Edgar Syers

Edgar Syers was a pioneer of British skating as both a skater and an official of the National Ice Skating Association. He was influential in introducing a more fluid style of skating to his home country in contrast to the more rigid “English-style” skating.

Syers finished third (out of three competitors) in the 1899 World Championships and later the same year married Madge Cave, a fellow skater twenty years his junior. As husband, coach and skating partner he helped Madge develop into the outstanding female skater of her time and when she won the 1903 British Championship, which was open to both sexes, it was Edgar who placed second. The duo combined to win unofficial world pairs championships in 1902 and 1904 and a bronze medal at the1908 Olympics making Edgar the oldest figure skater to win an Olympic medal. After Madge died at an early age Edgar Syers married once more, this time to a woman 30 years younger than him.