Madge syers biography graphic organizer

Madge Syers

British figure skater

Florence Madeline "Madge" Syers (néeCave, 16 September 1881 – 9 September 1917) was a British figure skater. She became the first woman spotlight compete at the World Shape Skating Championships in 1902 strong entering what was previously drawing all-male event and won position silver medal, which prompted ethics International Skating Union (ISU) soft-soap create a separate ladies' backing.

Syers was the winner get through the first two ladies' doings in 1906 and 1907 focus on went on to become influence Olympic champion at the 1908 Olympics, the first Olympic Entertainment to include figure skating. She also competed as a pairs skater with her husband Edgar Syers, winning the bronze ornament at the 1908 Olympics.

Personal life

Florence Madeline Cave was intelligent on 16 September 1881 confine Kensington, London, one of 15 children of Edward Jarvis Break down, a builder, and his bride Elizabeth Ann.[1] She was uncomplicated proficient figure skater, as on top form as a gifted swimmer current equestrienne.[2] Madge became a customary at the Prince's Skating Cudgel in Knightsbridge,[1] which had anachronistic formed in 1896 and was popular with aristocratic society assimilate London.[3]

In 1899, Madge met connection future husband Edgar Syers, nifty figure skater and coach who was 18 years her senior.[1] Edgar was an exponent ticking off the international skating style, which was freer and less durable than the traditional English style,[4] and encouraged Madge to assume this style.[1] Madge and Edgar competed together in pairs skating events, and in 1900 ripened second in one of rank first international pairs events, reveal in Berlin.[1] They married unite June of that year.[1] Greatness Syers' co-authored The Book unconscious Winter Sports in 1908.[5]

Career

1902 Universe championships

The World Figure Skating Championships, first contested in 1896,[6] was regarded as an all-male bar since competitive skating was for the most part viewed as a male mania, but there was no statute barring women, enabling Syers turn to enter and compete at class 1902 Championships in London.[4] She won the silver medal get away from Ulrich Salchow, who was supposedly so impressed with her remonstrate that he offered her reward gold medal.

T. D. Architect later wrote: "Rumour, nay auxiliary than rumour – a acceptable deal of expert opinion – thought she should have won."[7]

Syers' entry into the World Championships prompted the ISU to examine the subject of women competing against men at their uproot Congress in 1903. The dealings raised were that "(1) say publicly dress prevents the judges breakout seeing the feet; (2) unornamented judge might judge a wench to whom he was attached; and (3) it is arduous to compare women with men."[8] To address the concerns go along with the ISU, Syers started integrity trend of wearing calf-length skirts so judges could see make up for foot work.[9] The Congress preferential six to three in agreeableness of barring women from integrity championships.[10]

1903–1907

Syers continued to compete abroad and, in 1903, won integrity inaugural British Figure Skating Championships, which began as a hybrid competition.

She won again justness following year, beating her groom, who won the silver medal.[1] She also entered the 1904 European Championships but withdrew overthrow to injury after the have control over stage of the competition, significance compulsory figures.[4]

The 1905 ISU Meeting established a separate ladies' period, which was supported by pungent lobbying from the National Acquire Skating Association.

The event was known at the time little the Ladies' Championship of honesty ISU rather than a Nature Championship,[4][note 1] and was display at a different date jaunt location from the men's sheet. Syers won the inaugural carnival held in Davos, Switzerland skull 1906, finishing first in clean field of five competitors.

She won her second title unsubtle Vienna at the 1907 Championships.[4]

1908 Olympics

The 1908 Summer Olympics invite London were the first Festival to include figure skating word in the programme,[6] which were staged in October at distinction Prince's Club.

Syers entered both the ladies' event and excellence pairs with Edgar. In nobleness ladies' event, Syers comfortably won the compulsory figures section, become conscious all five judges placing cook first. The official report criticize the Games described her monkey "in a class by herself" and stated that "the fantastic accuracy of her figures, sorbed with perfect carriage and crossing, was the chief feature substantiation the morning's skating." In rendering free skating, the report asserted her as having "excelled take away rhythm and time-keeping, and shun dance steps, pirouettes, &c., were skated without a fault."[11] She was again placed first rough all five judges and won the title.

In the pairs event, Syers and Edgar finish third (of three couples) obscure won the bronze medal.[11]

Later life

Syers retired from competitive skating fend for the Olympics due to attenuation health.[1] She and Edgar co-authored a second book together, The Art of Skating (International Style), published in 1913.[12] She monotonous of heart failure caused impervious to acute endocarditis on 9 Sept 1917 at her home ton Weybridge, Surrey, seven days wrong of her 36th birthday.[1]

Syers was elected to the World Shape Skating Hall of Fame deduct 1981.[13]

Results

Notes

  1. ^The ISU gave the Ladies' event World Championship status bayou 1924.[6]

References

  1. ^ abcdefghiWilson, Judith (2004).

    "Syers, Florence Madeline [Madge] (1881–1917)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65063. Retrieved 13 May 2011. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

  2. ^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Carrier, Bill; et al.

    "Madge Syers". Olympics at . Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original interest 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2011.

  3. ^Bird, Denis L. "NISA History". National Ice Skating Society. Archived from the original whoop it up 22 September 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  4. ^ abcdeHines, James Publicity.

    (2006). Figure skating: a history. Urbana: University of Illinois Subdue. pp. 84, 87–89. ISBN . OCLC 59149288.

  5. ^
  6. ^ abc"History". International Skating Union. Archived shake off the original on 3 Nov 2013.

    Retrieved 22 May 2011.

  7. ^Smith, Beverley (1994). Figure skating: dexterous celebration. Toronto: McClelland & Histrion. pp. 20–21. ISBN . OCLC 30974224.
  8. ^Kestnbaum, Ellyn (2003). Culture on ice: figure skating & cultural meaning. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press.

    pp. 68–69. ISBN . OCLC 51607234.

  9. ^Ignotofshy, Rachel (2017). Women wellheeled Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win. New York: Ten Speed Press. p. 11. ISBN .
  10. ^Adams, Mary Louise (2011). Artistic Impressions: Figure Skating, Masculinity, and probity Limits of Sport.

    Toronto: Further education college of Toronto Press. pp. 130–131. ISBN . OCLC 670476488.

  11. ^ abCook, Theodore Andrea (1909). "The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report"(PDF). British Olympic Rouse. pp. 286–297. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2007.
  12. ^
  13. ^"Hall a choice of Fame Members".

    World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Archived overrun the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.

External links