Willy Böckl

One of the most successful figure skaters of the 1920s, Willy Böckl had the misfortune never to win an Olympic gold. His long career began in 1913, placing second at the World Championships and third at the Europeans. When international competition resumed in 1922, Böckl’s toughest opponent turned out to be Sweden’s Gillis Grafström. After silver medals behind him at the World Championships (1922, 1924) and the Olympics (1924), Böckl dominated the sport when Grafström started to focus on his job.

Böckl won four World titles (1925-1928) and six European titles (1922-1923, 1925-1928) in his rival’s absence, but when the Swede returned for the St. Moritz Olympics, Böckl once more had to be content with a silver medal. The first skater to land a double Rittberger (loop jump), Böckl retired after his second Olympic silver. Later, Böckl emigrated to the United States, where he worked as a skating coach.