John Slater (figure skater)

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Joan Dewhirst
Figure skating career
Country Great Britain
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Figure skating: Ice dancing
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1952 Paris Ice dance
Silver medal – second place 1953 Davos Ice dance

John Slater (1928–1989) was a British figure skater who competed in ice dance.[1]

About 1950, John formed a dance partnership with 14-year old Joan Dewhirst. Within a year were the silver medalists in the 1951 International Ice Dance Competition in Milan (forerunner to the World Ice Dance Championships). John and Joan trained in Manchester with Jack Wake, and also London by Gladys Hogg (famed British figure skating coach of the 1940s-1980s). Shortly after the Milan championship, John and Joan won the first of their three British Ice Dance Championships.[2]

John and Joan won silver medals at the first two World Championships in ice dance: in 1952 and 1953.[1][3][4][5][6]

1954 saw John and Joan retiring from competition and marrying in July of that year. The spent several years touring with Ice Capades and won the World Professional Championship 6 times. Their first of two sons Olympic figure skater Nicky Slater was born in 1958. Second son Kim was born on the way to the hospital while on the M62 highway.

John died in 1989.

Competitive highlights[edit]

With Joan Dewhirst

Event 1952 1953
World Championships 2nd 2nd

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b James R. Hines (22 April 2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow Press. pp. 72–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7085-7. Joan Dewhirst John Slater.
  2. ^ "Joan Slater MBE - Obituary - 15/04/2020". 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ James R. Hines (22 April 2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow Press. pp. 290–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7085-7. Joan Dewhirst.
  4. ^ Alice Berman (1 January 1998). Skater's Edge Sourcebook: Ice Skating Resource Guide. Skater's Edge. ISBN 978-0-9643027-1-6.
  5. ^ Howard Bass (1 January 1974). Let's go skating. Paul. ISBN 978-0-09-121050-2.
  6. ^ Raymond Flower (1976). The history of skiing and other winter sports. Methuen. ISBN 9780458927807. Joan Dewhirst.