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[Helene]

Word came out today that figure skating royalty Barbara Ann Scott has died.

In 1948, she was the reigning Canadian, North American, Olympic, and World Ladies Figure Skating Champion.  She was the only non-European to become European Champion twice, in 1947 and 1948.  In 1948 Dick Button won the Men's title -- they were both on their way to the Olympics. After 1948, the European Championships were limited to skaters from European members.

Commentator PJ Kwong wrote an appreciation for CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/sp...-ann-scott.html

Quote

Barbara Ann was one of the eight Olympic flag bearers at Vancouver in 2010 and they were all assembled in a secret location when Wayne Gretzky walked in and said: "My, my, the two greatest skaters of all-time -- Bobby Orr and Barbara Ann Scott."

This is a great (long) interview that Allison Manley did with Scott in November 2010:
http://www.manleywom...bara-ann-scott/

(It can be downloaded from iTunes as well, under "Manleywoman SkateCast.). It's got great insight into what figure skating was like in the mid-20th century.

Rest in peace Ms. Scott.