- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
- Country
-
1952 & 1953 Ice Dance World Silver Medallist Joan Slater passes away
DSQ has already announced this in the British & Irish thread. But, given her high profile, I felt it should have it's own thread.
Joan Slater MBE (née Dewhurst), who was 3 time British Champion and runner-up in the World Championships in 1952 and 1953 with future husband John Slater, has died.
For younger fans, she is probably better known as a coach, and for being the mother of 1976 Junior World Champion turned Eurosport commentator Nicky Slater.
Here is the obituary on the British Federation's website:
https://www.iceskating.org.uk/post/joan-slater-mbe-obituary
There are some real nuggets in there. I didn't realise that Joan and John also competed in Pairs skating as Juniors. Or that they were runners-up in the "unofficial" world championships held the year before the "official" World Championships were first held. So, in effect, they were the runners-up in the world championships for 3 years in a row!
I often wondered why, having been the bridesmaids at ISU Worlds twice, they didn't go for "third time lucky" in attempting to break the Golden streak of team-mates Westwood / Demmy. But, I found out the answer in that obituary - it was because Joan and John instead turned professional. And it looks to be a wise decision, as they dominated at Professional Worlds, winning 6 titles in 7 years.
Nicky was the reason for the interruption to this run.
I have tried to find videos of Dewhurst / Slater skating, but alas was unsuccessful. But, there are some nice photos of them in the obituary.
Joan had a lot of success in her life, both in her own competitive career, and through her subsequent coaching career. Her death is a great loss to British figure skating. But, she is now re-united with her beloved John.
My thoughts go out to her family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
DSQ has already announced this in the British & Irish thread. But, given her high profile, I felt it should have it's own thread.
Joan Slater MBE (née Dewhurst), who was 3 time British Champion and runner-up in the World Championships in 1952 and 1953 with future husband John Slater, has died.
For younger fans, she is probably better known as a coach, and for being the mother of 1976 Junior World Champion turned Eurosport commentator Nicky Slater.
Here is the obituary on the British Federation's website:
https://www.iceskating.org.uk/post/joan-slater-mbe-obituary
There are some real nuggets in there. I didn't realise that Joan and John also competed in Pairs skating as Juniors. Or that they were runners-up in the "unofficial" world championships held the year before the "official" World Championships were first held. So, in effect, they were the runners-up in the world championships for 3 years in a row!
I often wondered why, having been the bridesmaids at ISU Worlds twice, they didn't go for "third time lucky" in attempting to break the Golden streak of team-mates Westwood / Demmy. But, I found out the answer in that obituary - it was because Joan and John instead turned professional. And it looks to be a wise decision, as they dominated at Professional Worlds, winning 6 titles in 7 years.
Nicky was the reason for the interruption to this run.
I have tried to find videos of Dewhurst / Slater skating, but alas was unsuccessful. But, there are some nice photos of them in the obituary.
Joan had a lot of success in her life, both in her own competitive career, and through her subsequent coaching career. Her death is a great loss to British figure skating. But, she is now re-united with her beloved John.
My thoughts go out to her family, friends, students and fans.
CaroLiza_fan
"
