Ondrej Nepela facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ondrej Nepela
Nepela in 1972
Personal information
Country represented	Czechoslovakia
Born	(1951-01-22)22 January 1951 Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Died	2 February 1989(1989-02-02) (aged 38) Mannheim, West Germany
Former coach	Hilda Múdra
Skating club	Slovan Bratislava
Began skating	1958
Retired	1973
Medal record Representing  Czechoslovakia Men's Figure skating Olympic Games Gold 1972 Sapporo Men's singles World Championships Gold 1973 Bratislava Men's singles Gold 1972 Calgary Men's singles Gold 1971 Lyon Men's singles Silver 1970 Ljubljana Men's singles Silver 1969 Colorado Springs Men's singles European Championships Gold 1973 Cologne Men's singles Gold 1972 Gothenburg Men's singles Gold 1971 Zürich Men's singles Gold 1970 Leningrad Men's singles Gold 1969 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Men's singles Bronze 1968 Västerås Men's singles Bronze 1967 Ljubljana Men's singles Bronze 1966 Bratislava Men's singles

Ondrej Nepela (born January 22, 1951 – died February 2, 1989) was a famous Slovak figure skater. He represented Czechoslovakia in competitions. He won many big titles during his career.

Ondrej was the 1972 Olympic champion. He also won the World Championships three times (from 1971 to 1973). Plus, he was a European champion five times in a row (from 1969 to 1973). After he stopped competing, he became a professional skater and a coach.

Early Life and Start in Skating

Ondrej Nepela was born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, on January 22, 1951. His parents were from central Slovakia. His mother was a homemaker and a seamstress, and his father was a driver.

Ondrej became interested in skating when he was young. He watched the 1958 European Championships on TV. A skater from Czechoslovakia, Karol Divín, won the men's title, which inspired Ondrej.

In February 1958, when he was seven years old, his mother took him to an ice rink in Bratislava. After two weeks, she asked Hilda Múdra to teach him. Hilda Múdra became his coach and said he was a very hard-working student. Ondrej trained at the Slovan Bratislava club.

Amazing Competitive Career

When Ondrej was just 13, he competed in his first big international event. This was the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He placed 22nd there. Soon after, he competed in the World Championships and finished 17th.

First Medals and Wins

In the 1965–66 skating season, Ondrej won his first medal at a major competition. He earned a bronze medal at the 1966 European Championships in Bratislava. He then placed in the top ten at the 1966 World Championships in Davos, Switzerland.

Over the next two seasons, he won two more European bronze medals. He also placed eighth at his second Olympics, held in Grenoble, France.

Becoming a Champion

The 1968–69 season was a big one for Ondrej. He won his first gold medal at the 1969 European Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany. He also won his first World medal, a silver, at the 1969 World Championships in Colorado Springs, USA.

The next year, he won his European title again at the 1970 European Championships in Leningrad, Soviet Union. He then earned another silver medal at the 1970 World Championships in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.

In 1971, Ondrej won his third European title in Zürich, Switzerland. Then, he won his first World title at the 1971 World Championships in Lyon, France.

Olympic Gold and Retirement

After winning his fourth European title in a row in Gothenburg, Sweden, Ondrej went to Sapporo, Japan. He was there to compete in his third Olympics.

At the 1972 Winter Olympics, he performed wonderfully. He won the gold medal, becoming one of the youngest male Olympic champions in figure skating.

Ondrej wanted to stop competing after the 1971–72 season. However, he agreed to skate for one more year. This was because the 1973 World Championships were going to be held in his hometown, Bratislava. After winning his third World title there, he ended his amateur skating career. His coach, Hilda Múdra, was with him throughout his entire competitive journey.

Professional Career and Legacy

After his amateur career, Ondrej Nepela became a professional skater. From 1973 to 1986, he toured as a solo performer with a show called Holiday on Ice.

Later, he became a coach in Germany. He coached Claudia Leistner, who won a European title in 1989.

In 1972, Ondrej was given the special title of Merited Master of Sport of the USSR. To honor him, the Slovak Figure Skating Association has held a competition called the Ondrej Nepela Memorial every autumn since 1993. In December 2000, the Slovak Republic named him the Slovak athlete of the 20th century. His coach, Hilda Múdra, accepted the award for him.

Later Years

Ondrej Nepela passed away in February 1989 in Mannheim, Germany, at the age of 38.

Results

Images for kids

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  Ondrej Nepela in 1972