- Joined
- Jun 18, 2011
http://www.squareone.org/PolarPalace/usteam.html
The above is a link to one of the greatest tragedies in sports history – the loss of the entire United States World Figure Skating team in February 1961. The plane carrying the 18 skaters, coaches, family members, friends, passengers, and crew perished when their plane, en route from New York to Prague, Czechoslovakia, crashed outside of Belgium. There were no survivors.
The ISU, in a sign of unity and mourning, cancelled the World Championships that year. The USFSA had urged the meet to go on, but they were voted down – the only country who did not want to cancel. Many skaters from other countries had arrived in Prague and were practicing when they received the news of the plane crash. Everything just stopped, everyone packed their bags and went home.
President John F. Kennedy, who had been in office just a few weeks, issued the following statement from the White House: “This disaster has brought tragedy to many American families and is a great loss to the international community of sports as well. Our country has sustained a great loss of talent and grace that had brought pleasure to people all over the world.”
Canada’s Don Jackson had been scheduled to fly to Prague with the US team; however, he caught the flu and rescheduled his flight. His illness, literally, saved his life. The following year, Don won the World title in Prague and became the first skater to land a triple lutz in competition.
The plane crash ended the American dominance in singles skating, which had lasted from the post-World War II era until 1961. Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss, Dick Button, Ronnie Robertson, Hayes Allen Jenkins, David Jenkins, and Barbara Roles dominated the sport.
Peggy Fleming, then a 12-year-old junior skater, lost her coach and a number of senior level skaters who trained at her rink.
The USFSA started the Memorial Fund to provide much-needed financial assistance for American competitive figure skaters. I’ve donated to this fund, as I’m sure many of you have. Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, on behalf of the Fund, wrote, thanking me for being a part of the effort that helped them achieve their Olympic dream. Naturally, I don’t take any credit – please – many people contributed to the fund!
The above is a link to one of the greatest tragedies in sports history – the loss of the entire United States World Figure Skating team in February 1961. The plane carrying the 18 skaters, coaches, family members, friends, passengers, and crew perished when their plane, en route from New York to Prague, Czechoslovakia, crashed outside of Belgium. There were no survivors.
The ISU, in a sign of unity and mourning, cancelled the World Championships that year. The USFSA had urged the meet to go on, but they were voted down – the only country who did not want to cancel. Many skaters from other countries had arrived in Prague and were practicing when they received the news of the plane crash. Everything just stopped, everyone packed their bags and went home.
President John F. Kennedy, who had been in office just a few weeks, issued the following statement from the White House: “This disaster has brought tragedy to many American families and is a great loss to the international community of sports as well. Our country has sustained a great loss of talent and grace that had brought pleasure to people all over the world.”
Canada’s Don Jackson had been scheduled to fly to Prague with the US team; however, he caught the flu and rescheduled his flight. His illness, literally, saved his life. The following year, Don won the World title in Prague and became the first skater to land a triple lutz in competition.
The plane crash ended the American dominance in singles skating, which had lasted from the post-World War II era until 1961. Tenley Albright, Carol Heiss, Dick Button, Ronnie Robertson, Hayes Allen Jenkins, David Jenkins, and Barbara Roles dominated the sport.
Peggy Fleming, then a 12-year-old junior skater, lost her coach and a number of senior level skaters who trained at her rink.
The USFSA started the Memorial Fund to provide much-needed financial assistance for American competitive figure skaters. I’ve donated to this fund, as I’m sure many of you have. Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, on behalf of the Fund, wrote, thanking me for being a part of the effort that helped them achieve their Olympic dream. Naturally, I don’t take any credit – please – many people contributed to the fund!