Figure skating at the 1956 Winter Olympics
In the VII Olympic Games 1956 in Cortina d' Ampezzo three competitions were held in figure skating. Venue was the ice stadium Stadio del Ghiaccio, which offered 15,000 spectators.
Medalist
Gentlemen
Date: February 1 The performances were judged by nine adjudicators.
Hayes Alan Jenkins had succeeded his successful countryman Richard Button after the Olympic Games in 1952 and has since remained undefeated. So he went as the undisputed favorite for the Olympic Games and won the gold medal. However, the decision was closer than expected. Jenkins ' compatriot Ronald Robertson, known for its strengths in leaps and pirouettes, won the freestyle. In the end, Robertson was less than one point and three- place numbers behind Jenkins. The bronze medal went to Hayes Alan Jenkins ' brother, David Jenkins, who in turn succeeded his brother after the Olympic Games and four years later became Olympic champion. Thus, the U.S. occupied the entire podium in the men's competition. The fact that a nation this succeeded happened for the second time in the history of figure skating olympischesn after 1908 when Sweden won all the medals in the men's competition. For the first time in Olympic history of figure skating was a podium without European participation. Best European was the Frenchman Alain Giletti, the fourth.
Ladies
Date: February 2 The performances were judged by 11 judges rating.
Couples
Date: February 3 The performances were judged by nine adjudicators.