CURRY, JOHN

born Sept. 9, 1949, Birmingham, Eng. died April 15, 1994, Binton, Warwickshire in full John Anthony Curry British figure skater who redefined the sport with his elegant balletic style. Known as the Nureyev of the ice, he won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Discouraged from being a ballet dancer by his father, who felt it was effeminate, Curry took his love of dance to the ice. He began skating at the age of seven and quickly took to the sport, winning his first trophy in 1965. Combining graceful athleticism and innovative choreography, he was the British national champion from 1970 to 1975. In 1973 he moved to the United States, where he trained with Carlo Fassi. For the first time, Curry was able to devote himself fully to skating, thanks to financial help from an American sponsor. In 1976 Curry reached the pinnacle of his amateur career, winning the European and world titles, as well as the gold medal at the Olympics. Although his earlier performances had been criticized for lacking the more athletic and daring moves expected in men's figure skating, Curry added a combination of vaulting jumps, including three triples, to his Olympic program. As a result, seven of the nine judges placed Curry first, with the Soviet and Canadian judges placing him second. It was Great Britain's first gold medal in figure skating. Later that year, Curry was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. After winning the world title, Curry turned professional. He formed his own touring company, working with such renowned ballet choreographers as Twyla Tharp, Kenneth MacMillan, and Peter Martins. In 1978 he established a skating school in New York City. Diagnosed with AIDS, he retired from the sport in 1991.