Biography

Barbara Ann Scott was more than just a figure skating champion; she was one of the most sensational sporting celebrities ever to come out of Canada. Her magnificent performance on the ice drew the attention of the world skating community, while her girlish beauty and her alluring personality captured the hearts of the post-war public worldwide.

She was an international heroine, fondly known as "Barba" to Czechoslovakian fans, "Barbeli" to the Swiss, "Champ" to the French, and "B.A." to the British, Americans, and Canadians. So immense was Barbara Ann's fame that her picture was perpetually plastered across international newspapers, while an incredible number of little girls born in the late 1940s and early 1950s were named Barbara Ann. There were Barbara Ann dolls, Barbara Ann skates, and Barbara Ann teddy bears, all tributes to the young woman who opened the world of figure skating to Canada and set the stage for future success.

Barbara Ann had an early start to stardom, appearing as Raggedy Ann at the age of six in an Ottawa ice show. She was first coached by Otto Gold at Ottawa's Minto Skating Club. So intense was her dedication to the sport that she quit school and began studying with a tutor in order to accommodate her 7-8 hours of training each day. In 1940, at the age of eleven, she beat out skaters nearly twice her age to become the youngest junior champion in Canadian skating history. She claimed the senior title in 1944 and the North American championship the following year. In 1946, Sheldon Galbraith, who was to become one of the most successful Canadian figure skating coaches of the 20th century, joined the Minto Club. It was he who put the finishing touches on Barbara Ann's performance and set her on the championship path.

In 1947, at the age of 18, Barbara Ann caught the attention of the international skating world when she won the European figure skating championships, the first North American to do so. A few weeks later, she claimed the world championship, again forging new ground for skaters from the west and simultaneously putting Canada on the international figure skating map. Upon her return to Ottawa, Barbara Ann was hailed by her adoring fans and presented with a new car bearing the license plate "47 U 1." A famous controversy ensued, as the Ice Queen was risking her amateur crown in accepting such a gift. Despite much public protest, Barbara Ann reluctantly gave it back to ensure her eligibility for the Olympic Games the following year, where she was to receive a much more precious piece of metal.

1948 was Barbara Ann's most glorious year. She easily reclaimed her world title, a mere prelude to the Olympic Games. At the Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, she swept the school figures event, which in those days counted for 60 percent of her score, but when she arrived at the rink where she was to give her free skating performance, she found that it had been ravaged by mild weather and a number of hockey matches. Before the competition, she and Galbraith explored every inch of the ice, taking note of any imperfections and strategically placing her jumps in the best spots. Avoiding any additional snags that had caught the other competitors off-guard, Barbara Ann gave a brilliant performance, dazzled the judges, and earned Canada its first Olympic figure skating Gold Medal. Barbara Ann's outstanding achievements were cause for celebration across Canada. Upon her return, she was greeted by a crowd of 70,000 people in Ottawa's Confederation Square and presented with another car, this one bearing the license plate "48 U 1." This time, the Queen of Blades accepted, resigning her amateur crown and entering the professional ranks.

Barbara Ann spent the next few years starring with the Ice Capades and the Hollywood Ice Revue. In 1955, she married Tommy King, a publicist whom she met on tour, and happily settled in Chicago. For her efforts on the ice, Barbara Ann was voted Canada's top female athlete in 1946, 1947, and 1948, and Canada's most outstanding athlete in 1945, 1947, and 1948. For her pioneering efforts in establishing Canada on the international skating scene, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and inducted into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1991.