S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
One more trip down memory lane -- the 1974 World Figure Skating Championships, which were held in Munich, West Germany.
The Women:
My memories of this Worlds centered primarily on what happened to 17-year-old Dorothy Hamill during this competition. Dorothy had recently won the first of three consecutive US titles and came into the long program with an excellence chance to win her first World medal. The West German champion, Gertrude Schundrel (sp?) had just skated a good program, but since she was in 11th place after the school figures and short program, she was not given very high marks. The audience erupted in an uproar of boos, catcalls, and whistles. Dorothy was next to skate, and she took to the ice to warm up while all of this was going on. She was announced as the next skater, and the audience again erupted in more boos and catcalls. Dorothy thought the audience was booing her, and she burst into tears, fled from the ice and ran, sobbing, into the arms of her father.
At this point, Dick Button, who was commentating, said (to paraphrase), "Oh, come now, that's nothing to be upset about. She's an emotional girl." Jim McKay, also commentating said, "Believe me, Dick, if I was competing for a World title and the audience reacted that way to me, I'd be just as upset. This is a miserable way for this audience to behave."
The referee approached Dorothy and told her she could take a short rest period to regain her composure. At that point, she straightened up, told the referee, "No, I don't need any extra consideration", marched onto the rink like a soldier and took her starting position at the center of the ice. The announcer stated her name, and this time the audience responded with a huge ovation.
Dorothy Hamill then skated one of the best long programs of her life - athletic, aggressive, confident, and artistic. She won the long program with her strong performance to “Firebird”. You go, girl!
The gold medal was won by Christine Errath of East Germany. Errath was a rather “sturdy” skater, with strong, athletic skating, but not much in the way of artistry. Christine did skate a great competition, however, and she deserved the title. In those days you had to be skilled in the school figures, the short, and the long program. One serious slip-up in any of the three phases, and you'd be in serious trouble to win a medal, much less the title.
The bronze medal was won by Diane de Leeuw who represented the Netherlands. Diane, a native of Paramount, California, had dual citizenship. Why she chose to skate for the Netherlands is beyond me - she obviously would have qualified for the US World and Olympic teams. Oh, well.
The Men:
Jan Hoffmann of East Germany won his first World title. Jan was another "sturdy" skater who was far from exciting to watch, but he had excellent school figures, and he made few mistakes. His overall package was good enough to win. He was coached by Gaby Seyfert's mother, Mrs. Mueller (who later became the coach of Annet Poetszh and Katarina Witt).
The silver medal was son by Soviet Sergei Volkov. I barely remember watching him skate. He was rather stiff-limbed, but he was another skater who made few mistakes, and his overall performance was strong.
Canadian Toller Cranston won the bronze medal. Toller was a real maverick on the ice, with very innovative choreography that was sometimes not well understood by the judges. At least that's the impression I used to have of Cranston vis-a-vis the international judges. Toller was a true artist on the ice. It seemed that he was painting a canvas with his programs.
Pairs:
Irina Rodnina/Alexandr Zaitsev won yet another World title. Irina was a firey skater - petite, strong, gutsy, and always right on the money. I can't remember seeing Irina ever miss a jump or spin in competition (although I remember her coming out of a lift awkwardly at the 1980 Olympics). Rodnina/Zaitsev were so powerful! The commanded the ice when the competed.
Ludmila Smirnova/Alexsei Ulanov of the USSR won the silver medal. Ulanov had been Rodnina's partner for several years and had won several World titles and the 1972 Olympic gold medal with her. Alas, he fell in love with Smirnova and broke the partnership with Rodnina. However, Rodnina's partnership with Zaitsev was extremely successful - World titles between 1974-1978 and the 1976 and 1980 Olympic gold medals. Irina had the last laugh in that situation, IMHO.
Romy Kermer and and Rolf Osterreich of East Germany won the bronze medal. I liked their style - very speedy, lots of expression and joy.
Dance:
Ah! The wonderful dance team of the late Ludmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov of the USSR won the gold medal. This husband and wife team really dominated ice dancing in the 1970s. Ludmila was by far the strongest member of the pair, with great technical skills and a natural way of relating to the audience. Aleksandr was pretty wooden as a skater; however, he presented his wife beautifully. Sadly, Ludmila passed away in 1986 at the age of 40.
In second place was Hilary Green and Glyn Watts of Great Britain. The bronze medal was won by Soviets Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.
Still, what I remember most is Dorothy Hamill's gutsy long program. She went out there and skated like a champion.
The Women:
My memories of this Worlds centered primarily on what happened to 17-year-old Dorothy Hamill during this competition. Dorothy had recently won the first of three consecutive US titles and came into the long program with an excellence chance to win her first World medal. The West German champion, Gertrude Schundrel (sp?) had just skated a good program, but since she was in 11th place after the school figures and short program, she was not given very high marks. The audience erupted in an uproar of boos, catcalls, and whistles. Dorothy was next to skate, and she took to the ice to warm up while all of this was going on. She was announced as the next skater, and the audience again erupted in more boos and catcalls. Dorothy thought the audience was booing her, and she burst into tears, fled from the ice and ran, sobbing, into the arms of her father.
At this point, Dick Button, who was commentating, said (to paraphrase), "Oh, come now, that's nothing to be upset about. She's an emotional girl." Jim McKay, also commentating said, "Believe me, Dick, if I was competing for a World title and the audience reacted that way to me, I'd be just as upset. This is a miserable way for this audience to behave."
The referee approached Dorothy and told her she could take a short rest period to regain her composure. At that point, she straightened up, told the referee, "No, I don't need any extra consideration", marched onto the rink like a soldier and took her starting position at the center of the ice. The announcer stated her name, and this time the audience responded with a huge ovation.
Dorothy Hamill then skated one of the best long programs of her life - athletic, aggressive, confident, and artistic. She won the long program with her strong performance to “Firebird”. You go, girl!
The gold medal was won by Christine Errath of East Germany. Errath was a rather “sturdy” skater, with strong, athletic skating, but not much in the way of artistry. Christine did skate a great competition, however, and she deserved the title. In those days you had to be skilled in the school figures, the short, and the long program. One serious slip-up in any of the three phases, and you'd be in serious trouble to win a medal, much less the title.
The bronze medal was won by Diane de Leeuw who represented the Netherlands. Diane, a native of Paramount, California, had dual citizenship. Why she chose to skate for the Netherlands is beyond me - she obviously would have qualified for the US World and Olympic teams. Oh, well.
The Men:
Jan Hoffmann of East Germany won his first World title. Jan was another "sturdy" skater who was far from exciting to watch, but he had excellent school figures, and he made few mistakes. His overall package was good enough to win. He was coached by Gaby Seyfert's mother, Mrs. Mueller (who later became the coach of Annet Poetszh and Katarina Witt).
The silver medal was son by Soviet Sergei Volkov. I barely remember watching him skate. He was rather stiff-limbed, but he was another skater who made few mistakes, and his overall performance was strong.
Canadian Toller Cranston won the bronze medal. Toller was a real maverick on the ice, with very innovative choreography that was sometimes not well understood by the judges. At least that's the impression I used to have of Cranston vis-a-vis the international judges. Toller was a true artist on the ice. It seemed that he was painting a canvas with his programs.
Pairs:
Irina Rodnina/Alexandr Zaitsev won yet another World title. Irina was a firey skater - petite, strong, gutsy, and always right on the money. I can't remember seeing Irina ever miss a jump or spin in competition (although I remember her coming out of a lift awkwardly at the 1980 Olympics). Rodnina/Zaitsev were so powerful! The commanded the ice when the competed.
Ludmila Smirnova/Alexsei Ulanov of the USSR won the silver medal. Ulanov had been Rodnina's partner for several years and had won several World titles and the 1972 Olympic gold medal with her. Alas, he fell in love with Smirnova and broke the partnership with Rodnina. However, Rodnina's partnership with Zaitsev was extremely successful - World titles between 1974-1978 and the 1976 and 1980 Olympic gold medals. Irina had the last laugh in that situation, IMHO.
Romy Kermer and and Rolf Osterreich of East Germany won the bronze medal. I liked their style - very speedy, lots of expression and joy.
Dance:
Ah! The wonderful dance team of the late Ludmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov of the USSR won the gold medal. This husband and wife team really dominated ice dancing in the 1970s. Ludmila was by far the strongest member of the pair, with great technical skills and a natural way of relating to the audience. Aleksandr was pretty wooden as a skater; however, he presented his wife beautifully. Sadly, Ludmila passed away in 1986 at the age of 40.
In second place was Hilary Green and Glyn Watts of Great Britain. The bronze medal was won by Soviets Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.
Still, what I remember most is Dorothy Hamill's gutsy long program. She went out there and skated like a champion.
