Remembering the 1961 crash that killed the entire US figure skating team

18 members of the U.S. figure skating as well as 16 coaches, officials and family members died on their way to the World Championships in Prague.
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[@judithbrandon7263]

My childhood friend Diane Sherbloom was one of those 18 skaters who perished in the crash. She was a graduate of Alexander Hamilton High in Los Angles. A beautiful person and fantastic skater..RIP Diane

[@lesyeager1483]

She skated with Larry Pierce who also lost his life, along with many others that I knew and skated with in Lake Placid. I was to be his Flower Girl at his wedding when he returned. A tragic loss for the United States Figure Skating Community which has taken many years to rebuild.

[@Celluloidwatcher]

While too young to remember, I learned of this tragic moment several years ago. And it happened one year after the Winter Olympics were held in Squaw Valley, CA. How sad that 18 of this country's best figure skaters perished in a plane crash en route to the World Championships. May they rest in peace.

[@alexandrianicolemoses7869]

I have always been a fan of Figure Skating, never learned how to Ice Skate and I wasn’t born yet when this happened but that is very sad.

[@pamlewis1183]

I didn't remember that; however, I would have only been 7. How tragic 😢

[@pattismithurs9023]

I can't believe I have forgotten this sad story. I was 15 at the time, and obsessed with figure skating. I was probably relieved that the generation I'd been following (Carol Heiss and Tenley Albright ) had just retired.

[@fab42355]

Never forget them 😥 😔

[@sandycarpio4877]

Rest in peace

[@lunis471]

So terribly sad I'm sorry 🥺

[@nanatno4193]

I wasn’t born yet but it sad to loose the whole team RIP

[@twincherry4958]

I think I remember this but I wasn't even born yet...smh Shoot, this happens Feb 15...my bday is Feb 17

[@mariannemarkus]

never forget these beautiful peoples

[@josephhunt1620]

Mark us Marianne Manor 😕😕🧩🧩

[@phaedradg]

My parents were eye witnesses of that crash, and I remember their stories about it. There is a memorial now at the place of the crash.

[@emilyhayek1132]

So very sad😢 there were wonderful talented skaters and coaches on that plane. So much LOSS maybe the worst disaster ever in American sports world. They certainly are not forgotten as they have been memorialized many times.

[@edwardoneil3962]

RIP amen ❤😥❤

[@user-sj7yc6yi7d]

I remember the plane crash of the US skake team. I was a boy scout...age 12 . 1960 Squat Valley, Ca . I wore tennis shoes and socks. It was cold and wet. I never ski. I watch the event with my scout master, I fell in love with speed skating. TV was B/W I was 11 years old. Now y am 74 years young. Count your blessings Herman Jones San Francisco California UNITE HERE Local 2...retiree

[@dahawk8574]

It would have been good at the end when mentioning Peggy Fleming to explain that her own coach died in that crash. She was 12 when that happened. Also that today she lives right there, in Denver.

[@dmmchugh3714]

@Da Hawk: I thought Peggy and her husband ran a winery in California. Peggy used to train at Broadmoor; when I was a young skater - 50 years ago - I wrote her a fan letter and Peggy replied. She also enclosed a lovely photo of her skating from Broadmoor. Figure skating had such beautiful style back then.

[@dahawk8574]

@@dmmchugh3714 What an excellent story. I was at the Broadmoor a couple of times last year. I did not know she trained there. But that's not surprising either. The Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs is also an excellent place to visit. My most recent Olympic Training Center visit was two months ago in Park City. I can imagine that she's spent plenty of time at both, among others like Lake Placid. As for wineries in California, I did not know she was into that. My all time favorite is Dario Sattui's castle in Calistoga. I'd be interested to learn her opinion of that. Perhaps her place is not far in Napa Valley.

[@chickadee39]

😢

[@NoodlesEaton]

This was heartbreaking. These kids were at the top of their game and were great athletes. Suddenly they were gone. Who was left? It would take years to train more athletes to the level of this group Figure skating is very demanding and the USA skating team was left in ashes for a while.

[@GeeBee909]

Please ID the two people who are speaking. Thankyou

[@craigtalbott731]

Carol Heiss (Olympic silver and gold medalist, five-time World champion) and Hayes Jenkins (Olympic gold medalist, four-time World champion, four-time US national champion). They're each other's spouses.

[@GeeBee909]

ok, thank you@@craigtalbott731

[@josephhunt1620]

Feb 15th 😕😕🧩🧩💔💔

[@josephhunt1620]

Double blade runner kid skater ice skate plagiarism 👽👽👽👽👽👽📎🌍

[@nelaVanBrussel]