SCHAFER, KARL

born May 17, 1909, Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now in Austria] died April 26, 1976, Austria Austrian figure skater who was the best performer in his sport during the 1930s and an innovator in the sport as well. He won two successive gold medals in the Winter Olympics of 1932 and 1936. He was also world champion in figure skating from 1930 to 1936. Schfer started training to be a figure skater early in his youth. He placed fourth in figure skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, a few months shy of his 19th birthday. He won his first European championship in 1929 and his first world championship in 1930. In his career he won 8 consecutive European titles, and his 7 world championships rank second only to the 10 titles won by Ulrich Salchow. In addition to his skating titles, Schfer was an eight-time Austrian breast-stroke swimming champion. Schfer won his first gold medal at the Winter Olympics of 1932 in Lake Placid, New York, U.S. Then 22 years old, he wrested first place from three-time Olympic champion Gillis Grafstrm. School figures were Schfer's specialty, and he also gained renown for his elegant style and wit. As much a dancer as an athlete, he introduced the blur spin (a spin so fast that the skater's image becomes blurred) and many dance steps, including elements of the tango and waltz, to skating performances. He won his second gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Schfer retired from competitive skating after 1936, spending much of his time with touring ice shows. In 1940 he established his own touring group, eponymously named Shfer Ice-Show. Later he became a figure-skating coach in Austria.