The 1972 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating 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...

 of the 1971-1972 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion. Skaters competed in the disciplines of ladies' singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, men's singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, pair skating

Pair skating

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...

, and ice dancing

Ice dancing

Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....

.

In 1972, the European Championships were held at the Scandinavium

Scandinavium

Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...

 in Gothenburg

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...

, 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....

, from January 11–15.

In the men's event, the top three 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...

 held their placements for the medals. Ondrej Nepela

Ondrej Nepela

Ondrej Nepela was an Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion Slovak figure skater who competed for Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:...

's performance in the free skating

Free skating

The free skating competition of figure skating, sometimes called the "free skate" or "long program", is usually the second of two phases in major figure skating competitions in single skating and pair skating. It is the longer of the two programs, the other one being the Short Program...

 was technically proficient, with triple salchow and toe loop jumps, but he was considered a rather bland or mechanical performer. Sergei Chetverukhin

Sergei Chetverukhin

Sergei Alexandrovich Chetverukhin is a former Soviet figure skater. He trained at VSS Trud in Moscow. He is a three-time medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships and a four-time medalist at the European Figure Skating Championships, each time coming in behind Ondrej Nepela...

 skated with power, flow, and elegance, but fell on a triple salchow attempt, while bronze medalist Patrick Péra

Patrick Pera

Patrick Péra is a French figure skater. He won the bronze medal in men's singles in the 1968 Winter Olympics and again at the 1972 Winter Olympics.-Competitive highlights:-References:* *...

 did no triples at all. The second-place skater in the free skating was actually Yuri Ovchinnikov

Yuri Ovchinnikov (figure skater)

Yuri Lvovich Ovchinnikov is a Russian figure skater who competed for the Soviet Union. He is the 1975 European bronze medalist. He represented the Soviet Union at the 1972 Winter Olympics, where he placed 12th, and at the 1976 Winter Olympics, where he placed 8th.-Results:-References:* -Navigation:...

, who nevertheless could not move up from 7th place after the figures.

The ladies' title was again won by defending champion Beatrix Schuba

Beatrix Schuba

Trixi Schuba is an Austrian figure skater and is a six-time Austrian champion , a two-time European champion , a two-time World champion , and Olympic champion of 1972, all in ladies' singles.She is considered to be one of the best compulsory figure skaters ever.-Biography:Born in Vienna,...

, who built up such an overwhelming lead in the compulsory figures that she won by a huge margin in spite of being only 5th in the free skating. Afterwards a German newspaper mocked her as the "Champion Without a Double Axel". Rita Trapanese

Rita Trapanese

Rita Trapanese was an Italian figure skater. She was the 1972 European silver medalist and the 1971 bronze medalist...

 took the silver medal, while Sonja Morgenstern

Sonja Morgenstern

thumb|Sonja Morgenstern is a German figure skater and figure skating coach.Morgenstern was coached by Jutta Müller in Chemnitz and represented the SC Karl-Marx-Stadt club and East Germany . In 1966 she won the Spartakiade in figure skating. Two years later she participated in the Winter Olympics...

 moved up to bronze medal position after winning the free skate with a performance for which she received a 6.0 mark for artistic impression.

In the pairs event, Irina Rodnina

Irina Rodnina

Irina Konstantinovna Rodnina is one of the most successful figure skaters ever and the only pair skater to win 10 successive World Championships and three successive Olympic gold medals . She initially competed with Alexei Ulanov and later teamed up with Alexander Zaitsev...

 and Alexei Ulanov

Alexei Ulanov

Alexei Nikolaevich Ulanov is a retired pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With Irina Rodnina, he is the 1972 Olympic champion and a four-time World champion. They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk and trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow. He later competed with wife...

 also successfully defended their title in spite of some small mistakes. Liudmila Smirnova and Andrei Suraikin

Andrei Suraikin

Andrei Alexandrovich Suraikin was a Russian figure skater. They were coached by Maya Belenkaya....

 won the silver with a performance that was considered more artistic, if less difficult, than that of the winners. The third-place team, Manuela Groß

Manuela Groß

Manuela Groß is a German pair skater. With partner Uwe Kagelmann, she is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. She later became a figure skating coach....

 and Uwe Kagelmann

Uwe Kagelmann

Uwe Kagelmann is a German pair skater. Competing with Manuela Groß, he was twice bronze medalist at the Olympics. He later became a figure skating coach....

, included two throw double axels in their free skate, which at that time was one of the most difficult elements attempted by pair skaters, and unusual enough to draw comment. As Gross was only 14 years old at this time while her partner Kagelmann was a tall grown man of 21, they were one of the first of what later became known as "one-and-a-half" or "flea-and-gorilla" pair teams.

The dance event was the only discipline in which the title changed hands, as Angelika

Angelika Buck

Angelika Buck was a German ice dancer. She was a team with her brother Erich Buck. They were the first Germans to capture the European title in ice dancing....

 and Erich Buck

Erich Buck

Erich Buck was a German ice dancer. He was a team with his sister Angelika Buck. They were the first Germans to capture the European title in ice dancing....

 unseated the defending champions Lyudmila Pakhomova

Lyudmila Pakhomova

Lyudmila Alekseyevna Pakhomova was an ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Alexandr Gorshkov, she was the 1976 Olympic champion.-Biography:...

 and Alexander Gorshkov. Some observers thought that the British-trained Bucks had only failed to win the European and World titles the previous year as a result of bad judging, so their victory here was seen as richly deserved. Pakhomova and Gorshkov also gave a polished and stylish performance but again it was noted that Gorshkov was a much weaker skater than his partner. The bronze medal went to the veteran British competitor Janet Sawbridge, now skating with Peter Dalby. It was Sawbridge's 6th medal at the European championships, achieved with 3 different partners.

Men

Rank	Name	Nation
1	Ondrej Nepela Ondrej Nepela Ondrej Nepela was an Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion Slovak figure skater who competed for Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:...
2	Sergei Chetverukhin Sergei Chetverukhin Sergei Alexandrovich Chetverukhin is a former Soviet figure skater. He trained at VSS Trud in Moscow. He is a three-time medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships and a four-time medalist at the European Figure Skating Championships, each time coming in behind Ondrej Nepela...
3	Patrick Péra Patrick Pera Patrick Péra is a French figure skater. He won the bronze medal in men's singles in the 1968 Winter Olympics and again at the 1972 Winter Olympics.-Competitive highlights:-References:* *...
4	Haig Oundjian Haig Oundjian Haig Bertrand Oundjian is a former British figure skater.-Results:-References:*...
5	John Curry John Curry John Anthony Curry, OBE was a British figure skater. He was the 1976 Olympic and World Champion. He was famous for combining ballet and modern dance influences into his skating.-Early life:...
6	Vladimir Kovalev Vladimir Kovalev Vladimir Nikolaevich Kovalev is a retired figure skater who competed internationally for the USSR. He is an Olympic silver medalist and 2-time World champion. He trained at VSS Trud in Moscow. Kovalev is pronounced, "ko-va-lyov."...
7	Yuri Ovchinnikov Yuri Ovchinnikov (figure skater) Yuri Lvovich Ovchinnikov is a Russian figure skater who competed for the Soviet Union. He is the 1975 European bronze medalist. He represented the Soviet Union at the 1972 Winter Olympics, where he placed 12th, and at the 1976 Winter Olympics, where he placed 8th.-Results:-References:* -Navigation:...
8	Didier Gailhaguet Didier Gailhaguet Didier Gailhaguet is a former French figure skater and the president of the Fédération Française des Sports de Glace ....
9	Daniel Höner
10	Zdeněk Pazdírek Zdeněk Pazdírek Zdeněk Pazdírek is a former Czechoslovakian figure skater. He was the 1974-75 national champion. After his competitive career, he toured professionally with Holiday on Ice from 1981-89. He currently is a coach at the Coquitlam Skating Club in British Columbia, Canada.-Results:-References:* *...
11	Bernd Wunderlich
12	Josef Schneider
13	Stefano Bargauan
14	László Vajda
15	Harald Kuhn
16	Günther Hilgarth
17	Gordon Andison
18	Gheorghe Fazekas	Romania
19	Pekka Leskinen Pekka Leskinen Juha Pekka Leskinen is a former professional figure skater from Finland. He is 6'0" and weighs around 150 pounds. He was born in Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo, Finland. He was a member of Kuopion Luisteluseura, Kuopio. In the winter of 1976 he was 21 years old and ranked 13th in many of his short programs...
20	Peter Augustovic
21	Thomas Öberg Thomas Öberg (figure skater) Lars Thomas Öberg is a Swedish figure skater. He was the 1972-1980 Swedish national champion. He represented Sweden at the 1980 Winter Olympics, where he was placed 14th.-Results:-References:...
22	Zoran Matas
23	John Ferdinandsen

Ladies

Rank	Name	Nation
1	Beatrix Schuba Beatrix Schuba Trixi Schuba is an Austrian figure skater and is a six-time Austrian champion , a two-time European champion , a two-time World champion , and Olympic champion of 1972, all in ladies' singles.She is considered to be one of the best compulsory figure skaters ever.-Biography:Born in Vienna,...
2	Rita Trapanese Rita Trapanese Rita Trapanese was an Italian figure skater. She was the 1972 European silver medalist and the 1971 bronze medalist...
3	Sonja Morgenstern Sonja Morgenstern thumb|Sonja Morgenstern is a German figure skater and figure skating coach.Morgenstern was coached by Jutta Müller in Chemnitz and represented the SC Karl-Marx-Stadt club and East Germany . In 1966 she won the Spartakiade in figure skating. Two years later she participated in the Winter Olympics...
4	Zsuzsa Almássy Zsuzsa Almássy Zsuzsa Almássy is a Hungarian former Olympic figure skater. She trained with Arnold Gerschwiler.-Results:-References:* -Navigation:...
5	Christine Errath Christine Errath Christine Errath is a German figure skater who represented East Germany in competition. She is the 1976 Olympic bronze medalist.-Biography:...
6	Charlotte Walter
7	Jean Scott Jean Scott (figure skater) Jean A. Scott is a British former figure skater. She won the silver medal at the 1973 European Figure Skating Championships and was the 1971 & 1973 British national champion. She placed 11th at the 1972 Winter Olympics.-Results:-References:...
8	Maria McLean
9	Dianne de Leeuw Dianne de Leeuw Dianne Margaret de Leeuw is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1975 World champion, the 1976 European champion, and the 1976 Olympic silver medalist.-Career:...
10	Elena Alexandrova Elena Alexandrova Yelena Anatolyevna Alexandrova is a former Soviet figure skater.-Results:-Navigation:...
11	Isabel de Navarre Isabel de Navarre Isabel De Navarre is a former West German figure skater, a current German figure skating coach and ISU technical specialist.-Biography:...
12	Liana Drahová
13	Gerti Schanderl
14	Anita Johansson Anita Johansson (figure skater) Anita Johansson is a former Swedish figure skater from Malmö. She competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics.-Results:-External links:*...
15	Karin Iten Karin Iten Karin Iten was a Swiss figure skater. She won the bronze medal at the 1973 European Figure Skating Championships. She died on May 18, 2010 in Winterthur....
16	Cinzia Frosio
17	Sonja Balun
18	Urszula Zielińska
19	Hana Knapova
20	Marie-Claude Bierre Marie-Claude Bierre Marie-Claude Bierre is a former French figure skater who competed in ladies singles. She is the 1972-77 French champion.-Results:-Navigation:...
21	Steffi Knoll
22	Iris Ebenwaldner
23	Marina Sanaya Marina Sanaya Marina Valterovna Sanaya is a figure skater who competed representing the Soviet Union. She placed 18th at the 1972 Winter Olympics. She was 13 years old at that time....
24	Donna Walter
25	Helena Gazvoda
26	Manuele Bertele
27	Liv Egelund
28	Kirsten Frikke

Pairs

Rank	Name	Nation
1	Irina Rodnina Irina Rodnina Irina Konstantinovna Rodnina is one of the most successful figure skaters ever and the only pair skater to win 10 successive World Championships and three successive Olympic gold medals . She initially competed with Alexei Ulanov and later teamed up with Alexander Zaitsev...  / Alexei Ulanov Alexei Ulanov Alexei Nikolaevich Ulanov is a retired pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With Irina Rodnina, he is the 1972 Olympic champion and a four-time World champion. They were coached by Stanislav Zhuk and trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow. He later competed with wife...
2	Liudmila Smirnova / Andrei Suraikin Andrei Suraikin Andrei Alexandrovich Suraikin was a Russian figure skater. They were coached by Maya Belenkaya....
3	Manuela Groß Manuela Groß Manuela Groß is a German pair skater. With partner Uwe Kagelmann, she is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. She later became a figure skating coach....  / Uwe Kagelmann Uwe Kagelmann Uwe Kagelmann is a German pair skater. Competing with Manuela Groß, he was twice bronze medalist at the Olympics. He later became a figure skating coach....
4	Almut Lehmann Almut Lehmann Almut Lehmann is a German pair skater.With partner Herbert Wiesinger, she is a three-time German national champion and 1973 European bronze medalist. They placed 5th at the 1972 Winter Olympics...  / Herbert Wiesinger Herbert Wiesinger Herbert Wiesinger is a German former pair skater.He partnered with Marianne Streifler until 1969. They were two-time German silver medalists and placed 11th at the 1968 Winter Olympics. The pair represented the Frankfurter REC club.He teamed up with Almut Lehmann in 1970 and competed with her...
5	Annett Kansy / Axel Salzmann
6	Irina Cherniaeva Irina Cherniaeva Irina Cherniaeva is a Russian pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Vasili Blagov, she represented the Soviet Union at the 1972 Winter Olympics where they placed 6th.She is the mother of Marina Anissina and Mikhail Anisin....  / Vasili Blagov Vasili Blagov Vasili Vyacheslavovich Blagov is a Russian pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Irina Cherniaeva, he represented the Soviet Union at the 1972 Winter Olympics where they placed 6th....
7	Marlies Radunsky / Rolf Österreich Rolf Österreich Rolf Österreich is a German pair skater and figure skating coach. With Romy Kermer, he is the 1976 Olympic silver medalist....
8	Grażyna Osmańska / Adam Brodecki
9	Corinna Halke Corinna Halke Corinna Halke-Teichmann is a German former pair skater and current sport journalist.With partner Eberhard Rausch, she is the 1974-1976 German national champion. They competed five times at the European Figure Skating Championships and the World Figure Skating Championships...  / Eberhard Rausch Eberhard Rausch Eberhard Rausch is a former German pair skater.With partner Corinna Halke, he is the 1974-1976 German national champion. They competed five times at the European Figure Skating Championships and the World Figure Skating Championships...
10	Linda Connolly / Colin Taylforth
11	Florence Cahn / Jean-Roland Racle
12	Teresa Skrzek / Piotr Sczypa Piotr Sczypa Piotr Jan Sczypa, also known as Peter Sczypa is a Polish former pair skater who competed with Janina Poremska and Teresa Skrzek. He is currently a figure skating coach. He coaches Sarah Hecken....
13	Gabriele Cieplik / Reinhard Ketterer
14	Karin Künzle / Christian Künzle
15	Ursula Nemec Ursula Nemec Ursula Nemec is an Austrian pair skater. With partner Michael Nemec, she represented Austria at the 1976 Winter Olympics, where they placed 10th.She is the mother of Manuel Koll.-Competitive highlights:...  / Michael Nemec Michael Nemec Michael Nemec is an Austrian pair skater. With partner Ursula Nemec, he represented Austria at the 1976 Winter Olympics, where they placed 10th.-Competitive highlights:-References:* -Navigation:...
16	Pascale Kovelmann / Jean-Pierre Rondel
17	Miroslava Sablikova / Pavel Komarek
18	Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:...  / Michael Hutchinson

Ice Dancing

Rank	Name	Nation
1	Angelika Buck Angelika Buck Angelika Buck was a German ice dancer. She was a team with her brother Erich Buck. They were the first Germans to capture the European title in ice dancing....  / Erich Buck Erich Buck Erich Buck was a German ice dancer. He was a team with his sister Angelika Buck. They were the first Germans to capture the European title in ice dancing....
2	Liudmila Pakhomova / Alexander Gorshkov
3	Janet Sawbridge / Peter Dalby
4	Hilary Green Hilary Green Hilary Green is a British retired competitive ice dancer. Her partner was Glyn Watts. They are the 1974 World silver medalists and 1974 & 1975 European silver medalists...  / Glyn Watts Glyn Watts Glyn Robert Watts is a British retired competitive ice dancer. His partner was Hilary Green. They are the 1974 World silver medalists and 1974 & 1975 European silver medalists...
5	Tatiana Voitiuk / Viacheslav Zhigalin
6	Elena Zharkova / Gennadi Karponosov
7	Diana Skotnická / Martin Skotnický Martin Skotnicky Martin Skotnicky is a former Czechoslovak ice dancer who competed with Diana Skotnicka. He is currently a figure skating coach and has worked with:* Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi* Kati Winkler and René Lohse* Christina Beier and William Beier...
8	Rosalind Druce / David Barker
9	Teresa Weyna / Piotr Bojanczyk
10	Anne-Claude Wolfers / Roland Mars
11	Krisztina Regőczy Krisztina Regöczy Krisztina Regőczy is a former ice dancer from Hungary. Competing with András Sallay, she won the gold medal at the 1980 World Figure Skating Championships and the silver at that year's Winter Olympics.-Results:...  / András Sallay Andras Sallay Andras Sallay is a former ice dancer from Hungary. Competing with Krisztina Regőczy, he won a gold medal at the 1980 World Figure Skating Championships and a silver at that year's Winter Olympics.-Results:...
12	Matilde Ciccia / Lamberto Ceserani
13	Sylvia Fuchs / Michael Fuchs
14	Ewa Kolodziej / Tadeusz Góra
15	Brigitte Scheijbal / Walter Leschetizky
16	Sylvia Bodmer / Beat Steib
17	Astrid Kopp / Axel Kopp
18	Svetlana Marinovova / Milos Bursik
19	Vivi Poulsen / Kurt Poulsen