Felix Kaspar

Felix Kaspar (January 14, 1915 in Vienna, Austria – December 5, 2003 in Bradenton, Florida, U.S.) was an Austrian figure skater, a twice World champion, and the bronze medalist in 1936.

Felix Kaspar
World Champion Felix Kaspar together with child prodigy and later European Champion Eva Pawlik ("The Fairy Tale Of The Steady Tin Soldier", Vienna 1937)
Born(1915-01-14)January 14, 1915
DiedDecember 5, 2003(2003-12-05) (aged 88)
Figure skating career
Country Austria
Medal record
Representing  Austria
Men's Figure skating
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1937 LondonSingles
Gold medal – first place1938 BerlinSingles
Bronze medal – third place1936 ParisSingles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1937 PragueSingles
Gold medal – first place1938 St. MoritzSingles
Silver medal – second place1935 St. MoritzSingles

Kaspar began figure skating at the age of 9. He trained on the artificial ice rink of Eduard Engelmann Jr. Kaspar was renowned for his impressive high jumps.

At the outset of World War II, Kaspar was in Australia, where he met his future wife, June. The couple remained married for 54 years and had one daughter named Cherie. Kaspar spent the entirety of World War II in Australia.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Kaspar taught in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In 1965, he relocated with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked as a coach at the figure skating center in Golden Valley within the Twin Cities. Among others, he coached the Japanese skater Emi Watanabe during his time there.

In 1977, he and his family moved to Pasadena, California, where he continued to work as a figure skating coach.

In 1998, Kaspar was admitted to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

In 1989, Kaspar and his wife retired to Florida. Felix Kaspar died at the age of 88 while battling Alzheimer's disease.

Results

International
Event 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
Winter Olympics3rd
World Championships3rd1st1st
European Championships7th2nd4th1st1st
National
Austrian Championships1st1st1st

See also

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