Hana Mašková
Encyclopedia
Hana Mašková (ˈɦana ˈmaʃkovaː) (September 26, 1949 – March 31, 1972) was a Czech
figure skater
who competed for Czechoslovakia
.
. Reputable coach Karel Glogar noticed the talent in this little girl. Glogar also had been instrumental in the beginning of the career of Ája Vrzáňová, two-time World champion. Hana's next coach was Jaroslav Sadílek and, finally, in 1963, Míla Nováková became her coach.
in Budapest
in 1963. The next year, she competed in the World Figure Skating Championships
in Dortmund
. As a fifteen year old, she represented Czechoslovakia
at the 1964 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck
and placed 15th.
She achieved success thanks to hard work. She got up at four o'clock in the morning. She had to be excellent in school, learn to play the piano, study German language
, and train every day. This hard regimen made her successful.
In 1967, Hana won the silver medal at the European Championships in Ljubljana
, Yugoslavia
, finishing second to Gabriele Seyfert
from GDR. One year later, Hana won the gold medal in Västerås
in Sweden
. In Grenoble
, where the 1968 Winter Olympics
took place, she was expected to medal. Her greatest rivals were Peggy Fleming
from USA, who had already won two of her three world championships, and Gabriele Seyfert. Hana won the bronze medal. She is the only Czech woman who has won an Olympic medal in figure skating.
Ája Vrzáňová invited her to join a professional revue, but Hana stayed one more year. As a result, she won the silver medal at European Championships in 1969 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
, West Germany
. Gabriele Seyfert won the gold medal.
.
and was killed immediately. Her tomb is at the Vyšehrad
cemetery in Prague, decorated by a winged female torso made by Jan Štursa
.
Hana was often called the "jumping phenomenon", but she was also a very elegant and artistic skater.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
figure skater
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...
who competed for Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
Biography
As a child, Hana spent her days on the ice at the Štvanice StadiumŠtvanice stadium
Štvanice stadium is situated on Štvanice Island and is ranked among the oldest stadiums in Prague. The stadium was in its heyday in the first half of the 20th Century, but has been in decline since 1961.-Early days:...
. Reputable coach Karel Glogar noticed the talent in this little girl. Glogar also had been instrumental in the beginning of the career of Ája Vrzáňová, two-time World champion. Hana's next coach was Jaroslav Sadílek and, finally, in 1963, Míla Nováková became her coach.
Amateur career
Hana's career started in the European Figure Skating ChampionshipsEuropean Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 1963. The next year, she competed in 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...
in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
. As a fifteen year old, she represented Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
and placed 15th.
She achieved success thanks to hard work. She got up at four o'clock in the morning. She had to be excellent in school, learn to play the piano, study German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and train every day. This hard regimen made her successful.
In 1967, Hana won the silver medal at the European Championships in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, finishing second to Gabriele Seyfert
Gabriele Seyfert
Gabriele Seyfert is a retired German figure skater. She is a two-time world champion , and the 1968 Olympic silver medalist.-Biography:...
from GDR. One year later, Hana won the gold medal in Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. In Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, where the 1968 Winter Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
took place, she was expected to medal. Her greatest rivals were Peggy Fleming
Peggy Fleming
Peggy Gail Fleming is an American figure skater. She is the 1968 Olympic Champion in Ladies' singles and a three-time World Champion...
from USA, who had already won two of her three world championships, and Gabriele Seyfert. Hana won the bronze medal. She is the only Czech woman who has won an Olympic medal in figure skating.
Ája Vrzáňová invited her to join a professional revue, but Hana stayed one more year. As a result, she won the silver medal at European Championships in 1969 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Gabriele Seyfert won the gold medal.
Professional career
In 1969 she left amateur figure skating and she skated in the professional revue Holiday on IceHoliday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
.
Death
On March 31, 1972 Hana was in a car crash near the French town VouvrayVouvray
Vouvray is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.It is best known for its production of white wine, among some of the best rated in France.-References:*...
and was killed immediately. Her tomb is at the Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is a castle located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River...
cemetery in Prague, decorated by a winged female torso made by Jan Štursa
Jan Štursa
Jan Štursa was a Czech sculptor, one of founders of modern Czech sculpture.- Birth and studies :...
.
Hana was often called the "jumping phenomenon", but she was also a very elegant and artistic skater.
Results
| Event | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
15th | 3rd | |||||
| World 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... |
16th | 13th | 6th | 3rd | 3rd | WD | |
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
15th | 7th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | |
| Czechoslovakian Championships Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championships The Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championships were a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Czechoslovakia prior to the dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |