Karen Magnussen
Encyclopedia
Karen Diane Magnussen, OC
(born April 4, 1952 in Vancouver, British Columbia
) is a Canadian figure skater
. She won the silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics
, and is 1973 World Champion
.
Magnussen was Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1971 and 1972, and in 1973 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
for the first time in 1967 and won her first Canadian title in 1968.
Magnussen had a tough season in 1969, first losing her Canadian title to Linda Carbonetto
. Then, a few weeks later, she was diagnosed with stress fractures in both legs and was forced to withdraw from the World Championships. Using a wheelchair for weeks, Magnussen considered retiring from the sport. She eventually made the decision to continue. She won the Canadian Championships
four more times, from 1970 to 1973. At the World Championships, she won a bronze medal in 1971
and then silver in 1972
.
Like her American contemporary Janet Lynn
, Magnussen was stronger in free skating
than compulsory figures
. In the early 1970s, both were competing against the Austrian skater Beatrix Schuba
, who was probably the best practitioner of the compulsory figures in the history of the sport. The scoring system at the time placed significant value on compulsory figure skills, allowing Schuba to build a huge lead before the free skating portion and making it difficult for skaters with weak figures to catch her. Schuba won the gold at the 1972 Winter Olympics
in spite of being only 7th in the free skating segment, while Lynn and Magnussen (first and second in the free skating) took bronze and silver, respectively. With figures being less exciting to audiences and their dissatisfaction growing, the International Skating Union
reduced the value of compulsory figures and introduced the short program, an additional free skating component, to the competition beginning with the 1972-1973 season. Combined with Schuba's retirement after the 1972 season, this development encouraged both Magnussen and Lynn to stay in competition another year.
At the first World Championships
under this new system, in Bratislava
, Czechoslovakia
in 1973, Magnussen produced a strong short program (which included a double axel
), while Lynn fell twice in that portion of the competition. Although Lynn came back to win the free skating segment, her problems in the short cost her the title. Magnussen added a gold to complete her World medal collection.
Magnussen, who enjoyed a successful career as a professional skater after her 1973 World Championship win, is now a leading figure skating coach in her hometown of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre in North Vancouver is named for her. And Magnussen has established the Karen Magnussen Foundation to assist young skaters. Although Canada has gone on to produce many notable female skaters, such as Elizabeth Manley
, Josée Chouinard
and Joannie Rochette
, no other Canadian has claimed the world title since Magnussen.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born April 4, 1952 in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) is a Canadian 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...
. She won the silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
, and is 1973 World Champion
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...
.
Magnussen was Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1971 and 1972, and in 1973 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Career
Magnussen's career at the elite level of skating began when she won the Canadian national junior title in 1965, at the age of 13. Moving up to the senior level the next year, she became known for her strong free skating ability, and was even compared to Petra Burka, then the reigning world champion. Her march upwards in the rankings continued as she qualified to compete at the World ChampionshipsWorld 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...
for the first time in 1967 and won her first Canadian title in 1968.
Magnussen had a tough season in 1969, first losing her Canadian title to Linda Carbonetto
Linda Carbonetto
Linda Carbonetto is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 1969 Canadian Champion and a 1968 Winter Olympian. Although born in New York City, she was raised in Ontario....
. Then, a few weeks later, she was diagnosed with stress fractures in both legs and was forced to withdraw from the World Championships. Using a wheelchair for weeks, Magnussen considered retiring from the sport. She eventually made the decision to continue. She won the Canadian Championships
Canadian Figure Skating Championships
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has...
four more times, from 1970 to 1973. At the World Championships, she won a bronze medal in 1971
1971 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
and then silver in 1972
1972 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
.
Like her American contemporary Janet Lynn
Janet Lynn
Janet Lynn Nowicki is an American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.-Amateur career:Lynn began to skate almost as soon as she could walk and took part in her first exhibition performance at the age of four in a group number at Chicago Stadium...
, Magnussen was stronger in 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...
than 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...
. In the early 1970s, both were competing against the Austrian skater 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 was probably the best practitioner of the compulsory figures in the history of the sport. The scoring system at the time placed significant value on compulsory figure skills, allowing Schuba to build a huge lead before the free skating portion and making it difficult for skaters with weak figures to catch her. Schuba won the gold at the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
in spite of being only 7th in the free skating segment, while Lynn and Magnussen (first and second in the free skating) took bronze and silver, respectively. With figures being less exciting to audiences and their dissatisfaction growing, 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...
reduced the value of compulsory figures and introduced the short program, an additional free skating component, to the competition beginning with the 1972-1973 season. Combined with Schuba's retirement after the 1972 season, this development encouraged both Magnussen and Lynn to stay in competition another year.
At the first World Championships
1973 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
under this new system, in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, 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...
in 1973, Magnussen produced a strong short program (which included a double axel
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...
), while Lynn fell twice in that portion of the competition. Although Lynn came back to win the free skating segment, her problems in the short cost her the title. Magnussen added a gold to complete her World medal collection.
Magnussen, who enjoyed a successful career as a professional skater after her 1973 World Championship win, is now a leading figure skating coach in her hometown of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre in North Vancouver is named for her. And Magnussen has established the Karen Magnussen Foundation to assist young skaters. Although Canada has gone on to produce many notable female skaters, such as Elizabeth Manley
Elizabeth Manley
Elizabeth Ann Manley, CM is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1988 World silver medalist, and three-time Canadian champion.-Early life and training:...
, Josée Chouinard
Josée Chouinard
Josée Chouinard is a Canadian figure skater.She competed at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, finishing in ninth position on both occasions. She became well known for wearing elegant black gloves while on the ice....
and Joannie Rochette
Joannie Rochette
Joannie Rochette is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2009 World silver medalist, the 2008 and 2009 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2004 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and a six-time Canadian national champion.-Personal life:Rochette was born in...
, no other Canadian has claimed the world title since Magnussen.
Results
| Event | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
7th | 2nd | |||||||
| 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... |
12th | 7th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | |||
| North American Championships North American Figure Skating Championships The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an... |
4th | 2nd | 1st | ||||||
| Canadian Championships Canadian Figure Skating Championships The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has... |
1st J. | 4th | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |