Milada Kubíková

Milada Kubíková was born on June 6, 1943, in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia, the daughter of Milada Kubíková, a lawyer, and Jaroslav Kubík, a doctor.[1][2] Her brother, also named Jaroslav, is older by four years.[2]

Kubíková studied physical education and Russian at Charles University in Prague.[2] She defected to the United States in 1969.[3] She had two children with her first husband, and a son, born in 1976, with her second husband, a jeweler named Bretislav Stastny.[2]

Kubíková began skating at age seven.[2] Her first pair skating partner was her brother, Jaroslav Kubík.[3]

By the 1958–59 season, she had teamed up with Jaroslav Votruba. They placed seventh at their first major event, the 1962 European Championships in Geneva, Switzerland, and then fifth at the 1962 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Kubíková/Votruba had their best season in 1962–63. The pair placed 5th at the 1963 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and achieved the same result at the 1963 World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Kubíková/Votruba finished 12th at the 1964 European Championships in Grenoble, France, and 10th at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.[4]

Joining the Vienna Ice Revue, Kubíková toured western Europe in 1966–68 and North America in 1969.[2] Czechoslovak authorities destroyed footage of Kubíková/Votruba's performances following her defection, despite her partner staying.[3]

Kubíková became the director of Parkwood Skate School in Great Neck, New York.[3] She was the first coach of Nicole Rajičová.[5]

Kubíková/Votruba were named one of Plzeň's ten "Sport Stars of the 20th Century" at a gala on February 17, 2001.[3]

With Votruba