Laurence Owen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laurence Owen
Laurence Owen in 1961
Personal information
Full name	Laurence Rochon Owen
Alternative names	Laurie Owen; The Winchester Pixie
Country represented	United States
Born	(1944-05-09)May 9, 1944 Oakland, California
Died	February 15, 1961(1961-02-15) (aged 16) Berg-Kampenhout, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Height	5 ft 6 in
Former coach	Maribel Vinson
Skating club	SC of Boston
Medal record Ladies' Figure skating Representing  United States North American Championships Gold 1961 Philadelphia Ladies' singles

Laurence Rochon "Laurie" Owen (born May 9, 1944 – died February 15, 1961) was an amazing American figure skater. She was the best in the country, winning the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships. Laurie also competed for the United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where she finished 6th.

She came from a family of skaters. Her mother, Maribel Vinson, and father, Guy Owen, were both talented skaters. Her sister, Maribel Owen, was also a figure skater. Sadly, Laurie, her mother, and her sister died in a plane crash. This happened while they were traveling to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. The entire United States Figure Skating team was on that flight. In 2011, Laurie and the whole team were added to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame. This honored their memory and achievements.

Life as a Skater

Laurie Owen was born in Oakland, California. She spent her early childhood in Berkeley. Her parents, Guy Owen and Maribel Vinson, were famous figure skaters. Laurie was the younger sister of pairs skater Maribel Owen.

In 1952, after her husband passed away, Maribel Vinson moved her family. They went back to her childhood home in Winchester, Massachusetts. Laurie was known by her full name at school. She was an honor student at Winchester Junior High and High School. Even with her tough training, she wrote poetry and played other sports.

In 1956, Laurie won the Eastern Junior Ladies title. However, she couldn't compete in the U.S. Championships that year. She had broken her wrist. In 1958, she placed 3rd in the Junior Ladies Division at the U.S. Championships. The next year, 1959, she won the Junior Ladies Division.

In January 1960, Laurie placed 3rd at the 1960 United States Figure Skating Championships. This allowed her to go to the 1960 Winter Olympics. She finished 6th there. Her mother, Maribel Vinson-Owen, was her coach. Her mother had won a Bronze Medal at the 1932 Winter Olympics. She was also a nine-time U.S. Singles Champion.

On January 29, 1961, Laurie won the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships. This was in Colorado Springs. A few weeks later, on February 12, she won the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships in Philadelphia. After winning the U.S. Nationals, she became very popular. People called her "The Winchester Pixie."

On February 13, 1961, Laurie was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The magazine called her "America's most exciting girl skater." A writer for the magazine, Barbara Hellman, said Laurie had a special way of connecting with her music. She described Laurie's free skating as having "an air, a style, an individuality."

On January 28, 2011, Laurie Owen was added to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame. This honor included the entire 1961 World Team. Her sister Maribel Owen was also inducted. Their mother, Maribel Vinson-Owen, was inducted for the third time. She was honored as a 1961 World Team Coach.

On February 17, 2011, U.S. Figure Skating released a movie called "Rise." The film showed the special bond between Laurie and her mother. It also told the story of the plane crash in Belgium. Finally, it showed how the U.S. Figure Skating Team recovered after the tragedy.

Tragic End

As the national champion, Laurie was chosen for the U.S. Figure Skating Team. They were going to compete in the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. These championships were planned for Prague, Czechoslovakia.

On Valentine's Day, February 14, 1961, Laurie boarded Sabena Flight 548. Her mother, Maribel Vinson-Owen, and her sister Maribel were with her. The rest of the U.S. team, along with friends and coaches, were also on the plane. They took off from Idlewild Airport in New York.

On February 15, 1961, the plane was getting ready to land in Brussels, Belgium. Sadly, the Boeing 707 crashed near the airport. All 72 people on board died. A farmer on the ground was also killed. Rescue workers found a signed Sports Illustrated magazine in the wreckage. It featured Laurie Owen on the cover. She was only 16 years old.

Because of this terrible accident, the World Championships that year were canceled. This was done to show respect for the United States team. A memorial service was held on February 26. Laurie was buried next to her mother and sister. They rest at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Remembering Laurie

Debbi Wilkes, a Canadian Hall of Fame skater, watched Laurie win her title. She wrote about Laurie in her book:

• "Laurence was wonderful. She had a fresh, wholesome look, but didn't fit into any mold. She was carefree and joyous on the ice. She had wonderful rosy cheeks, beautiful big eyes and a short shag haircut that feathered over her face and fluttered when she skated. I was totally enchanted by her."

Laurie had planned to go to Radcliffe College, her mother's school. She wanted to become a writer. After she passed away, Laurie's English teacher read a poem she had written to her classmates. The poem ended with these hopeful words:

Gloom is but a shadow of the night, long past;

Hope is the light,

The radiance.

Achievements

See also

• Maribel Vinson
• Maribel Owen
• Guy Owen
• Sabena Flight 548
• Sports Illustrated cover jinx