1956 - 1962 Donald Jackson CANADA (picture)

Let's learn a little more about Don Jackson, most famous for the first triple lutz in at Worlds (Prague) 1962. He was trailing Czechoslovakian (SLOVAK) skater Karol Divin by 45.8 points, yet managed to win the World Title by 21.2 points (scoring seven perfect 6.0 marks)

Regarded for a long time as one of the greatest free skating performances, it was Canada's first World Championship for Men. Representing his home town of Oshawa, Ontario, he received coaching and instruction from the Minto Skating Club in Ottawa, and the Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling Club. Among his luminous coaches were Wally Diestelmeyer, Otto Gold, Pierre Brunet, and Sheldon Galbraith.

He first appeared in the Canadian Championships in 1956, easily winning the Junior title. Always an exceptional free skater, he placed second the next three years to Champion Charles Snelling in Seniors. He placed 7th in his first Worlds, finishing 5th in the free skate. He placed 4th in the 57 North American Championships.

In 1958, he moved up to 4th at World's with a second in free skating. The following year he own the first of four Canadian senior titles, his first North American title, and a Silver at the World Championship in Colorado Springs (to David Jenkins). Always working to improve his school figures, he managed to place 4th in figure that year, behind American Tim Brown, David Jenkins, and Alain Giletti (of France).

He was a close third at the 1960 Olympics to Jenkins, and Karol Divin. He took a Silver at Worlds later that year, but won the free skating.

Jackson turned professional in 1962 even though most hoped he would continue to 1964. Todays' financial supports would have been a great boost. Training costs were not supported back in 1962. He signed a 3 year contract with Ice Follies, and had a successful career in shows. Perhaps unique among his professional peers, Don Jackson has always been ever ready to give back freely and without compensation to skating the skill and knowledge which made him a great Champion.

Voted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Gold Medal of Honor from the City of Oshawa, who have never forgotten that great sports moment of 1962.

Credit to Benjamin T. Wright (from an article in SKATING Magazine April 1978)
(I'm sure he is in the Skating Hall of Fame but I will have to check their website and verify)

Category:

Sports

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• figure
• skating
• 1962
• 1957
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• Canada
• mens
• world
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• american
• compulsory
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• Brunet
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• Karol
• Divin
• Tim
• Brown
• CHarles
• Snelling