Arnold Gerschwiler

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Arnold Gerschwiler OBE (born 28 May 1914 in Arbon, Switzerland, died 22 August 2003 in Cheam, Surrey, United Kingdom) was a world-renowned figure skating coach.

He was born in Arbon, Switzerland and at the encouragement of his half-brother Jacques moved to London. He was head coach at the Richmond Ice Rink from 1938 and was made director in 1964 until its demolition in 1992. He was awarded the OBE in 1997. He headed a team of up to 28 full-time teachers training skaters from all over the world, discovering 42 Champions, many from London. He taught the Czech skater Aja Zanova, world champion in 1949 and 1950, as well as his nephew Hans Gerschwiler, the 1948 Olympic silver medalist.

He married Violet Blundell in August 1941, and together they had two girls Stella and Claire. From July of 1986 he gained two grandsons and two granddaughters. He died on 22 August 2003 in a hospital.