1968/69 Ronnie and Cindy Kauffman - Pairs

America's 'dear and darling' pair team of the 1960's. Although truly great skaters (credited with inventing the throw axel), they are best known (and remembered) for the two worst moments of their competitive careers. Here I put together a feature of their performance at the first "Memorial Fund" fundraiser held in Madison Square Garden, just before the 1972 Olympics.

I can still see the shocking 1969 moment from Worlds. I was watching them on my 12 inch Sears portable black and white tv (nose to the screen), when his toe pick went out again. I was "crushed" and bewildered. I went sobbing into the kitchen to tell my mom what had happened. She looked at me like I was crazy!! (which I was, skating crazy!!) They were a minute away from a World title in my mind, and to this day, I can't hear the music of "Marche Slav" without seeing that blurred video image which was burned into my brain.

I happened to actually see them skate once. They were traveling cross country to attend Nationals somewhere, and they stopped in Louisville, at the Gardner Lane Ice Rink to practice. I just happened to be coming in to the rink that day. Watching them, I knew I HAD to pair skate. Cindy was one person who the term "sparkling" can honestly be applied, and she was very outgoing and pleasant to everyone there that day.

World Bronze Medalists 1966 - 1968
US Champs 1966 - 69. 2nd 1965, 3rd 1964

Yes, I know most of the pictures are of Peggy Fleming. That was a Sports Illustrated article, which Ronnie managed to get a picture included, standing on the Eiffel Tower. The other young man Peggy is cavorting with is Alan Calmut, famous French skater and coach! (Such a flirt)

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• 1968
• 1969
• Pairs
• Cindy
• Ronnie
• Kauffman
• Alan
• Calmat
• Memorial
• fund
• exhibition
• madison
• square
• garden
• 1972

[nolaughingmatter]

k9, I enjoyed reading your story, heartbreaking it must have been.

[k9henrydog]

oh...it stays with me even today.......i can still see that dark winter evening, in our back bedroom, as if it just happened. guess you call that a Psychic Connection!! lol What would my life have been without Dick Button and skating.......??? I don't want to know.....hope all is well with you. best wishes

[peppe201]

The first audio section is from the 1968 Winter Olympics. They were in line for the bronze medal( as they had won in the previous two Worlds) and were skating perfectly up to the death spiral. They then missed another move near the end of the program and finished in 6th overall.

[k9henrydog]

That was a harsh 'punishment'!! Sometimes the judges hold you up, sometimes they don't!! go figure (skating)!! best wishes

[lindabsk8]

Back in those days the judging was unfair. Crooked .