World and National Figure Skating Champion: Elaine Zayak was
the 1981 U.S. Figure Skating National Champion and the 1982
World Figure Skating Champion. The "Zayak Rule"
Changed Figure Skating: Zayak was the first female figure
skater to land many triple jumps in her skating programs. At
the 1982 World Figure Skating Championships, she won the
title because she landed six triple jumps in her long
program. The informally known "Zayak Rule," was
created because of Elaine Zayak. The rule states that a
competitor may not repeat a triple jump more than twice, and
after the first triple jump is performed, repeated triple
jumps must be done in combination or in a sequence.