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Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team
Most sports fans have heard the tragic story of the plane crash that killed all the members of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Team, along with sixteen of their friends, family and coaches. Now, for the first time, Frozen in Time takes readers inside the lives of the skaters, telling one of the most iconic stories in the history of American sport.
The dramatic focus lingers on two families of powerful women. Maribel Owen—the most famous woman in figure skating at the time—who relentlessly drove her two young daughters, pairs champion Mara and the spectacular Laurence, who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Myra Westerfeld, meanwhile, lost her marriage while guiding her daughters Sherri and Steffi to the pinnacle of the sport.
Author Nikki Nichols also explores the crash’s aftermath, an unprecedented period in American athletics. The U.S. skating program had lost all of its stars and struggled to rebuild with very young competitors, such as Peggy Fleming. But, perhaps the most far-reaching effect was the creation of a memorial fund that would support skaters who would not otherwise be able to afford the sport—among them Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, and others.
The dramatic focus lingers on two families of powerful women. Maribel Owen—the most famous woman in figure skating at the time—who relentlessly drove her two young daughters, pairs champion Mara and the spectacular Laurence, who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Myra Westerfeld, meanwhile, lost her marriage while guiding her daughters Sherri and Steffi to the pinnacle of the sport.
Author Nikki Nichols also explores the crash’s aftermath, an unprecedented period in American athletics. The U.S. skating program had lost all of its stars and struggled to rebuild with very young competitors, such as Peggy Fleming. But, perhaps the most far-reaching effect was the creation of a memorial fund that would support skaters who would not otherwise be able to afford the sport—among them Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, and others.
237 pages, Hardcover
First published December 16, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 6, 2009
Frozen in Time" is a well researched and well written look at the entire U.S. Skating team that was killed in a 1961 plane crash in Brussels. Author Nikki Nichols focuses mostly on the Owen family (nine time National Champion Maribel Vinson Owen and her daughters, "Little Maribel" and newly crowned National Champion, 16 year old Laurence) and Stephanie Westerfield, Laurence's closest rival and her sister Sharon. The book also gives insight into what skating was like at that time, with detailed explanations of elements such as school figures which are no longer included in competitions and the different competitions themselves, including the North American Championships which no longer exists. Finally, the book also talks about the devastating affect the deaths had on family members left behind as well as how the deaths forever changed the United States figure skating program.
Although I was just a baby when it happened, I'm a long time figure skating fan and I grew up hearing about the plane crash and wondered what had happened. This long overdue remembrance is a poignant read and by the end readers will feel as if they knew each skater. Nikki Nichols intersperses the history of skating with her narration, including the fact that 1961 was the first time Nationals was shown on television (although on tape, not live). Nichols also compares skating then to skating now and skating fans probably won't be too surprised to learn that even back in 1961 Maribel Owen was fighting corrupt judges. The book is full of pictures and many of them are haunting, such as the team posing for pictures on the steps of the doomed plane; a burnt skate; the charred copy of Sports Illustrated with Laurence Owen on the cover; and the ever present smile of Laurence.
If the book falters anywhere, it's when Nichols tries to imagine what the atmosphere on the doomed plane was. Of course, no one can know what conversations took place on the flight and Nichols valiant attempt doesn't work and tends to be over dramatic. I also wish the section dealing with the rebuilding of the U.S. Skating team had been a bit longer.
Still, these minor flaws shouldn't keep anyone from reading this excellent book.
Although I was just a baby when it happened, I'm a long time figure skating fan and I grew up hearing about the plane crash and wondered what had happened. This long overdue remembrance is a poignant read and by the end readers will feel as if they knew each skater. Nikki Nichols intersperses the history of skating with her narration, including the fact that 1961 was the first time Nationals was shown on television (although on tape, not live). Nichols also compares skating then to skating now and skating fans probably won't be too surprised to learn that even back in 1961 Maribel Owen was fighting corrupt judges. The book is full of pictures and many of them are haunting, such as the team posing for pictures on the steps of the doomed plane; a burnt skate; the charred copy of Sports Illustrated with Laurence Owen on the cover; and the ever present smile of Laurence.
If the book falters anywhere, it's when Nichols tries to imagine what the atmosphere on the doomed plane was. Of course, no one can know what conversations took place on the flight and Nichols valiant attempt doesn't work and tends to be over dramatic. I also wish the section dealing with the rebuilding of the U.S. Skating team had been a bit longer.
Still, these minor flaws shouldn't keep anyone from reading this excellent book.
December 28, 2024
What a fascinating story!
While I was too young to remember any details of this tragic event when it happened I certainly recall learning of it much later in time. I am however old enough to remember the rigor of training as a figure skater in that era, as I began lessons in about 1967.
The skating community leading up to, and in some cases, at that time was much smaller, and in this story as it was often only accessible to “the wealthy” this story reads like a “who’s who”, as is apparent from the anecdotes recounted and the participants.
But —- what a grand adventure it was for these young, dedicated athletes, (and their often pushy and controlling parents)! Although the plane crash that killed the US figure skating team was a horrific tragedy this story is really an ode to their talents, discipline and passion.
I enjoyed learning the back story of the skaters and their skating families.
I enjoyed the reminder of the rigorous testing and in particular the challenge of skating “figures” which in the old days were most skaters’ nemesis, …not to mention the judges!
Although I wasn’t part of the competitive scene I certainly skated with many who were, and who became very accomplished, and their coaches…. albeit we hailed from the Canadian side of the border. Many of my skating friends, (as did I), went on to skate in the professional revues, the Ice Follies, Ice Capades, or Disney on Ice. At that point you once again skated with that talented, disciplined, passionate group of athletes. So this story hit a lot of soft spots for me.
Each member of the US figure skating team is introduced to us, together with alternates, as well as those who made the trip, or missed the trip. The author takes us through the skaters’ journeys to bring them to the point of boarding that fateful flight, the competitions they have completed to be given the honor of representing their country in the World Championships in Prague. Each skaters’ story is filled with trials and tribulations, family sacrifices, joys and disappointments. The reader in many ways “gets to know” the personalities of these skaters, and of some their coaches and family members.
Each story draws you in to their world, onto their team. We learn of their relationships with former skaters, journalists, commentators (the infamous Dick Button, of course), their counterparts on the Canadian figure skating team, and their hopes and ambitions.
Much research was done by the author to bring this story forward. As many other reviewers have pointed out the chapter on the plane ride itself is purely conjecture. I do however appreciate that the author had to move us through that time and provided what is likely to be typical banter during the height of the catastrophe. It does set the stage for us.
The author does a follow up with the devastated family members and the skating community. The reactions are not surprising. Entire worlds came crashing down. She notes the changes made thereafter in skating programs, competitions and relationships. All of this provides opportunity to heal and remember.
Having been involved in and followed the skating community for many many years, I did learn things about the historical evolution of the American skating scene and to that end found this to be a very interesting and important read.
I learned about this book when a GR notice directed me to Ryan Stevens, a Canadian author from Halifax, and his blog
Skateguardblog.com
… where I found lots of wonderful books about skating. So, thank you Ryan!
I recommend this book to anyone with interest in skating, or even just in history of athletic endeavors.
While I was too young to remember any details of this tragic event when it happened I certainly recall learning of it much later in time. I am however old enough to remember the rigor of training as a figure skater in that era, as I began lessons in about 1967.
The skating community leading up to, and in some cases, at that time was much smaller, and in this story as it was often only accessible to “the wealthy” this story reads like a “who’s who”, as is apparent from the anecdotes recounted and the participants.
But —- what a grand adventure it was for these young, dedicated athletes, (and their often pushy and controlling parents)! Although the plane crash that killed the US figure skating team was a horrific tragedy this story is really an ode to their talents, discipline and passion.
I enjoyed learning the back story of the skaters and their skating families.
I enjoyed the reminder of the rigorous testing and in particular the challenge of skating “figures” which in the old days were most skaters’ nemesis, …not to mention the judges!
Although I wasn’t part of the competitive scene I certainly skated with many who were, and who became very accomplished, and their coaches…. albeit we hailed from the Canadian side of the border. Many of my skating friends, (as did I), went on to skate in the professional revues, the Ice Follies, Ice Capades, or Disney on Ice. At that point you once again skated with that talented, disciplined, passionate group of athletes. So this story hit a lot of soft spots for me.
Each member of the US figure skating team is introduced to us, together with alternates, as well as those who made the trip, or missed the trip. The author takes us through the skaters’ journeys to bring them to the point of boarding that fateful flight, the competitions they have completed to be given the honor of representing their country in the World Championships in Prague. Each skaters’ story is filled with trials and tribulations, family sacrifices, joys and disappointments. The reader in many ways “gets to know” the personalities of these skaters, and of some their coaches and family members.
Each story draws you in to their world, onto their team. We learn of their relationships with former skaters, journalists, commentators (the infamous Dick Button, of course), their counterparts on the Canadian figure skating team, and their hopes and ambitions.
Much research was done by the author to bring this story forward. As many other reviewers have pointed out the chapter on the plane ride itself is purely conjecture. I do however appreciate that the author had to move us through that time and provided what is likely to be typical banter during the height of the catastrophe. It does set the stage for us.
The author does a follow up with the devastated family members and the skating community. The reactions are not surprising. Entire worlds came crashing down. She notes the changes made thereafter in skating programs, competitions and relationships. All of this provides opportunity to heal and remember.
Having been involved in and followed the skating community for many many years, I did learn things about the historical evolution of the American skating scene and to that end found this to be a very interesting and important read.
I learned about this book when a GR notice directed me to Ryan Stevens, a Canadian author from Halifax, and his blog
Skateguardblog.com
… where I found lots of wonderful books about skating. So, thank you Ryan!
I recommend this book to anyone with interest in skating, or even just in history of athletic endeavors.
October 18, 2020
3.5 stars. A really nice mini biography of the skaters lost in the 1961 Sabena plane crash. The style of writing is a bit hit-or-miss, though. It switches between fictionalized and straightforward nonfiction. I gather the author felt the fictionalized parts were necessary to fill the story out, but it really felt out of place to me. Worth a read, maybe not worth hanging on to.
January 31, 2013
In February of 1961, Sabena Flight 548 left New York for a ten-hour flight to Europe. On board were the entire U.S. Figure Skating Team, their coaches, and some of the athlete’s family members. They were on their way to Prague for the World Championships but not before stopping in Brussels first. These figure skaters were standout American youngsters who made personal sacrifices and trained hard to become the elite in their sport. As the plane made its final descent towards the runway at Brussels International Airport, it crashed into a field killing all 73 people on board. The hopes and dreams of the skaters who died in the plane crash were shattered and the entire sport of figure skating was wounded. Prior to the crash, the United States dominated at the previous three Olympics and now the recovery process was expected to be slow and it might take several years to rebuild another championship team. Frozen in Time is the story about the U.S. Figure Skating Program’s darkest time.
I’ve been a fan of figure skating ever since Dorothy Hamill won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics when I was ten-years old. It was an honor for me when I was finally able to visit the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, CO and view the display that is dedicated to the 1961 World Team. I appreciate Ms. Nichols for writing this book because it allows the fans to learn more about these skaters and their personal lives and what their legacies represent to the sport of figure skating. And I think it is important that their memory and spirit is being kept alive through the Memorial Fund which assists talented skaters with financial support.
I’ve been a fan of figure skating ever since Dorothy Hamill won a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics when I was ten-years old. It was an honor for me when I was finally able to visit the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, CO and view the display that is dedicated to the 1961 World Team. I appreciate Ms. Nichols for writing this book because it allows the fans to learn more about these skaters and their personal lives and what their legacies represent to the sport of figure skating. And I think it is important that their memory and spirit is being kept alive through the Memorial Fund which assists talented skaters with financial support.
March 22, 2025
While the book is really captivating at times, it falters in that it primarily focuses on the Ownes family and Steffi, Laurence's primary rival. While the Owen's family certainly had an interesting history, I would have liked to have learned more about the other victims. It felt like the Men's and Ice Dance team members, in particular, were given little to no focus, maybe a paragraph at most during the discussion of the 1961 Nationals. The author certainly seemed biased with all the focus on Laurence, including multiple pieces of poetry/essays written by her. I just wish the other victims were given as much attention. Also, the author speculates about what some of the victims were doing/saying on board the doomed flight, which I found distasteful and boarding on blatant fiction.
September 22, 2019
This is a deeply moving tribute to the 1961 World's Figure Skating Team who all died tragically on the way to the Championship.
The authors delves into the lives of all the members of the team with special attention to the Vinson-Owens and Westerfeld families.
It was very sad to think of these young skaters and their coaches and family members on their way to the biggest competition of their lives never to make it.
The inclusion of a poem and essay by Laurence Owen (the 1961 US Nationals Ladies Gold medallist) in the appendix of the book was very poignant.
The authors delves into the lives of all the members of the team with special attention to the Vinson-Owens and Westerfeld families.
It was very sad to think of these young skaters and their coaches and family members on their way to the biggest competition of their lives never to make it.
The inclusion of a poem and essay by Laurence Owen (the 1961 US Nationals Ladies Gold medallist) in the appendix of the book was very poignant.
April 27, 2020
I have wanted to read this book for years and finally downloaded a copy and read it. It did not disappoint. Although I am a lifelong fan of figure skating, 1961 is before my time.
This book was beautifully written, well-researched and pays respectful tribute to the 1961 United States figure skating world team. Before reading this book I knew very little about Laurence Owen and her family other than they were all on this ill-fated flight. They were a fascinating group of people.
The author not only paid homage to these great skaters but also to an era of the sport that is long gone.
This book was beautifully written, well-researched and pays respectful tribute to the 1961 United States figure skating world team. Before reading this book I knew very little about Laurence Owen and her family other than they were all on this ill-fated flight. They were a fascinating group of people.
The author not only paid homage to these great skaters but also to an era of the sport that is long gone.
December 16, 2018
Well researched and well written, this is a lovely tribute to those that were lost. I just struggled with the organization of the information at times.
September 1, 2019
I had no idea about this incident, so it was a lesson in sports history in addition to being a well researched look at the people involved.
August 7, 2021
A great look into a day most skaters only know a little about. Well written and informative. A most read for skating enthusiasts and beyond.
February 21, 2011
A fascinating look at the lives of the US Figure Skating Team, their coaches & some family along with others that were killed in the 1961 plane crash of Sabena 548 over Brussels, Belgium (on their way to Prague for the World Championships).
This was a devastating loss for US Figure Skating and the skaters who would more than likely have stolen the show at Worlds had they survived ... this is truly a book that makes you think "what might have been if ..."
And for those, who just missed the plane because .... what they must have thought ... and the families of all -- OMG!
What arose from the ashes: While other teams (skiing, etc.) still travel together to international competitions across the ocean, the US Figure Skating teams do not. They have to travel separately.
New coaches: John Nicks, Carlo Fassi, Ron Luddington & Frank Carroll. John Nicks many successes include: Ken Shelley & JoJo Starbuck, Tai Babilonia & Randy Gardner, Christopher Bowman and Sasha Cohen. Ron Luddington, now called "Luddy", should have been on Flight 548 as Coach of dancers, Robert & Patricia Dineen, but already broke and in the middle of a divorce, he couldn't afford the price of a ticket. Since 1961, he has coached numerous champions including Kitty & Peter Curruthers and 1988 Olympians Nathalie & Wayne Seybold. Frank Carroll, one of Maribel Vinson Owen's (died in the crash along with her two daughters) former students has coached champions Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, Timothy Goebel and most recently, Evan Lysacek.
New stars to root for: As the 1964 Nationals approached the field of skaters still looked thin. Then ... out of the shadows leaped "a wondrous young beauty, an elegant portrait of loveliness, who brought a special, lyrical quality to her skating". PEGGY FLEMING burst onto the scene, winning her first national championship at age 15. The title of national champion would belong to her for five more years, which in the skating world is considered a dynasty. Sports Illustrated wrote of Peggy in 1994, "She launched figure skating's modern era ...."
Seth Ethan Allen, who won a surprise bronze medal with the performance of a lifetime was the youngest American men's national champion in history , winning at age 14.
With each passing year, the memories of the skaters, coaches, officials, and chaperones who died fade even more. Their legacy, however, will ever be lost.
At the end of the book is an Appendix of the "Victims of Flight 548 who represented the US Figure Skating Association". Here, you find not only the names of those who perished, but their ages, where they were from and a brief biography of each. There is also a list of names of "Other Passengers Aboard Sabena Flight 548", as well as a list of names of the crew aboard this flight.
At the end of this book is a list of names of people who took part in interviews or who sent comments via email. You will recognize many of the names as you read or after you finish this book.
Finally, established on February 23, 1961, the mission of the Memorial Fund is twofold: to honor the 1961 World Figure Skating Team and to provide qualified skaters with financial assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena.
The Memorial Fund is committed to awarding athletic and academic grants and scholarships to athletes who have demonstrated outstanding competitive results and / or academic achievements and exhibit potential for excellence in national and international competition.
Having distributed more than $3.8 million since 1993, the Memorial Fund currently awards #460,000 annually to qualified skaters via the Competitive Skaters Assistance Program and the Academic Scholarship Program.
The tagline for this fund is "Securing our future by remembering our past".
To learn more, please visit www.usfigureskating.org
On a side note, one of the stars of 1961 was Maribel Owen. Maribel's biggest rival in life, Sonja Henie, it turned out, also lost her life on a plane, just not this one as many people think. Sonja succumbed to leukemia aboard a flight taking her back to Norway with her husband, where they were to donate some of her artwork and skating memorabilia to a museum. She died only eight (8) years after Maribel.
This truly was a riveting book. There is a comprehensive list of references for where to find more info. at the end of the book.
I started it and could not put it down. To think of the lives lost and how the US figure skating program redeveloped after this devastating loss, words cannot explain ....
This was a devastating loss for US Figure Skating and the skaters who would more than likely have stolen the show at Worlds had they survived ... this is truly a book that makes you think "what might have been if ..."
And for those, who just missed the plane because .... what they must have thought ... and the families of all -- OMG!
What arose from the ashes: While other teams (skiing, etc.) still travel together to international competitions across the ocean, the US Figure Skating teams do not. They have to travel separately.
New coaches: John Nicks, Carlo Fassi, Ron Luddington & Frank Carroll. John Nicks many successes include: Ken Shelley & JoJo Starbuck, Tai Babilonia & Randy Gardner, Christopher Bowman and Sasha Cohen. Ron Luddington, now called "Luddy", should have been on Flight 548 as Coach of dancers, Robert & Patricia Dineen, but already broke and in the middle of a divorce, he couldn't afford the price of a ticket. Since 1961, he has coached numerous champions including Kitty & Peter Curruthers and 1988 Olympians Nathalie & Wayne Seybold. Frank Carroll, one of Maribel Vinson Owen's (died in the crash along with her two daughters) former students has coached champions Linda Fratianne, Michelle Kwan, Timothy Goebel and most recently, Evan Lysacek.
New stars to root for: As the 1964 Nationals approached the field of skaters still looked thin. Then ... out of the shadows leaped "a wondrous young beauty, an elegant portrait of loveliness, who brought a special, lyrical quality to her skating". PEGGY FLEMING burst onto the scene, winning her first national championship at age 15. The title of national champion would belong to her for five more years, which in the skating world is considered a dynasty. Sports Illustrated wrote of Peggy in 1994, "She launched figure skating's modern era ...."
Seth Ethan Allen, who won a surprise bronze medal with the performance of a lifetime was the youngest American men's national champion in history , winning at age 14.
With each passing year, the memories of the skaters, coaches, officials, and chaperones who died fade even more. Their legacy, however, will ever be lost.
At the end of the book is an Appendix of the "Victims of Flight 548 who represented the US Figure Skating Association". Here, you find not only the names of those who perished, but their ages, where they were from and a brief biography of each. There is also a list of names of "Other Passengers Aboard Sabena Flight 548", as well as a list of names of the crew aboard this flight.
At the end of this book is a list of names of people who took part in interviews or who sent comments via email. You will recognize many of the names as you read or after you finish this book.
Finally, established on February 23, 1961, the mission of the Memorial Fund is twofold: to honor the 1961 World Figure Skating Team and to provide qualified skaters with financial assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena.
The Memorial Fund is committed to awarding athletic and academic grants and scholarships to athletes who have demonstrated outstanding competitive results and / or academic achievements and exhibit potential for excellence in national and international competition.
Having distributed more than $3.8 million since 1993, the Memorial Fund currently awards #460,000 annually to qualified skaters via the Competitive Skaters Assistance Program and the Academic Scholarship Program.
The tagline for this fund is "Securing our future by remembering our past".
To learn more, please visit www.usfigureskating.org
On a side note, one of the stars of 1961 was Maribel Owen. Maribel's biggest rival in life, Sonja Henie, it turned out, also lost her life on a plane, just not this one as many people think. Sonja succumbed to leukemia aboard a flight taking her back to Norway with her husband, where they were to donate some of her artwork and skating memorabilia to a museum. She died only eight (8) years after Maribel.
This truly was a riveting book. There is a comprehensive list of references for where to find more info. at the end of the book.
I started it and could not put it down. To think of the lives lost and how the US figure skating program redeveloped after this devastating loss, words cannot explain ....
February 8, 2014
This book tells the story of the members of the U.S. Figure Skating World Team, friends and family who died in a plane crash en route to the Worlds in 1961. Nichols relates the struggles of the top athletes to get to the top spots that would earn them the right to be at the World Championships in Prague. A skater never skates alone and this book is also about the coaches who helped the skaters on their paths to glory and their family members who supported them. Nichols imagines what the skaters were thinking and feeling at crucial moments in their lives. She also interrupts the narrative to discuss other competitors, past, current and future. Nicholas attempts to explain how the legacy of the 1961 team affected all the skaters to come after them, from Peggy Fleming's glorious gold medal in 1968 to skaters in 2001 receiving scholarships from money left in memory of the 1961 team. This book is written from extensive research by a dedicated skater and skating fan and it shows. The stories of the 1961 team members are compelling but the writing isn't stellar. Nicholas interrupts her story to discuss skaters from the past (pre-1961) and present day (post-1961), which was a little jarring in the middle of the story of the 1961 U.S. Team. The imagined scenarios are also a little odd. I also feel that Nicholas rushed the legacy part though her book is subtitled The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team. I enjoyed learning about the lesser known people involved in the crash and learning more about what happened during the flight. The 1961 U.S. World Team is a subject that is infrequently discussed but should be known to all those who are interested in the sport. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars.
September 5, 2009
I have always loved to watch ice skating especially at the Olympics though I can't even stand up on skates. When I won this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers I dove right in. This book gave all the details of U. S. Figure Skating leading up to the tragic plane crash of all 18 members of the team in 1961. Nichols, a skater herself, gives you the inside view of key skaters and coaches of the time particularly focusing on two families, the Owens and the Westerfelds. Some times I had trouble following as the story jumped around too much but she did keep me interested. Nichols also explained many of the famous jumps and who created them. It also brought back memories of the required skating figure aspect which was such a large part of skating championships at that time. Skating has changed and US Skating worked hard after the tragedy to bring ice skating to the place it holds today. The title of the book was first used by an article written at the time and I would have liked that to have been acknowledged but I would recommend this book to those who love the sport and want to learn more about its history.
October 19, 2015
I began this book some time ago, but set it aside, knowing I would need to read of the crash and the deaths of the skaters, coaches and family members. I finally made myself read through that. The author had presented the skaters in such a congenial way that I didn't want their stories to end, and they did end so suddenly and senselessly. I didn't care for the author's suppositions about the flight. I also understand the inclusion of Laurence Owen's poem, but not so much her essay. The 16-year-old voice didn't compare with her maturity in regard to her skating discipline and artistry.
I didn't recall this tragedy. The year prior, I became a fan of Carol Heiss after the 1960 Olympics and read a juvenile biography of her (I was in fourth grade) so I understand a little of the popularity and glamor the women's singles skaters have to their public.
I recommend this book highly. It introduces some commendable young people. The discipline, with its school figures, is now frozen in time, but the author brings the skaters to life again. They are worth getting to know.
I didn't recall this tragedy. The year prior, I became a fan of Carol Heiss after the 1960 Olympics and read a juvenile biography of her (I was in fourth grade) so I understand a little of the popularity and glamor the women's singles skaters have to their public.
I recommend this book highly. It introduces some commendable young people. The discipline, with its school figures, is now frozen in time, but the author brings the skaters to life again. They are worth getting to know.
May 13, 2011
This has been on my to-read list for quite awhile but I kept putting it off expecting it to be dry reading as many doucmentary type books are. After seeing RISE I finally decided to read it and was pleasantly surprised.
Despite my love for the sport of figure skating, I never really knew a lot about those who died in the crash. Perhaps becuase thier careers were cut short before they ever really got started. Of course I had heard the names Maribel Vinson Owen, Laurance Owen, et. al, but they always seemed to be from a time so long ago. This book really brought home how little time has really passed since the tragedy, and really painted them as real people rather than just names. Highly recommend for any skating fan.
Despite my love for the sport of figure skating, I never really knew a lot about those who died in the crash. Perhaps becuase thier careers were cut short before they ever really got started. Of course I had heard the names Maribel Vinson Owen, Laurance Owen, et. al, but they always seemed to be from a time so long ago. This book really brought home how little time has really passed since the tragedy, and really painted them as real people rather than just names. Highly recommend for any skating fan.
April 6, 2011
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in US figure skating and its history. Since February of 1961, the US figure skating team never travels together on the same airplane. This policy evolved after every single top skater (in men's and women's singles, pairs, and ice dancing) died in the crash of Sabena Airlines Flight 548 as they flew to Prague to compete in the World Championships. THe author does a good job of drawing the reader in and characterizing each skater's life, hopes and dreams. Even knowing the ending, it was hard to believe that any of these young, vital people were going to die by book's end.
March 6, 2015
I had very little knowledge of the tragedy that befell the 1961 US Figure Skating Team and when I saw this book at a thrift store it piqued my interest in knowing more. Having enjoyed watching figure skating during the Olympics I knew that this book would hold my interest and it certainly did not disappoint. I enjoyed the authors focus on centralizing the book on two main characters (Laurence and Steffi) and the paths they took to be one the best at their sport at that time. Definitely a book all figure skating aficionados should read.
January 31, 2009
This book is so touching and a great read. It highlights just how big of a mark the plane crash killing the US Figuring Skating team had on everyone.
Being from a figure skating past, it's something you still know about today. If only the vague whispers and ideas of the events. This book is such an excellent read.
Being from a figure skating past, it's something you still know about today. If only the vague whispers and ideas of the events. This book is such an excellent read.
Read
February 23, 2010As a figure skating fan I had heard of this event, but only briefly. I think I knew it ended the lives and careers of a generation of skaters, but I hadn't quite realized the personal tragedy. I didn't realize that so many families lost multiple family members! Mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Wow. It wasn't the most well written book ever, but I was rivited by the story.
September 17, 2010
The book read more like a compilation of competition placement data for the members of the US Figure skating team. I was hoping for more of a story line. It was difficult to feel any attachment to the skaters and their families because it read more like a detail of their accomplishments.
July 7, 2011
I was hoping to feel more connection to the skaters. It was informative and enjoyed by my daughter who skates.
October 14, 2018
A very sad book
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews