Barbara Ann Scott

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Barbara Ann Scott

Barbara Ann Scott, photo by Yousuf Karsh, 1946
Personal information
Country represented  Canada
Born May 9, 1928 (1928-05-09) (age 83)
Retired 1948

Barbara Ann Scott King, (born May 9, 1928 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1]) is a four-time Canadian figure skating Champion (1944-46, 48). She is the 1948 Olympic Champion and two-time World Champion (1947–1948) in ladies singles. Known as "Canada's Sweetheart", she is the only Canadian to win the ladies singles figure skating gold medal, the first North American to win three major titles in one year and the only Canadian to win the European Championship (1947–1948). During her forties she was rated among the top equestrians in North America. She has received many honours and accolades, including being made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1991 and a member of the Order of Ontario in 2008.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Barbara Ann Scott doing a stag jump at the Ottawa Minto Skating Club in December of 1947

Barbara Ann Scott is the youngest of three children born to Canadian Army Colonel Clyde Rutherford Scott and Mary Purves of Sandy Hill in Ottawa.[2] She began skating at the age of seven with the Minto Skating Club.[3] At the age of ten she became the youngest ever to pass the "gold figures test"[3] and at eleven years old won her first national junior title.[4] Two years later, in 1942, the thirteen-year-old became the first female to ever land a double lutz in competition,[5] and by the age of fifteen was Canada's "senior champion".[6] From 1944 to 1946, she held the Canadian Figure Skating championship.[7] In 1947 Scott became the first North American to win both the European and World Figure Skating championships, and remains the only Canadian to win the European title.[8][9] This led to her being voted Canadian Newsmaker of the Year in 1947.[10] On her return to Ottawa during a parade she was given a yellow Buick convertible (license plate: 47-U-1); however it had to be returned for her to retain amateur status, so as to be able to compete in the 1948 Winter Olympics.[11][12]

During the 1948 season Scott was able to defend both the World Figure Skating and the European Skating Championships, and reacquired the Canadian Figure Skating Championship, becoming the first North American to win all three in the same year and the first to hold consecutive World titles.[9] She was featured as a Time magazine cover story on February 2, 1948, one week before her Olympic debut in St. Moritz, Switzerland.[13]

Barbara Ann Scott practicing her routine on the ice in full costume on December 1, 1948

At the 1948 Winter Olympics Scott became the first and only Canadian in history to win the ladies singles figure skating gold medal.[3][14] After the Olympic win she received a telegram from Prime Minister Mackenzie King, stating that she gave "Canadians courage to get through the darkness of the post-war gloom".[15] When Scott returned to Ottawa on March 9, 1948, the car that she originally relinquished in 1947 was given back (license plate now: 48-U-1), and she also received the "Key" to the city.[11][16] Commonly referred to as "Canada's Sweetheart" in the press at this time,[17] a collectible doll (accompanied by a letter from her) was issued in her honour in 1948.[18]

In June 1948, Barbara Ann officially relinquished her amateur status and began touring North American and Europe, headlining in a variety of shows over the next five years.[3] Among her early successes was Tom Arnold's Rose Marie on Ice at the Harringay Arena in London, UK.[19] She went on to replace her childhood idol Sonja Henie in the starring role with the "Hollywood Ice Revue" in Chicago,[20] the subject of a Life cover story on February 4, 1952.[21] The gruelling schedule of a professional skater took its toll, and at the age of twenty-five she retired from professional skating.[3] In 1955 to much fanfare, at the age of twenty-seven Scott married publicist Tom King in a ceremony at the Rosedale Presbyterian Church in Toronto.[22] The couple settled in Chicago, where Barbara Ann opened a beauty salon and became a distinguished horse trainer and equestrian rider by her forties.[23][24] Scott is also the founder and chancellor of the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Toronto.[25] In 1996, the couple moved to Amelia Island in Nassau County, Florida.[26]

Scott remained an influential figure in skating throughout the years; she appeared in films and TV, published books, served as a skating judge, and was recognized for her charitable and educational causes.[25] As a Canadian sports icon and marking the fortieth anniversary of her Olympic win, she was asked to carry the Olympic torch in the lead-up to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. In December 2009 she again carried the Olympic torch, this time to Parliament Hill and into the House of Commons, in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics.[27] She subsequently was one of the Olympic flag bearers during the opening ceremonies in Vancouver on February 12, 2010. In 2012 the city of Ottawa announced the creation of "The Barbara Ann Scott Room", that will display photographs, her championship awards, and the Olympic gold medal that Scott formally donated to the city in 2011.[28]

[edit] Orders, accolades and medals

Barbara Ann Scott with her mother and her trainer Sheldon Galbraith. Photo taken in Toronto during a parade in her honour after the Olympics on March 13, 1948

Barbara Ann Scott was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1991, and a member of the Order of Ontario in 2008 for her contributions to sports and charitable endeavours.[25][29] She was also inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1948, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1966, the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 1991, the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and was in 1998 named to Canada's Walk of Fame.[30][31] Her first major honour came in the form of the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's Top Athlete of the Year in 1945, which she subsequently won in both 1947 and 1948.[32]

Event 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948
Winter Olympics 1st
World Championships 1st 1st
European Championships 1st 1st
North American Championships 1st 1st
Canadian Championships 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st

[edit] Bibliography

  • Barbara Ann Scott (1952). Skate with me. A. Redman. 
  • Barbara Ann Scott; Michael Kirby (1953). Skating for beginners (1 ed.). Knopf. 


[edit] Filmography

Year Tile Role Topic [33]
1947 Johnny at the Fair (Short film) Herself A boy is separated from his mother and father and meets celebrities on his journey
1948 An Introduction to the Art of Figure Skating (Short film) Herself Barbara Ann Scott demonstrate her unique style of figure skating
1949 Beauty and the Blade (Short film) Herself Dick Button and Barbara Ann Scott demonstrate six types of skating
1950 Hollywood Ice Capades premiere (Short film) Herself Many skating stars together
1955 What's My Line? (TV series) Herself Appears as a mystery guess - Original Air Date: April 17, 1955
1956 Happy New Year "Sunday Spectacular" (TV movie) Herself Ice ballets by Barbara Ann Scott and Dick Button
1984 You've Come a Long Way, Ladies (TV movie) Herself Documenting the great achievements of women in the 20th century
1997 Queen of the Blades: Life & Times of Barbara Ann Scott (TV series) Herself A biography of Barbara Ann Scott - Original Air Date: March 12, 1997
1999 Reflections on Ice Synopsis (TV series) Herself Documentary on women's figure skating

[edit] See also

Portal icon Sport in Canada portal
Portal icon Ottawa portal
Portal icon Olympics portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Ottawa cheers for Barbara Ann Scott" (audio 3:38 min). CBC audio archives. March 7, 1947. http://archives.cbc.ca/programs/668-15462/page/1/. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  2. ^ "A Message Of Inspiring Faith From Barbara Ann Scott". The Miami News. Feb 13, 1951. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dStVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kj0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6038%2C6707367. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "Barbara Ann Scott" (video 1:06 min). The Historica-Dominion Institute. 2009. http://www.historica-dominion.ca/content/heritage-minutes/barbara-ann-scott. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  4. ^ Darryl Humber; William Humber (16 November 2009). Let It Snow: Keeping Canada's Winter Sports Alive. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-55488-461-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=v2bmSfX0c9sC&pg=PA16. 
  5. ^ Becki Ross (October 2009). Burlesque West: showgirls, sex, and sin in postwar Vancouver. University of Toronto Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-8020-9646-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=plgceSLzsgAC&pg=PA226. 
  6. ^ Margaret Ann Hall (2002). The girl and the game: a history of women's sport in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-55111-268-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=J1uDqj_75q4C&pg=PA105. 
  7. ^ James R. Hines (30 April 2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-8108-6859-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=LSEkqy6BS44C&pg=PA201. 
  8. ^ Mark Kearney; Randy Ray (6 January 2009). The Big Book of Canadian Trivia. Dundurn Press Ltd.. pp. 302–. ISBN 978-1-55488-417-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=RoBytz0-XuQC&pg=PA302. Retrieved 25 January 2012. 
  9. ^ a b "Our History - CFSA Milestones". Skate Canada (The Amateur Skating Association of Canada). 2011. http://www.skatecanada.ca/en-us/aboutus/history.aspx. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  10. ^ "Selections run the gamut over the history of CP's Newsmaker of the Year". The Canadian Press. 2011. http://www.globaltvbc.com/canada/selections+run+the+gamut+over+the+history+of+cps+newsmaker+of+the+year/6442547157/story.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  11. ^ a b David Wallechinsky; David Wallechinsky & Jaime Loucky (9 October 2009). The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics. D&M Publishers Incorporated. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-55365-502-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=6EThoEOnGuUC&pg=PA60. 
  12. ^ "Barbara Ann Scott's Car To Be Returned". The Montreal Gazette. May 7, 1947. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1XYtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gpgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5976%2C1162649. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  13. ^ "TIME "Ice Queen" (Vol. LI No. 5)". TIME Magazine. Feb 2, 1948. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/0,9263,7601480202,00.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  14. ^ Ron C. Judd (28 February 2009). The Winter Olympics:. The Mountaineers Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-59485-063-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=Hc2dCHfyh0AC&pg=PA27. 
  15. ^ Byron Rempel (2009). No Limits: the Amazing Life Story of Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele. Twinski Publications, SHGPH. p. 213. ISBN 978-2-89586-055-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=nxHPUtLVvxgC&pg=PA213. 
  16. ^ "Barbara Ann Scott". City of Ottawa Archives. 2011. http://ottawa.ca/rec_culture/museum_heritage/archives/history/sports/scott_en.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  17. ^ Doug Lennox (30 September 2009). Now You Know Big Book of Sports. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 217. ISBN 978-1-55488-454-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=vnj4TSwDvacC&pg=PA217. 
  18. ^ "The Barbara Ann Scott Doll". Canadian Museum of Civilization. 2010. http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/dolls/dobar01e.shtml. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  19. ^ "Celebrating Women's Achievements". Library and Archives Canada. 2007. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/030001-1516-e.html. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  20. ^ "Interview with Barbara Ann Scott" (audio 06:22 min). Canada's History. Jan 20, 2010. http://www.canadashistory.ca/Magazine/Online-Extension/Articles/Barbara-Ann-Scott.aspx. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
  21. ^ Time Inc (4 February 1952). LIFE "Barbara Ann Scott Her Rivalry with Sonja". Time Inc. p. 46. ISSN 00243019. http://books.google.com/books?id=fVQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. 
  22. ^ "Canadian figure skater Barbara Ann Scott enters the church and weds Chicago publicist Tom King in Canada" (video 0:45 min). universal international news. 1955, September 19. http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675071439_Barbara-Ann-Scott_Tom-King_well-wishers_fans_wedding. 
  23. ^ Mark Kearney; Randy Ray (30 September 2006). Whatever happened to-- ?: catching up with Canadian icons. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-55002-654-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=eU-iNvwywHQC&pg=PA166. 
  24. ^ Edward Zawadzki (27 September 2004). The Ultimate Canadian Sports Trivia Book. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-55002-529-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=0jV_tdolWAcC&pg=PA163. 
  25. ^ a b c "Officer of the Order of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=2910&t=12&ln=Scott-King. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  26. ^ Perry, Heather A (Nov 30, 2009). "Olympic gold - Canadians still carry torch for local woman". News-Leader. http://www.fbnewsleader.com/articles/2009/12/02/news/00newsolympicgold.txt. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  27. ^ "Scott brings Olympic torch to Parliament" (video 1:18 min). Canoe inc. December 10, 2009. http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/video/56066798001. Retrieved 2010-12-17. 
  28. ^ "Scott legacy finds home at city hall". The Ottawa Sun. January 25, 2012. http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/01/25/state-of-the-city-in-our-own-hands. Retrieved 2012-01-26. 
  29. ^ "Order of Ontario Appointees by year of Appointment". Queen's Printer for Ontario. http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/citizenship/honours/orderofontario_appointees.shtml#2008. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  30. ^ "Barbara Ann Scott should light Olympic flame". Ottawa Sun. 2009. http://www.ottawasun.com/news/columnists/earl_mcrae/2009/11/26/11944446.html. Retrieved 2010-12-17. 
  31. ^ Victor J. Danilov (1 November 1997). Hall of fame museums: a reference guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-313-30000-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=VUO_J0YzpP0C&pg=PA220. 
  32. ^ Edward Zawadzki (27 September 2004). The Ultimate Canadian Sports Trivia Book. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-55002-529-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=0jV_tdolWAcC&pg=PA135. 
  33. ^ Barbara Ann Scott at the Internet Movie Database

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Barbara Ann Scott
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbara_Ann_Scott&oldid=473654349"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages