Ronald Robertson (figure skater)

{{Short description|American figure skater (1937–2000)}}

{{Infobox figure skater

| name = Ronald Robertson

| image =Ronnie Robertson 1962.jpg

| caption =Robertson in 1962

| country = United States

| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|9|25}}

| birth_place = Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, U.S.[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417223548/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/ronnie-robertson-1.html Ronnie Robertson]. sports-reference.com

| death_date = {{death date and age|2000|2|4|1937|9|25}}

| death_place = Fountain Valley, California, U.S.

| residence =

| height =

| coach =

| formercoach = Gustave Lussi

| choreographer =

| formerchoreographer =

| skating club =

| retired = 1956

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport | Figure skating }}

{{Medal|Country | {{USA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }}

{{MedalSilver | 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo | Singles}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|1956 Garmisch-Partenkirchen|Singles}}

{{MedalSilver|1955 Vienna|Singles}}

{{MedalCompetition|North American Championships}}

{{MedalBronze|1953 Cleveland|Singles}}

}}

Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Robertson (September 25, 1937 – February 4, 2000) was an American figure skater who was best known for his spinning ability. He won the silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics, became one of the youngest male figure skating Olympic medalists. He twice won the silver at the World Figure Skating Championships. He retired from skating after the 1956 U.S. Championships, where he was nearly disqualified after he was accused by the German Figure Skating Federation for excessive expenses on a European tour. His father, Albert Robertson, a naval architect, accused Hayes Jenkins of trying to disqualify his son.{{cite news |title=Skater Ronnie Robertson Incensed at Charge of Excessive Expenses |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19560317&id=zQMkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kSUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2985,4179269 |work=Milwaukee Journal |date=17 March 1956 |at=sec. Journal Final p. 2 |access-date=30 September 2019 |archive-date=8 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908023528/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19560317&id=zQMkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kSUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2985,4179269 |url-status=dead }} After a huge fight with the U.S. Figure Skating Federation, Robertson was not disqualified after he lost to Jenkins and retired from competitive figure skating and signed a two-year contract with the Ice Capades for $100,000.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/17/sports/ronnie-robertson-62-a-skater-who-entertained-with-his-spins.html?pagewanted=1 | work=The New York Times | title=Ronnie Robertson, 62, a Skater Who Entertained With His Spins | first=Richard | last=Goldstein | date=February 17, 2000 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}

In the 1950s, he had a long-term relationship with Tab Hunter,{{cite book |last=Hunter |first=Tab |author-link=Tab Hunter |author2=Eddie Muller |title=Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star |url=https://archive.org/details/tabhunterconfide00hunt_0 |url-access=registration |year=2005 |publisher=Algonquin Books |isbn=1-56512-548-7 }}DiStefano, Blase. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061107201628/http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/cms-this_issue/200511--Fab+Tab.html Fab Tab]. OutSmart Magazine who also helped fund his amateur career. Robertson was coached by Gustave Lussi.

Robertson's skating career was also well known on television. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1957, and his fast forward upright spin was described as being "faster than an electric fan." He also appeared as a featured guest on The Mickey Mouse Club that year.

After leaving skating to run a small hotel which he owned with his partner, Robertson was persuaded by Ted Wilson, a rink designer and manager in Hong Kong, to return to the ice and teach as a guest coach. Robertson, with former Japanese Junior Championship' champion Sashi Kuchiki, made annual one-month trips to Hong Kong for 10 years teaching at Cityplaza Ice Palace on Hong Kong Island. Robertson was an extremely popular coach during this period and made a lasting impression with his skills and kindness.

During the 1964–65 New York World's Fair, Robertson appeared as the main attraction for Dick Button's Ice Travaganza show.

Ronnie Robertson died on February 4, 2000, at a hospital in Fountain Valley, California, from bronchial pneumonia at the age of 62.