 when he joined.
A Community of Champions
"It's really fun. You go into the chat and you're like, 'Wow,'" said Brian Boitano, the 1988 champion who provided The Associated Press with a glimpse into the text chain. "You just think to yourself, 'I'm actually in this community.' Not only that you're in the Olympic community, but you're a gold medalist."
The United States boasts a rich and successful history in figure skating, dating back to its first medal—a bronze won by Theresa Weld at the 1920 Antwerp Games, four years before the inaugural Winter Olympics. Dick Button secured the nation's first gold medal in the men's event at the 1948 St. Moritz Games, successfully defending his title four years later in Oslo. Button passed away just over a year ago at age 95, leaving him as the only American figure skating gold medalist no longer alive.
"When we started the chain, I thought it was just really cool," Boitano reflected. "You have Evan Lysacek and Carol Heiss and Scott Hamilton and Dorothy Hamill, and you just keep going—Kristi Yamaguchi, Meryl Davis, Charlie White." If Boitano continued listing names, the total would reach an even two dozen, a number that expanded by five more recently.
Expanding the Golden Circle
This past Sunday night, Ilia Malinin anchored the American team in the team event, defeating Japan's Yuma Kagiyama in a thrilling head-to-head showdown to help defend the gold medal originally won with Chen's assistance in Beijing. Malinin's victory earned him a spot in the OGM chain, alongside Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O'Shea, all of whom contributed to the heart-stopping one-point victory. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates were already members from the team win in 2022.
"It means a lot personally," said 86-year-old Carol Heiss, who is married to fellow Olympic champion Hayes Allen Jenkins. "Because we are able to talk about the sport and about skaters and about the U.S. team. If we feel strongly about something, we kind of voice our opinions."
Does this elite group of Olympic champions quietly influence Team USA's direction? "I don't know about that," Heiss responded. "But we all know how it feels. We all have that memory of standing on an Olympic podium." Dorothy Hamill added, "It happens so fast. Four minutes on the ice and two minutes on the podium and then boom, life changes."
Shared Triumphs and Tragedies
The OGM chain isn't solely for celebrating victories; it also serves as a support network during difficult times. When an American Airlines flight bound for Washington, D.C., collided with an army helicopter over the icy Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft, the chain became a crucial communication hub. Dozens of the victims were members of the close-knit figure skating community, including children returning home from a development camp following the U.S. championships in Wichita, Kansas.
The OGM chain lit up as gold medalists shared news and offered comfort to one another. "It was very active during the plane crash, yeah. Everybody was talking then," Scott Hamilton recalled. "It was just such a tragedy." Through the chain, the Olympic champions coordinated efforts to assist with a benefit for the families affected by the crash. By the time "Legacy on Ice" took place last March, more than half a dozen members participated in the event.
"Everybody came together," Boitano emphasized. "That's what is so unique about our sport. We are all part of a family." This digital thread weaves together decades of Olympic glory, creating a lasting bond among America's figure skating legends that transcends time and tragedy.
