Eva Pawlik

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameEva•Pawlik (-Seeliger)
Used nameEva•Pawlik
Born4 October 1927 in Wien (Vienna), Wien (AUT)
Died31 July 1983 in Wien (Vienna), Wien (AUT)
AffiliationsWEV, Wien (AUT)
NOC Austria
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Before the World War II Eva Pawlik was considered a “wunderkind” on the ice, as she had already turned fast pirouettes at only four-years-old and performed “Axel” jumps effortlessly. In 1937 the nine- year-old appeared in the short film “Sunny Youth,” filmed in Arosa, in which her acting talents were discovered. In pair skating, Pawlik – together with her future husband and non-Olympian Rudi Seeliger – she won a series of youth and junior championships (always beating the future World Champions Andrea Kékesy / Ede Király of Hungary) and the Austrian (“Ostmark”) Championship in 1942. Seeliger had to join the German Army and became a POW on the Eastern Front, returning no earlier than December 1949. Therefore, Pawlik was only able to train as an individual skater, winning four national titles from 1946-49.

When Austria was readmitted to international competitions in 1948, Pawlik immediately became the best European at the European Championships. The 1948 title, however, went to the Canadian Barbara Ann Scott, as non-Europeans were also allowed to compete. In the same year, Pawlik won two more silver medals, at the Olympics and at the World Championships. She finally won the European title in 1949 despite an appendicitis attack. At the World Championships she was the clear favorite but had to retire because her skate broke just before the long program, which gave rise to rumors of sabotage.

By 1948 Pawlik had already been offered to appear in a Hollywood movie but at that time wanted to maintain her amateur status. In the summer of 1949 she turned professional and joined the Vienna Ice Revue. Her first leading role in a movie came in 1950 called “Spring on the Ice,” co-starring many Austrian film and theater celebrities of the time. At the Vienna Ice Revue Pawlik became the most celebrated European show skater since triple Olympic champion Sonja Henie, individually and with her husband Rudi Seeliger as a pair. She was famous for her elegance as well as for her acrobatic skills. In the movies )Dream Revue) (1959) and “Three Love Letters from Tyrol” (1962) Pawlik appeared again as an actress and figure skater.

In the early 1960s Pawlik retired from skating, became a mother and started a career as the first female sports broadcaster on Austrian television. From 1963-72 she reported on all European and World Championships and all Olympic competitions in figure skating, which were major prime-time events at the time. In 1954 Pawlik acquired her PhD in German language and literature studies at Vienna University, her dissertation dealing with the poetry of Austrian writer Stephan von Millenkovich. From 1973-81 she worked as a teacher of German and English. Pawlik died after a long illness, just a few months after her husband.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Winter Olympics Figure Skating (Skating) AUT Eva Pawlik
Singles, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes