Arnold Gerschwiler

{{Infobox figure skater

|name = Arnold Gerschwiler

|image = Sjoukje Dijkstra en Arnold Gerschwiler (1963).jpg

|caption = Sjoukje Dijkstra and Arnold Gerschwiler (1963)

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|birth_date = {{birth date|1914|5|28|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Arbon, Switzerland

|death_date = {{death date and age|2003|8|22|1914|5|28|df=yes}}

|death_place = Cheam, Surrey, United Kingdom

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Arnold Gerschwiler OBE (28 May 1914 – 22 August 2003) was a Swiss (later, British) figure skating coach.

Personal life

Gerschwiler was born in Arbon, Switzerland. He was the half-brother of Jacques Gerschwiler and the uncle of Hans Gerschwiler. At the encouragement of Jacques, he moved to London, England. He married Violet Blundell in August 1941. They had two daughters, Stella and Claire, two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Gerschwiler lived in Ailsa Road, St Margarets, Twickenham for 53 years. He died, aged 89, on 22 August 2003 at St Anthony's Hospital, North Cheam.

Career

Gerschwiler competed in the British Open Ice-Skating Championships in 1935 and 1936{{cite web|title= Richmond Ice Rink|website=Twickenham Museum|url=http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=242|access-date = 29 September 2021}} and joined the staff of the Richmond Ice Rink in 1937. He was head coach there from 1938, and served as director in 1964 until the facility was demolished in 1992. He coached the Czech skater Alena Vrzanova (Aja Zanova), world champion in 1949 and 1950, as well as his own nephew Hans Gerschwiler, the 1948 Olympic silver medallist.

He also coached the British skaters John Curry, 1976 Olympic and world champion, and Valda Osborn, British champion in 1952 and 1953 and European champion in 1953. Other European top skaters he coached included Michael Booker, Ladislav Čáp, Sjoukje Dijkstra, Patricia Dodd, Hanna Eigel, Joan Haanappel, Helmut Seibt and Daphne Walker.

Gerschwiler was appointed to the Order of the British Empire in 1997. He and his brother Jacques were inducted into the Professional Skaters Association's Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news | url= http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/412283.a_legendary_figure_in_the_world_of_ice_skating/ | title=A legendary figure in the world of ice skating |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times| first = James | last = Adlam | date=12 September 2003 | accessdate=28 April 2013 }}

{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/arnold-gerschwiler-37061.html | title = Arnold Gerschwiler: Inspirational ice-skating coach | first = Dennis L. | last = Bird | work = The Independent | date = 6 September 2003|accessdate=28 April 2019}}

{{cite news | url = https://www.thetimes.com/article/arnold-gerschwiler-l6rblvpj7gf| title = Arnold Gerschwiler: Ice-skating coach who spent 60 years training Olympic competitors and film stars at Richmond Ice Rink |work=The Times | date = 17 September 2003 |access-date=28 April 2019}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.skatepsa.com/Hall-Of-Fame-P.htm |title=1st January 2004: Arnold Gerschwiler |publisher=Professional Skaters Association |work=PSA Coaches Hall of Fame |accessdate=28 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308114245/http://www.skatepsa.com/Hall-Of-Fame-P.htm |archivedate=8 March 2013 }}

}}