Manfred Schnelldorfer

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Manfred Schnelldorfer bigraphy, stories - German figure skater

Manfred Schnelldorfer : biography

May 2, 1943 –

Manfred Schnelldorfer (born 2 May 1943 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany) is a German figure skater, and a World and Olympic champion.

Competitive highlights

Event 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Olympic Games 8th 1st
World Championships WD 11th 15th 7th 5th 3rd 1st
European Championships 10th 10th 7th 7th 5th 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd
German Championships 1st J. 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
  • WD = Withdrew

Career

Schnelldorfer won his first competition at age eight. His parents, both quite famous in Germany as figure skater coaches, coached him. He skated for the Munich ERC club and therefore he represented the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

At his one and only German Junior Championships he came in second behind Hans-Jürgen Bäumler, twice World champion in pairs. The following year, at the German Senior Championships, Schnelldorfer won. His rival Hans-Jürgen Bäumler came in 4th place and later competed as a pair skater.

Later Schnelldorfer studied architecture for four years, but could not graduate due to his figure skating activities.

The highlight of his career was becoming Olympic champion in 1964 in Innsbruck. His victory was a surprise. The favorite was Alain Calmat of France, who won the Europeans between 1962 and 1964 and was silver medalist at the 1963 Worlds.

In all, Schnelldorfer was an eight-time German champion, one-time World champion (1964), three-time bronze and two-time silver medalist at the Europeans. After his amateur career he turned professional and worked with an ice show for four years.

He also was pop singer (German: Schlagersänger) and actor. After that he became a coach and sport teacher. He was the first West German national coach for figure skating between 1974 and 1981.

Manfred Schnelldorfer lives in Munich and owns some sport shops. He is married and has two children.

Manfred Schnelldorfer films

  • Holiday in St. Tropez (1964)
  • Ich kauf’ mir lieber einen Tirolerhut (1965) (I prefer to buy a Tiroler hat)
  • Tausend Takte Übermut (1965) (Thousand takts high spirits)
  • Spukschloß im Salzkammergut (1966)
  • Komm mit zur blauen Adria (1966) (Come to the blue Adria)

Manfred Schnelldorfer songs

  • Wenn du mal allein bist (When you are once alone)
  • Deine schönen blauen Augen (Your beautiful blue eyes)
  • Mizzie