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Manfred SchnelldorferWest German figure skater
Date of Birth: 02.05.1943
Country:  Germany |
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Biography of Manfred Schnelldorfer
Manfred Schnelldorfer is a former West German figure skater who competed in men's singles. He was born on January 3, 1943, in Germany. Schnelldorfer's parents, who were well-known figure skating coaches in West Germany, trained him from a young age.
Early Career
Schnelldorfer won his first competition at the age of eight. He represented the prestigious ERC club from Munich. In 1954, at the Junior German Championships, he finished second behind Hans-Jürgen Boymler, who later became a two-time world champion in pairs skating in 1963 and 1964. The following year, Schnelldorfer won the senior German Championships, while Boymler finished fourth and eventually switched to a different discipline.
Afterwards, Schnelldorfer pursued a degree in architecture for four years but was unable to complete his education due to his commitments in figure skating.
Olympic Victory
The highlight of Schnelldorfer's career was his victory at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. This victory came as a surprise to many, as the favorite that year was the French skater Alain Calmat, who had been the European champion from 1962 to 1964 and won the silver medal at the 1963 World Championships. Throughout his career, Schnelldorfer became an eight-time German champion, one-time world champion (1964), three-time bronze medalist, and two-time silver medalist at the European Championships.
Professional Career
After retiring from competitive skating in 1964, Schnelldorfer turned professional and worked with ice shows for four years. He also pursued a career as a pop singer and appeared in several films as an actor.
Following this, he became a coach and sports educator. From 1974 to 1981, Schnelldorfer served as the head coach of the West German national figure skating team. He currently resides in Munich and owns several sports stores. Schnelldorfer is married and has two children.
