Alena Vrzáňová: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox figure skater |
{{Infobox figure skater |
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|name= Alena Vrzáňová |
|name= Alena Vrzáňová |
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|image= Alena Vrzanova 2009.jpg |
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|caption= Vrzáňová in |
|caption= Vrzáňová in 2009. |
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|fullname= Alena Vrzáňová |
|fullname= Alena Vrzáňová |
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|altname= Ája Zanová |
|altname= Ája Zanová |
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Revision as of 16:55, 13 November 2014
| Alena Vrzáňová | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Vrzáňová in 2009. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Alena Vrzáňová | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Ája Zanová | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 May 1931 Prague | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Czechoslovakia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skating club | VŠ Praha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Alena "Ája" Vrzáňová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈalɛna ˈaːja ˈvr̩zaːɲovaː]) (also Zanová, married name: Steindler) (born 16 May 1931), is a Czech former figure skater who represented Czechoslovakia in competition. Vrzáňová is the 1949 & 1950 World champion and 1950 European champion.
Personal life
Vrzáňová was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1931. In addition to figure skating, she also played piano and attended ballet school.[1]
After spending the winter of 1949 at home in Czechoslovakia, her father advised her not to come back from the upcoming World Championships and she agreed. She defected[2] from Czechoslovakia during the 1950 World Championships in London and was eventually offered political asylum. Her mother followed her in March under dramatic circumstances – her plane was hijacked.[1] Her father, a professional cello player, visited them several times, but decided not to leave his country permanently. His daughter did not return to Prague until 1990.[2]
In 1969, Vrzáňová married Czech-born innkeeper Pavel Steindler; they adopted two children. They ran the Duck Joint restaurant in New York City, and later the Czech Pavilion.
Career
Vrzáňová started sports at the age of three when her parents bought her skis. They spent each winter in the Krkonoše mountains. This tradition was interrupted during the Second World War, and then Vrzáňová started figure skating. The conditions for training were difficult, as she had to train in early winter mornings.[1] Her training sessions were held in darkness because of the dim-out regulations. The sessions took place in the open Štvanice Stadium before the sessions for hockey players, or in the CLTK club tennis courts, which were flooded with water and frozen.
In 1946, Vrzáňová became the Czechoslovak junior national champion. In early 1947, she moved to Richmond, London to be coached by Arnold Gerschwiler.[1]
In 1947, Vrzáňová won the Czechoslovak national championships and placed 7th at the 1947 World Figure Skating Championships. After the communist party seized power in Czechoslovakia, the united sport leadership criticized Vrzáňová’s preparation in the United Kingdom. The Rudé Právo daily published several very offensive articles[citation needed]. The next time she went to Richmond for training, the communist State Security was watching her[citation needed].
Vrzáňová represented Czechoslovakia at the 1948 Winter Olympics. She placed fifth in the event, finishing fifth behind compatriot Jiřina Nekolová.
In 1949, Vrzáňová won her first World Championships title in Paris, overcoming difficult circumstances – loss of her music records and having blunted the edge of her skate just before she skated[citation needed]. At the championship, she was credited as being the first woman to land a double lutz.[3]
After winning the 1950 European Championships, she won a second world title at the 1950 World Championships. After this, she went on the European tour instead of going home.
Following her competitive career, Vrzáňová moved to the United States and performed for the traveling show Ice Follies for three years under the name "Aja Zanova" then joined the Ice Capades. She also participated in television ads and other shows.
After her husband's death, Vrzáňová worked for the Ice Capades and led New York City's largest public ice rink, the Wollman Rink.
She was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009.[3]
In 2009, Vrzáňová received the title of the Sports Legend of the Czech Republic. In 2012, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg presented to her the 16th annual Gratias Agit Awards in recognition of those who promote the good name of the Czech Republic abroad.[4]
Competitive highlights
| Event | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games | 5th | ||||
| World Championships | 7th | 5th | 1st | 1st | |
| European Championships | 6th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | |
| Czechoslovak Championships | 1st J. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
References
- ^ a b c d Willoughby, Ian (2012-07-05). "Ája Vrzáňová-Steindler: Former ice skating world champion recalls 1950s defection – and much more". Radio Prague. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Heller Anderson, Susan (April 4, 1990). "Chronicle". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
- ^ a b Elliott, Helene (March 13, 2009). "Brian Orser heads list of World Figure Skating Hall of Fame inductees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
- ^ Richter, Jan (2012-06-01). "Foreign Ministry honours 12 people for promoting good name of Czech Republic". Radio Prague. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1931 births
- Czechoslovak female single skaters
- Czech female single skaters
- Living people
- Olympic figure skaters of Czechoslovakia
- Figure skaters at the 1948 Winter Olympics
- Sportspeople from Prague
- Czechoslovak defectors
- Recipients of Medal of Merit (Czech Republic)
- World Figure Skating Championships medalists
- European Figure Skating Championships medalists
- World Figure Skating Hall of Fame inductees