Denise Biellmann

Denise Biellmann (born 11 December 1962) is a Swiss professional figure skater. She was the European and World Champion in 1981 and won the Swiss Championships three times.

Denise Biellmann
Biellmann (center) in November 1980
Born (1962-12-11) 11 December 1962
Zurich, Switzerland
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Figure skating career
Country  Switzerland
CoachHeidi Biellmann
(mother)[1]
Retired1981 (age 18)
Medal record
Ladies' Figure skating
Representing   Switzerland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1981 HartfordLadies' singles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1981 InnsbruckLadies' singles
Bronze medal – third place1979 ZagrebLadies' singles

Career

Amateur career

Born in Zurich, Biellmann won her first international championship in Belgium at age 8; and, at age 11, she won the Swiss Junior Figure Skating Championships.[2] At age 14, she competed at the 1977 European Championships and placed second in the Free Skate portion of the competition.

At the age of 15, she was the first female skater to land the triple lutz in competition, which she performed for the first time at the 1978 European Championships.[3] At the same event, she became the first woman to receive a 6.0 in Technical Merit, receiving the score from British judge Pauline Borrajo.[3] She was 12th in Figures, first in the Free Skate, and finished fourth overall.[3]

At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, Biellmann again performed poorly in compulsory figures and was in twelfth place. She was second in the short program and won the free skate to finish fourth overall.

The Biellmann spin was named after her;[4] she popularized and perfected the spin, but did not invent it. It was present in skating at least since the 1965 European Championships when Tamara Moskvina performed it. It remains the only figure skating spin to be officially named after a person in ISU regulations.

Biellmann retired from amateur competition at age 18, shortly after her win at the 1981 World Championships.

Professional career
Biellmann performing the Biellmann spin in 2011
Biellmann performing in the gala at the 2011 European Championships

Biellmann remains involved in the international figure skating community as a participant in both professional shows and competitions.

She participated in Pro7 Season 1, partnered with television presenter Pierre Geisensetter, and in Season 2, partnered with actor Patrick Bach.

She participated in the Eurovision Dance Contest 2007 representing Switzerland with partner Sven Ninnemann.

She won the prestigious Challenge of Champions, regarded as the most important professional event, a record 5 times. Along with all her other titles making her perhaps the most successful professional skater ever.

In 2014 Biellmann was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.[5]

Competitive highlights
International
Event 72–73 73–74 74–75 75–76 76–77 77–78 78–79 79–80 80–81
Winter Olympics4th
World Champ.15th10th5th5th6th1st
European Champ.6th4th3rdWD1st
NHK Trophy1st
Richmond Trophy3rd
St. Gervais2nd1st
International Challenge Cup1st
National
Swiss Champ.5th J1st J11th3rd2nd2nd1st1st1st
J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

Book
  • Denise Biellmann – Die Biografie. Cameo, Bern 2022, ISBN 978-3-03951-011-5.

References
  1. "Shaw Communications".
  2. http://www.denisebiellmann.com/dbi.html Denise Biellmann website
  3. Stevenson, Alexandra (2011). "2011 European Championships Preview". IceSkatingIntnl.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  4. "The Year in Sports". Sports Illustrated. (photo). March 13, 1980. p. 17.
  5. "World Hall of Fame Members". World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
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