Carol Elizabeth Heiss Jenkins (born January 20, 1940) is an American former figure skater and actress.

But her mother, Marie Heiss, was quite ill with cancer at the time, and before her death in October 1956, she asked Carol to win a gold medal for her.

She was the World and U.S. Champion each year, and at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, Heiss captured the gold medal, being ranked first by all nine judges.

[2] Carol Heiss was born on January 20, 1940, in New York City, and grew up in Ozone Park, Queens.

[8] During her run of world titles, Heiss attended New York University, graduating after the 1960 Winter Olympics.

[9] In 1961, she married American figure skater Hayes Alan Jenkins, who had won the 1956 Olympic gold medal.