The World Figure Skating Championships

World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...

is an annual figure skating competition

Figure skating competition

-International:* International competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union. These competitions are held using ISU rules; skaters are entered by their respective national skating federations....

 sanctioned by the International Skating Union

International Skating Union

The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...

 in which figure skaters

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 compete for the title of World Champion.

The 1963 competitions for men, ladies, pairs and ice dancing took place February 28th to March 3rd, 1963 in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and comune in the southern Alps located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Dolomites in an alpine valley, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. The competition was held in the open-air ice stadium, with events running as late as 1 or 2am, by which time it was very cold. This caused the ice to become hard and brittle, as well as causing discomfort to those in attendance.

Perhaps due to the poor ice conditions, the men's competition was marred by many falls. Both the winner Donald McPherson and second-place finisher Alain Calmat

Alain Calmat

Alain Calmat is a French former competitive figure skater, surgeon, and politician. He is the 1964 Olympic silver medalist, the 1965 World Champion, the 1962–1964 European Champion, and the 1958 & 1962–1965 French national champion.-Career:Calmat started skating at the age of nine...

 fell on triple loop

Loop jump

The Loop jump is a figure skating jump that takes off from a back outside edge and lands on the same backwards outside edge. For a jump with counterclockwise rotation, this is the right back outside edge. It is named from its similarity to the loop compulsory figure. The invention is widely...

 attempts, but neither Manfred Schnelldorfer

Manfred Schnelldorfer

Manfred Schnelldorfer is a German figure skater, and a World and Olympic champion.-Career:...

 nor Karol Divín

Karol Divín

Karol Emil Divín, born Finster, nickname "Karcsi", is a former Chechoslovak figure skater who represented Czechoslovakia in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He is the 1960 Winter Olympics silver medalist, 1958-1959 European champion and the 1962 World silver medalist...

, who had been placed 1-2 after the compulsory figures

Compulsory figures

Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight...

, performed well in the free skating.

Marika Kilius

Marika Kilius

Marika Kilius is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion in pair skating....

 and Hans-Jürgen Bäumler

Hans-Jürgen Bäumler

Hans-Jürgen Bäumler is a German pair skater, actor, singer and television host.- Biography :...

 won the pair competition, although some questioned whether some of their lifts, including a "triple axel lift" (an axel lasso lift

Axel lift

An axel lift, in pairs figure skating is a movement in which the woman is turned over her partner's head one and a half times.From a position of holding hands on one side, her partner lifts her with his hand under her armpit and the lift begins from the woman's outside forward edge and ends on the...

 with 3.5 rotations), were legal under the ISU rules of the time. The Canadian team of Debbi Wilkes

Debbi Wilkes

Debbi Wilkes is a Canadian former pair skater. Competing with Guy Revell, she captured two Canadian titles, the 1963 North American Championship, and won the bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics....

 and Guy Revell

Guy Revell

Guy Revell was a Canadian figure skater. He competed in pairs with Debbi Wilkes. The couple captured two Canadian titles, the 1963 North American Championship, and won the bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics....

 had to withdraw after Wilkes suffered a head injury in a fall while posing for press photos.

Disaster also struck the American dance team Yvonne Littlefield

Yvonne Littlefield

Yvonne Littlefield is an American former ice dancer. Skating with Peter Betts, she won the ice dance title at the 1962 United States Figure Skating Championships. She had previously won the bronze medal at the 1960 U.S. Championships skating with Roger Campbell.Littlefield and Betts were married...

 and Peter Betts

Peter Betts

Peter Betts is an American former figure skater. Skating with Yvonne Littlefield, he won the ice dance title at the 1962 United States Figure Skating Championships....

. They placed 9th in the compulsory dances, but in the free dance Betts's blade came unscrewed from the boot and they were unable to finish their program. Meanwhile, the defending champions Eva Romanová

Eva Romanová

Eva Romanová is a former Czech figure skater. Together with her brother Pavel Roman, she won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.- Career :...

 and Pavel Roman

Pavel Roman

Pavel Roman was a Czech figure skater. Together with his sister Eva Romanová he won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.-Career:...

 came from behind to retain title after being defeated in the compulsory dances by the British team, Linda Shearman

Linda Shearman

Linda Shearman is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Michael Phillips, she is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...

 and Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips (figure skater)

Michael Phillips is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Linda Shearman, he is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...

, who had also defeated the Romans at the European Championships

1963 European Figure Skating Championships

The 1963 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1962-1963 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...

 earlier that year.

Defending champion Sjoukje Dijkstra

Sjoukje Dijkstra

Sjoukje Rosalinde Dijkstra is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1964 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion , five-time European champion , and the six-time Dutch national champion .Following the retirement of Carol Heiss in 1960, who...

 also retained her title, building a big lead in the compulsory figures and following it with a good performance in the free skate, in which she now included a double lutz

Lutz jump

The Lutz is a figure skating jump, named after Alois Lutz, an Austrian skater who performed it in 1913. It is a toepick-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.- Lutz technique:...

 for the first time. Nicole Hassler

Nicole Hassler

Nicole Hassler was a French figure skater. She was the 1963 World bronze medalist, the 1963 European silver medalist and the 1964-1966 European bronze medalist...

, second in the free skate and third overall, had two strong double axels

Axel jump

The Axel is a figure skating jump with a forward take-off. It is named after the Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen, who first performed the jump in 1882. An Axel jump has an extra ½ rotation in the air due to its forward take-off...

 at the end of her program.
The Japanese competitor Miwa Fukuhara

Miwa Fukuhara

is a Japanese figure skater who is now a coach. She was born in Tokyo.She is a six-time Japanese national champion. She finished 21st in the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, and 5th in the 1964 Winter Olympic Games. She is a member of the founding family of Shiseido....

, who finished 6th overall, included a triple salchow

Salchow jump

The Salchow is a figure skating jump with a takeoff from a back inside edge of one foot. The rotation in the air is made in the direction of the curve of the take-off edge. The landing is made on the back outside edge of the foot opposite the one used for take-off. One or more rotations may be...

 in her program.

Men

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Donald McPherson	Canada	18
2	Alain Calmat Alain Calmat Alain Calmat is a French former competitive figure skater, surgeon, and politician. He is the 1964 Olympic silver medalist, the 1965 World Champion, the 1962–1964 European Champion, and the 1958 & 1962–1965 French national champion.-Career:Calmat started skating at the age of nine...		22
3	Manfred Schnelldorfer Manfred Schnelldorfer Manfred Schnelldorfer is a German figure skater, and a World and Olympic champion.-Career:...		22
4	Karol Divín Karol Divín Karol Emil Divín, born Finster, nickname "Karcsi", is a former Chechoslovak figure skater who represented Czechoslovakia in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He is the 1960 Winter Olympics silver medalist, 1958-1959 European champion and the 1962 World silver medalist...		34
5	Scott Allen Scott Allen Scott Ethan Allen is an American figure skater. He is the 1964 Olympic bronze medalist, the 1965 World silver medalist, and the 1964 and 1966 U.S. national champion....		40
6	Peter Jonas Peter Jonas (figure skater) Peter Jonas is an Austrian figure skater. He is the 1965 European bronze medalist. He represented Austria at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where he placed 13th, and at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 7th....		59
7	Sepp Schönmetzler Sepp Schönmetzler Sepp Schönmetzler is a German figure skater, coach, and journalist. He is the 1962 and 1965 German national champion and placed 12th at the 1964 Winter Olympics...		71
8	Donald Knight Donald Knight (figure skater) Donald Knight is the 1965-1967 Canadian national champion in men's singles. He won the North American Figure Skating Championships in 1967, having placed third in the previous competition, in 1965. Knight also won the bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1965...	Canada	79
9	Emmerich Danzer Emmerich Danzer Emmerich Danzer was an Austrian figure skater and multiple European and World Champion.-Career:Emmerich Danzer began to skate at the age of five. He attended a Catholic school in Vienna...		80
10	Nobuo Sato Nobuo Sato is a Japanese figure skater and coach. He is a ten-time Japanese national champion. He represented Japan at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where he placed 14th, and at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 8th. His best finish at the World Championships was 4th in 1965. He is married to Kumiko Okawa...		88
11	Monty Hoyt Monty Hoyt Monty Hoyt was an American figure skater. He was the 1962 U.S. national champion, the 1961 Junior national champion, and the 1959 Novice national champion. He represented the United States at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 10th.After winning the U.S...		83
12	Robert Dureville Robert Dureville Robert Dureville is a French figure skater. He is a six-time French silver medalist. He represented France at the 1964 Winter Olympics, where he placed 17th.-Competitive highlights:-References:* *...		117
13	Hugo Dümler		122
14	Jenő Ébert		130
15	Bill Neale Bill Neale Bill Neale is a former Canadian figure skater. He was the 1963 National bronze medalist.-Results:-References:*...	Canada	136
16	Valeri Meshkov		145
17	Giordano Abbondati Giordano Abbondati Giordano Abbondati was a former Italian figure skater and seven-time national champion from 1961-66 and 1968...		144
18	Malcolm Cannon		159
19	Wouter Toledo Wouter Toledo Wouter Toledo is a former Dutch figure skater.-Results:-Navigation:...		161

Judges were

• E. Kucharz
• J. A. McKechnie  Canada
• Zdeněk Fikar 
• N. Valdes
• Adolf Walker 
• Pamela Peat 
• Giovanni DeMori 
• C. Benedict-Stieber
• John R. Shoemaker 

Ladies

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Sjoukje Dijkstra Sjoukje Dijkstra Sjoukje Rosalinde Dijkstra is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1964 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, the 1960 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion , five-time European champion , and the six-time Dutch national champion .Following the retirement of Carol Heiss in 1960, who...		9
2	Regine Heitzer Regine Heitzer Regine Heitzer is an Austrian figure skater who competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1964 Winter Olympics.She skated professionally, in the Vienna Ice Revue and Holiday on Ice, from 1967 to 1971 until sidelined by a medical condition that left her without feeling in one of her feet after a...		22
3	Nicole Hassler Nicole Hassler Nicole Hassler was a French figure skater. She was the 1963 World bronze medalist, the 1963 European silver medalist and the 1964-1966 European bronze medalist...		30
4	Wendy Griner Wendy Griner Wendy Griner is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 1960-63 Canadian national champion and the 1962 World silver medalist...	Canada	36
5	Petra Burka	Canada	39
6	Miwa Fukuhara Miwa Fukuhara is a Japanese figure skater who is now a coach. She was born in Tokyo.She is a six-time Japanese national champion. She finished 21st in the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, and 5th in the 1964 Winter Olympic Games. She is a member of the founding family of Shiseido....		68
7	Inge Paul		75
8	Jana Mrázková		73
9	Helli Sengstschmid		73
10	Lorraine Hanlon Lorraine Hanlon Lorraine Hanlon is an American figure skater who competed in ladies singles. She is the 1963 U.S. national champion.-Career:She won the junior title at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships...		89
11	Diana Clifton-Peach		97
12	Ingrid Ostler		110
13	Karen Howland		130
14	Fränzi Schmidt		128
15	Eva Grozajova		138
16	Ann-Margreth Frei		140
17	Junko Ueno		147
18	Sandra Brugnera		161
19	Christine Haigler		167
20	Shirra Kenworthy Shirra Kenworthy Shirra Kenworthy was a Canadian figure skater who competed in ladies' singles. She won the silver medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1960 and 1961 and captured the bronze the next three years...	Canada	160
21	Zsuzsa Szentmiklóssy		191
22	Anne Karin Dehle Anne Karin Dehle Anne Karin Dehle is a Norwegian figure skater who competed in the 1950s and 1960s. She became Norwegian champion in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1969. She competed at the Winter Olympics in 1964, and participated at several European and World championships.-Results:-References:...		198
23	Tatiana Nemtsova		204
24	Elżbieta Kościk		215

Judges were

• Oskar Madl 
• E. R. S. McLauchlin  Canada
• Emil Skákala 
• Gérard Rodrigues-Henriques 
• Theo Klemm 
• C. Benedict-Stieber
• W. Fritz
• L. B. Sanderson
• Sergei Vasiliev 

Pairs

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Marika Kilius Marika Kilius Marika Kilius is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion in pair skating....  / Hans-Jürgen Bäumler Hans-Jürgen Bäumler Hans-Jürgen Bäumler is a German pair skater, actor, singer and television host.- Biography :...		9
2	Liudmila Belousova / Oleg Protopopov Oleg Protopopov Oleg Alekseyevich Protopopov is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With his partner Ludmila Belousova, he is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Protopopov started skating relatively late, at age 15...		20
3	Tatiana Zhuk / Alexander Gavrilov		31
4	Gertrude Desjardins / Maurice Lefrance	Canada	31.5
5	Milada Kubikova / Jaroslav Votruba		51.5
6	Gerda Johner / Rüdi Johner		58.5
7	Judianne Fotheringill Judianne Fotheringill Judianne "Judi" Fotheringill is an American pair skater. With brother Jerry Fotheringill, she is the 1963 and 1964 U.S. national champion...  / Jerry Fotheringill Jerry Fotheringill Jerry Joseph Fotheringill is an American former pair skater. With sister Judianne Fotheringill, he was the U.S. national champion in 1963 and 1964...		64
8	Vivian Joseph Vivian Joseph Vivian Joseph is a female American figure skater.-Skating career:Vivian and her older brother Ronald Joseph began skating together as children, attended Highland Park High School, and competed for the Broadmoor Skating Club of Colorado.The two siblings entered their first regional competition, the...  / Ronald Joseph Ronald Joseph Ronald Joseph was an American figure skater.-Skating career:Ronald and his younger sister Vivian Joseph began skating together as children, attended Highland Park High School, and competed for the Broadmoor Skating Club of Colorado.He was an excellent all-around athlete...		66.5
9	Patty Gustafson / Pieter Kollen Pieter Kollen Pieter Kollen was an American figure skater and coach. In 1962 he won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in pair skating with partner Dorothyann Nelson, and also placed second in the ice dance competition at the same event...		84
10	Sonja Pfersdorf / Günther Matzdorf		84
11	Linda Ann Ward Linda Ann Ward Linda Ann Ward is a Canadian former figure skater who competed in pairs. With partner Neil Carpenter, she won a bronze medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1963, captured a silver the following year, and competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics.-Results:pairs with Neil...  / Neil Carpenter Neil Carpenter Neil B. Carpenter is a Canadian former pair skater. With partner Linda Ann Ward, he won a bronze medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1963, captured a silver the following year, and competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics.-Results:pairs with Linda Ann Ward-References:...	Canada	95
12	Gunilla Lindberg / Gunnar de Sharengrad		107

Judges were

• W. Malek
• E. R. S. McLauchlin  Canada
• Zdeněk Fikar 
• N. Valdes
• János Zsigmondy 
• Elemér Terták
  Elemér Terták
  Elemér Terták was an Hungarian figure skater who competed in men's singles. He won the bronze medal at the 1934 European Figure Skating Championships, the 1937 European Championships, and the 1937 World Figure Skating Championships. He also competed in the 1936 Winter Olympic Games, finishing...
  
   
• W. Fritz
• L. B. Sanderson
• Sergei Vasiliev 

Ice Dancing

Rank	Name	Nation	Places
1	Eva Romanová Eva Romanová Eva Romanová is a former Czech figure skater. Together with her brother Pavel Roman, she won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.- Career :...  / Pavel Roman Pavel Roman Pavel Roman was a Czech figure skater. Together with his sister Eva Romanová he won four World Figure Skating Championships titles in ice dancing.-Career:...		14
2	Linda Shearman Linda Shearman Linda Shearman is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Michael Phillips, she is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...  / Michael Phillips Michael Phillips (figure skater) Michael Phillips is a British retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Linda Shearman, he is the 1963 European Champion and World silver medalist.-Results:-References:* *...		15
3	Paulette Doan Paulette Doan Paulette Doan is a former Canadian ice dancer. She competed with Kenneth Ormsby. Together, they were the 1963 and 1964 Canadian champions and in those years won bronze and silver medals at the World Figure Skating Championships.During her competitive career she lived in Toronto and was also...  / Kenneth Ormsby Kenneth Ormsby Kenneth Ormsby is a former Canadian ice dancer. Competing with Paulette Doan, he was the 1963 and 1964 Canadian champion and in those years won bronze and silver medals at the World Figure Skating Championships....	Canada	26
4	Janet Sawbridge / David Hickinbottom		36
5	Donna Mitchell / John Mitchell	Canada	47
6	Mary Parry / Roy Mason		62
7	Sally Schantz Sally Schantz Sally Schantz is an American former figure skater. She competed in ice dance with Stanley Urban. Together, they were the 1963 U.S. Champions....  / Stanley Urban Stanley Urban Stanley Urban is an American former ice dancer. With Sally Schantz, he won the 1963 U.S. Championships, and later won a further two medals at the U.S. Championships competing with his sister Susan Urban....		66
8	Lorna Dyer Lorna Dyer Lorna Dyer is an American ice dancer. With partner John Carrell, she is the 1967 U.S. national champion. They are the 1967 World silver medalists and 1965-1966 World bronze medalists.-Results:...  / John Carrell		71
9	Györgyi Korda / Pal Vasarhelyi		82
10	Carol Forrest / Kevin Lethbridge	Canada	93
11	Marlise Fornachon / Charly Pichard		96
12	Armelle Flichy / Pierre Brun		120
13	Helga Burkhardt / Hannes Burkhardt		116
14	Jitka Babická / Jaromír Hollan		117
15	Christl Trebesiner / Gerald Felsinger		132
16	Ghislaine Houdas / Francis Gamichon		141
17	Yvonne Littlefield Yvonne Littlefield Yvonne Littlefield is an American former ice dancer. Skating with Peter Betts, she won the ice dance title at the 1962 United States Figure Skating Championships. She had previously won the bronze medal at the 1960 U.S. Championships skating with Roger Campbell.Littlefield and Betts were married...  / Peter Betts Peter Betts Peter Betts is an American former figure skater. Skating with Yvonne Littlefield, he won the ice dance title at the 1962 United States Figure Skating Championships....		152
18	Maria Grazia Toncelli / Vinicio Toncelli		153

Judges were

• Hans Meixner 
• J. A. McKechnie  Canada
• Emil Skakala 
• Claude Lambert 
• H. Wollersen
• Mollie Phillips 
• Elemér Terták
  Elemér Terták
  Elemér Terták was an Hungarian figure skater who competed in men's singles. He won the bronze medal at the 1934 European Figure Skating Championships, the 1937 European Championships, and the 1937 World Figure Skating Championships. He also competed in the 1936 Winter Olympic Games, finishing...
  
   
• C. Bernacchi
• John R. Shoemaker