Winners: Petra Burka, Figure Skating

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Petra Burka with her arms over her head

Petra Burka posing for the camera, shortly after she was presented with the Lou Marsh Memorial Award.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

1964 - Feature Story

Her mother Ellen was a legendary figure skating coach, but having an expert in the house didn’t automatically qualify Petra Burka for skating stardom. The Amsterdam-born, Toronto-based Burka also possessed the necessary drive and talent that would make her a champion. Burka won her first national championship at age 14, winning the Canadian junior title. She followed that up with a Silver medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Toronto, where she was the first to successfully land a triple Salchow. That effort earned her a trip to the 1962 World Championships in Prague, where she finished fourth. She took the Canadian senior championship in 1964 and securing a spot on Canada’s team to the 1964 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, earning a Bronze medal with a brilliant free skating program. She followed that up with a Bronze medal at the World Championships in Dortmund, Germany. At the end of 1964, upon hearing she had been named Canada’s top female athlete of the year, Burka was quoted as saying the award “was perhaps better than winning the Bronze medal.”

1965 - Feature Story

After earning a Bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games, Burka spent her off-season studying ballet to buoy up her free skating potential. The work paid off.  She won the Canadian and North American Championship, then travelled to Colorado Springs where she won the Women’s World Championship with a strong free skate tinged only by a slip on her double flip jump near the end of her program.

Career Highlights

  • 1965 Gold medallist, at the World Figure Skating Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • 1965 Lou Marsh Memorial Award
  • 1964-1966 Canadian Figure Skating Champion
  • 1964, 1965 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (Canada’s female athlete of the year)
  • 1964 Bronze medal at the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck
Petra Burka’s Olympic bronze medal

Bronze medal awarded to Petra Burka at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck.
Date: 1964
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka’s figure skates

Figure skates worn by Petra Burka.
Date: 1960’s
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

A spiral executed by Petra Burka

Petra Burka performing a spiral.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka’s World Figure Skating Lady Champion ribbon

World Figure Skating Lady Champion ribbon awarded to Petra Burka in Colorado Springs.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka’s World Championship Gold medal

Figure Skating Championship Gold medal awarded to Petra Burka at the World Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka’s Canadian Skating Association medal

Petra Burka was awarded this medal by the Canadian Skating Association for winning the Senior Ladies Singles title.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka’s North American Championship Gold medal

Gold medal won by Petra Burka at the North American Figure Skating Championship held in Rochester, New York.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Petra Burka posing on the ice

Petra Burka posing for the camera.
Date: 1965
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

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