Henning Grenander

Although born in Sweden, Henning Grenander made his home in England after taking part in the 1898 World Figure Skating Championships in London. He was a pioneer of modern skating, and did a lot to develop and promote the international style of skating. A beautiful and elegant skater, he won the silver medal at the 1893 European Championships in Berlin, finishing second to Austria’s Eduard Engelmann, the three-time winner of the title. At the 1898 Worlds, Grenander won the gold medal ahead of the winners of the first two World Championships, Gustav Hügel and Gilbert Fuchs, who finished second and third place respectively.

Grenander was born in rural Sweden and went to Stockholm for schooling at the age of eight. He learned to skate at the age of 11 and won his first competition a year later. When he came to London in 1898 he worked for a Swedish bank but after the championships decided to remain in England where he practiced as a Swedish masseur. He became a member of Prince’s Skating Club, and apart from giving exhibitions, was a skating judge. Grenander was also a member of the Holland Park Roller Figure-Skating Club, and in the 1920s was associated with the Grosvenor House Ice Club. He died in a Torquay nursing home at the age of 84.