Timothy Goebel

Timothy Goebel is an American former competitive figure skater known for his technical achievements in men's figure skating. Goebel was the first person to land a quadruple Salchow jump in competition and the first to land three quadruple jumps in a single program. His ability to execute quadruple jumps earned him the nickname Quad King, and he landed a total of 76 quads in competition.

Goebel's ascent in competitive figure skating included several historic milestones. At the Junior Grand Prix Final in Lausanne, Switzerland, he became the first skater to land a quadruple Salchow and the first American to land a quadruple jump of any kind in competition. At Skate America in Colorado Springs, he became the first skater to land three quads in one program, performing a quad Salchow in combination, a quad toe loop, and a solo quad Salchow. Nationally, Goebel placed second at the World Junior Championships, won the U.S. Championships, and finished fourth at the World Championships. He earned a silver medal at the World Championships and an Olympic bronze medal, and made history at the Olympics by becoming the first skater to land a quad Salchow in combination in Olympic competition. Goebel is a two-time World silver medalist and a U.S. champion.

Early in his career, Goebel faced criticism for focusing on jumps at the expense of choreography and presentation, but he later improved in these areas. After 2003, injuries affected his jumping consistency, leading to his retirement from competitive skating. Following his athletic career, Goebel attended Columbia University, graduating with a degree in mathematics, and later earned a master's degree in business analytics from New York University. He has worked for Google on the engineering education team as a global partner manager.

Goebel's influence in figure skating extends beyond his competitive years. He was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Detroit and serves on committees for U.S. Figure Skating. He is also involved with Figure Skating in Harlem, serving on its advisory board and as chair, where he provides strategic guidance to expand access to skating for underrepresented youth. Goebel's career spans figure skating, STEM education, and community advocacy, reflecting his ongoing impact on the sport and beyond.