How it unfolded
Norway's Sonja Henie entered as the overwhelming favorite, already having won nine straight World Championships since 1927. But 15-year-old British skater Cecilia Colledge, attempting the first triple Salchow, chased her with an aggressive free skate, and the competition turned out far tighter than expected. The final verdict split narrowly, three of five judges favoring Henie and two favoring Colledge, and the decision drew audible boos from the crowd. Henie's win completed her third consecutive Olympic title after 1928 and 1932, a record no women's singles skater has matched since. Immediately after the Games she turned professional, signing with 20th Century Fox and heading to Hollywood.
Why it still matters
This closely contested final marked the twilight of Henie's era and signaled the arrival of the next generation's technical challenges from skaters like Colledge and Cranz. Henie's three consecutive Olympic titles have stood unbroken for nearly 90 years, and her decision to turn professional immediately afterward became a precedent proving figure skating could become mass entertainment beyond amateur competition.