Who is the Axel jump named after?

The Axel jump, also called the Axel Paulsen jump for its creator, Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen, is an edge jump in the sport of figure skating. It is figure skating's oldest and most difficult jump. It is the only competition jump that begins with a forward takeoff, which makes it the easiest jump to identify.

The first skater to accomplish an Axel was its creator, Axel Paulsen, in 1882 at the first international figure skating competition, which was held in Vienna. Professional German skater Charlotte Oelschlägel, during the early 1900s, was the first woman to include an Axel in her programs.

American Dick Button was the first skater to complete a double Axel in competition, at the 1948 Winter Olympic Games. American Carol Heiss was the first woman to perform a double Axel, in 1953.

The first male skater to complete a triple Axel during the Olympics was Canadian skater Brian Orser in 1984. The first throw triple Axel was performed by American pair skaters Rena Inoue and John Baldwin, at the 2006 U.S. National Championships. As of 2021, the quadruple Axel has not been successfully completed in competition.