Carol Heiss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carol Heiss Jenkins
Carol Heiss in 1960
Personal information
Country represented	United States
Born	(1940-01-20) January 20, 1940 (age 85) New York City, U.S.
Former coach	Pierre Brunet
Skating club	Skating Club of New York
Retired	1960
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1960 Squaw Valley Singles Silver 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Singles World Championships Gold 1960 Vancouver Singles Gold 1959 Colorado Springs Singles Gold 1958 Paris Singles Gold 1957 Colorado Springs Singles Gold 1956 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Singles Silver 1955 Vienna Singles North American Championships Gold 1959 Toronto Singles Gold 1957 Rochester Singles Silver 1955 Regina Singles Silver 1953 Cleveland Singles

Carol Elizabeth Heiss Jenkins, born on January 20, 1940, is a famous American former figure skater. She also worked as an actress. Carol was an amazing skater, winning the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. She also earned a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. On top of that, she was a five-time World champion in figure skating from 1956 to 1960.

Carol Heiss's Skating Career

Becoming a Champion Skater

Carol Heiss started skating when she was just six years old in New York. Her coach was Pierre Brunet. She first became well-known in 1951. This was when she won the U.S. novice ladies' title at age 11.

In 1952, she won the U.S. junior ladies' title. After that, she moved up to the senior level in 1953. From 1953 to 1956, she placed second to Tenley Albright at the national championships.

Olympic and World Success

Carol was chosen for the U.S. team for the 1956 Winter Olympics in Italy. She won the silver medal there. Her teammate, Tenley Albright, took home the gold. However, at the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships that same year, Carol defeated Albright. This win was the first of her five World titles in a row.

After the 1956 Olympics, Carol had chances to become a professional skater. But her mother, Marie Heiss, was very sick. Before her mother passed away in October 1956, she asked Carol to win a gold medal for her.

From 1957 to 1960, Carol Heiss was the best in women's figure skating. She won the World and U.S. Championships every year. At the 1960 Winter Olympics in California, Carol won the gold medal. All nine judges ranked her first. She also took the Olympic Oath for the host country at the start of the 1960 games.

By winning the 1960 World Championships after the Olympics, Carol became one of only three women to win five World Championships in a row. After this, she stopped competing in figure skating.

Skating Skills and Hall of Fame

In 1953, Carol Heiss was the first female skater to land a double Axel jump. One of her special moves was doing a series of single Axels. She would switch between spinning clockwise and counterclockwise. Most skaters usually spin and jump in the same direction.

Carol Heiss has been honored for her amazing career. She was inducted into both the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Life After Skating

Carol Heiss as Snow White with Prince Charming in the movie Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961)

After her competitive skating career, Carol Heiss tried acting. She played the main female role in the 1961 movie Snow White and the Three Stooges.

Later, in the late 1970s, she started coaching other skaters. She taught many talented athletes in Ohio. Some of her former students include Timothy Goebel, Tonia Kwiatkowski, and Miki Ando.

Carol's Personal Life

Carol Heiss was born on January 20, 1940, in New York City. She grew up in Ozone Park, Queens. Her younger sister, Nancy Heiss, and brother, Bruce Heiss, were also skilled figure skaters. In the 1950s, the three Heiss siblings were featured in magazines like Life.

While winning her world titles, Carol attended New York University. She graduated after the 1960 Winter Olympics. In 1961, she married American figure skater Hayes Alan Jenkins. He had won the 1956 Olympic gold medal. They have three children together.

Competition Results

See also

In Spanish: Carol Heiss para niños