Magdelena Cecilia Colledge British figure skater Date of Birth: 28.11.1920 Country: USA

1. Biography of Magdalena Cecilia Colledge
2. Early Life and Career
3. Olympic Success and Controversies
4. World Champion and Post-War Career
5. Coaching and Legacy

Biography of Magdalena Cecilia Colledge

Magdalena Cecilia Colledge, also known as Cecilia Colledge, was a British figure skater. She was born on November 28, 1920, in London, England. Her father, Lionel Colledge, was a surgeon, and her brother, Maule Colledge, served in the Royal Air Force and died during World War II.

Early Life and Career

Colledge developed an interest in figure skating after watching the performances of skaters at the 1928 World Championships held in London. Some say that Norwegian skater Sonja Henie made the biggest impression on her, while others claim it was young American skater Maribel Vinson, whom Colledge's mother Margaret befriended. Regardless, Colledge became dedicated to figure skating at a young age.

At the age of 11 and 4 months, Colledge represented Great Britain at the 1932 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest Olympic participant and finishing in 8th place. In 1933, she won a silver medal at the European Championships and became the national champion in 1935. She also won a bronze medal at the European Championships and a silver medal at the World Championships in 1935.

Olympic Success and Controversies

In 1936, Colledge won her second national championship and became the first skater to perform a double salchow at the European Championships. At the 1936 Winter Olympics, at the age of 15, she won the silver medal, narrowly losing to Sonja Henie. The results were very close, and it was rumored that Henie was so infuriated by the small margin of victory that she tore up the results sheet in anger. There were suspicions of unfair judging, as Colledge competed second out of 26 skaters, allowing the judges to leave room for higher scores for later competitors, while Henie skated last. These controversies regarding judging continued for years in figure skating competitions.

World Champion and Post-War Career

In 1937, Colledge won her first European Championship and became the World Champion. She won her fifth national championship and her second European title in 1938, as well as a silver medal at the World Championships. Colledge was known for her intricate and difficult programs, which even experts sometimes struggled to fully appreciate due to the ease and speed with which she executed jumps and spins.

In 1939, she won her third European Championship title but was unable to compete at the World Championships due to an Achilles tendon injury. During World War II, figure skating competitions were not held. Colledge served as an ambulance driver for the Motor Transport Corps, a British female driving service, during the bombing of London.

After the war, Colledge returned to competitive skating and won her sixth and final national championship. She transitioned to professional skating and won the Open Professional Championships in 1947 and 1948.

Coaching and Legacy

In 1951, Colledge moved to the United States and became a coach at the Skating Club of Boston. She coached young skaters from 1952 to 1977. Colledge passed away on April 12, 2008, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1980, she was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, honoring her contributions to the sport.