Tenley Albright

Tenley Albright in Tokyo 1953-4-29

Tenley Albright

Tenley Emma Albright (born July 18, 1935) is an American former figure skater and surgeon. She is best known for being the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating, achieving this feat at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Early Life

Tenley Albright was born in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. She began skating at the age of nine as part of her rehabilitation from poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio. Her early training took place at the Skating Club of Boston.

Skating Career

Albright's skating career took off in the early 1950s. She won her first major title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1952. She went on to win the national title five times consecutively from 1952 to 1956. In addition to her national success, Albright also won the World Figure Skating Championships in 1953 and 1955.

Her crowning achievement came at the 1956 Winter Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the ladies' singles event. This victory made her the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating.

Education and Medical Career

After retiring from competitive skating, Albright pursued a career in medicine. She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1961, becoming one of the few women in her class. Albright specialized in surgery and became a respected surgeon. She has also been involved in various medical organizations and has contributed to medical research.

Personal Life

Tenley Albright has been married twice. She has two daughters from her first marriage. In addition to her medical career, she has remained involved in the figure skating community, serving as a judge and mentor to young skaters.

Awards and Honors

Albright has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to both figure skating and medicine. She was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976. She has also been recognized by various medical institutions for her work in surgery and medical research.

See Also

• Figure skating at the 1956 Winter Olympics
• List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
• List of Harvard University people