Rhode Lee Michelson 1961 Nationals

Her long program from the 1961 US Nationals in Colorado Springs. She finished 3rd. Nice double axels for back in the day. Unfortunately, she perished with the rest of the world team on the way to the 1961 Worlds. She would have had a great future.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• rhode
• lee
• michelson
• 1961
• figure
• skating
• national
• championships

[jmichels0n]

Rhode Lee Michelson is my aunt. Mike, who is referred to on the video is my father and I lost him a year ago on Nov. 6th. This video would make him so proud as he loved his sister and was her biggest fan. He always spoke of her to me with the highest admiration and told of her unique ability to combine grace and power. This is the first time I have been able to see my aunt skate and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for posting this video! My father thanks you as well.

[SnyderToeStops]

That plane crash must have been devastating for your sport. I don't ice skate, but it is really sad to have all of your best swiped in one day.

[bjdebevec]

It was wonderful to see Rhode Lee skate. She was my Dad's cousin. My family attended her funeral. Such a sad time.  We lost touch with the family over the years but have never forgotten the dedication that Rhode and Mike had to skating and the support of their parents.

[bjdebevec]

@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her great skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.

[bjdebevec]

@jmichels0n Rhode and Mike were my Dad's cousin's. My family went to her funeral. It was such a sad time. We kept in touch with her parents for awhile but eventually lost touch. I have thought about them a lot over the years. I began to look online after I saw the add for Rise. We will see it. I remember seeing a home video of Rhode. This was wonderful to see. I had heard about her wonderful skating but never had a chance to see her skate in person.

[msniemi]

I Just found out this is a distant relative of mine! She was my Grandpa Niemi's Cousin. My dad, Bill Niemi, and my Aunt Barbara, attended her funeral when they were little.

[dsfddsgh]

Wow she really moves on the ice. Strong jumps too. Anyone that thinks these skaters couldn't compete now growing up with the same kind of training are crazy.

[faeryquene]

@billy98102 I don't doubt Rhode was considered the greatest female jumper ever at that time-as I watched I thought of Midori Ito. Rhode had grace, speed, and POWER in those jumps! :) So heartbreaking all these years later. Wasn't Bill Kipp Peggy Fleming's coach at the time?

[faeryquene]

@jmichels0n I'm so very sorry for the loss of your dad and aunt. It is lovely he was his sister's biggest fan. She seemed to be a real power skater of the day for sure! I'm impressed by the speed she had and her jumps! :)

[faeryquene]

I had always heard Linda Fratianne started the trend towards more glittery costumes following the somewhat subdued styles of Peggy Fleming, anet Lynn, and Dorothy Hamill-NOT! Some of those 1961 ladies appear to be wearing shortened ball gowns! :)

[faeryquene]

Such a lovely skater. A double Lutz! Very impressive for the day! I am continually amazed-I had no idea the ladies jumped so much by 1961-for silly reason I thought they mostly skated like they did in Sonja Henie's day. My bad! They were VERY athletic! And such beautiful dresses they wore in those days! I am so grateful you posted these! I too have heard of this lost generation of gifted figure skaters all of my life-but I've rarely seen footage, usually only of Maribel and Laurence Owen.

[r3sfernjbb]

@jmichels0n One of my coaches was a really good friend of Rhode. He always talks about her. She must have been fantastic. I'm so glad this video is up so I can see her.