David Jenkins (figure skater)

David Jenkins
Personal information
Country represented United States
Born June 29, 1936
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Skating club Broadmoor SC
Retired 1960

David Wilkinson Jenkins (born June 29, 1936 in Akron, Ohio), is an American figure skater. He won the men's gold medal for figure skating during the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. David Jenkins had led the world in men's skating for four years, following the four-year lead of his older brother, figure skater Hayes Alan Jenkins.

Jenkins was known as an especially strong jumper for his time. There exists video of him performing a triple axel jump in a 1957 exhibition, 21 years before that jump was landed for the first time in competition.[1]

Following the 1960 Olympics, Jenkins declined to compete at the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships. Instead, he turned professional, taking a leave of absence from his studies at Case Western Reserve Medical School to appear in Ice Follies.[2] After graduating, he became a practicing physician.[3][4]

Competitive highlights

Event 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
Winter Olympics 3rd 1st
World Championships 4th 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 1st
North American Championships 2nd 1st
U.S. Championships 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st

References

  1. ↑ "Akron native David Jenkins still feels urge to compete, 50 years after winning gold".
  2. ↑ "News About Skaters", Skating magazine, November 1960
  3. ↑ "David Jenkins". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  4. ↑ "Notable Alumni". Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 2014-04-15.