1936 Karl Schaefer - Austria (Mens History)

This is an honor roll of Men's skating icons. I post it however to commemorate the great Austrian skater, Karl Schaefer, who dominated the sport in the 1930s. A contemporary of Sonja Heine, Karl took two Olympic gold medals, 7 World titles (1930-1936), 2 silvers (28-29) and a bronze (27). Austria, although it has faded from skating prominence, still ranks 2nd, in total medals earned in Mens World competitions (with 53). It ranks 2nd in World ladies medals with 36, and 3rd in pairs with 27. Such was the early dominance of this sport which developed from the exhibitions and teaching of American Jackson Haines in Vienna. We may never find film or videos of these early skating greats, but I would like to at least commemorate their names here.

MEN: World Medalists *=gold medal

3* Gustav Hugel, Max Bohatsch, Ernest Herz, 3* Fritz Kachler, 4* Willi Bockel, Ernst Oppacher, 7* Karl Schaefer, Otto Preissecker, Hug Distler, Erich Erdos, Felix Kaspar, Herbert Alward, Edi Rada, Helmet, Seibt, 3* Emmerich Danzer (1966-68), Wolfgang Schwarz

Ladies: World Medalists *=gold

Jenny Herz, Angela Hanka, 5* Herma Szabo, Fritzi Burger, Melitta Brunner, Hilde Holovsky, Liselotte Landbeck, Eva Pawlik, Hanna Eigel, Ingrid Wendl, Hanna Walter, Regine Heitzer, 2* Beatrix Schuba, Claudia Kristofics-Bender

Herma Szabo is the only simultaneous holder of a World singles and pairs title (in 1925).

Pairs: World Medalists *=gold

3* Helene Engelman / Karl Mejstrik, Christa von Szao / Leo Horwitz, 2* Herma Szabo / Ludwig Wrede, * Lilly Scholz / Otto Kaiser, Melitta Brunner / Ludwig Wrede, Idi Papez / Karl Zwack, Ilse Pausin / Erich Paursin, * Elisabeth Schwartz / Kurt Oppelt

Perhaps in time, Austria will develop a renewed interest in a sport so closely associated with them.

Other men's legends included here are:

Nathanial Niles (US), Gillis Graftstrom (Sweden), Dick Button (US), Hayes Alan Jenkins (US), David Jenkins (US), Ronnie Robertson (US), Donald Jackson (Canada), John Misha Petkevich (US), Toller Cranston (Canada), John Curry (Great Britain).

The clip of John Misha is from his famous "I have a dream" tribute exhibition from 1969 - to Martin Luther King. You can almost hear the words.....Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty...I am free at last!"

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• Karl
• Schaefer
• mens
• history
• John
• Misha
• Petkevich
• Ronnie
• Robertson
• Toller
• Cranston
• Curry
• Dick
• Button

[GingerGilligan]

This video was made 30 years ago and Dick Button was already a bald, old man even way back then roflmao

[k9henrydog]

OUCH!!! Remember, there are a lot of old men reading this....today! Bald is beautiful! best wishes