Tenley Albright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tenley Albright
Albright in 1953
Personal information
Full name	Tenley Emma Albright
Country represented	United States
Born	(1935-07-18) July 18, 1935 (age 90) Newton Centre, Massachusetts, U.S.
Home town	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, U.S.
Former coach	Maribel Vinson
Skating club	Skating Club of Boston
Retired	1956
Medal record Representing the  United States Ladies' figure skating Olympic Games Gold 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Ladies' singles Silver 1952 Oslo Ladies' singles World Championships Silver 1956 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ladies' singles Gold 1955 Vienna Ladies' singles Silver 1954 Oslo Ladies' singles Gold 1953 Davos Ladies' singles North American Championships Gold 1955 Regina Ladies' singles Gold 1953 Cleveland Ladies' singles Bronze 1951 Calgary Ladies' singles

Tenley Emma Albright (born July 18, 1935) is a famous American figure skater and a talented surgeon. She made history by winning the gold medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. She also earned a silver medal at the 1952 Olympics.

Tenley Albright was a two-time World Champion in 1953 and 1955. She also won the North American Championship twice. From 1952 to 1956, she was the U.S. national champion five times in a row. After her skating career, she became a doctor, graduating from Harvard Medical School. In 2015, she was honored by being added to the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Beginnings

Tenley Albright was born in Newton, Massachusetts. Her father, Hollis, was a well-known surgeon. Her mother, Elin, was an artist. Tenley also has a younger brother named Nile.

Starting to Skate

Tenley began learning to skate when she was 8 years old. She practiced on a special rink her family made in their backyard.

Overcoming Polio

In 1946, Tenley got polio, a serious illness. Doctors said it was "pre-paralytic," meaning it could have caused paralysis. Skating became a very important part of her recovery. It helped her muscles get stronger. She trained at the Skating Club of Boston as part of her physical therapy. She found this training exciting and helpful. She once said that many athletes her age had polio. She believed it made them more aware of their muscles and determined to keep them strong.

Skating Career Highlights

Tenley Albright had two main coaches: Willie Frick and Maribel Vinson. She quickly became a top skater.

Olympic and World Success

Tenley won a silver medal at the 1952 Olympics. She then won her first World Championship in 1953. She was the first American female skater to win a world title. She earned another silver medal in 1954. In 1955, she won her second World Championship gold. She also won the U.S. and North American Championships that year. She achieved all this while studying full-time at Radcliffe College.

In 1956, she won another silver medal at the World Championships.

National Championships and Olympic Gold

Tenley won the U.S. Nationals Novice Championships at age 13. She won the U.S. Junior Championships at age 14. Then, she won five U.S. national titles in a row, starting when she was 16.

Before the 1956 Olympics, Tenley had an accident. She fell on the ice and cut her right ankle deeply. Her father, who was a surgeon, stitched the cut himself. Even with this injury, she went on to compete. At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, she made history. She became the first American female skater to win an Olympic gold medal!

After 1956, Tenley Albright stopped competing. However, she stayed involved in figure skating. In 1982, she became a vice president of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Life as a Surgeon

Tenley Albright was not only a champion skater but also a brilliant student.

Education and Medical Practice

She graduated from The Winsor School in Boston. In 1953, she started at Radcliffe College to study medicine. After the 1956 Olympics, she focused on finishing her education. She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1961 when she was 25.

Tenley became a surgeon and practiced medicine for 23 years. She also taught and lectured at Harvard Medical School.

Other Important Roles

She led the Board of Regents for the National Library of Medicine. She also served on the boards of important non-profit groups. These included the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She also worked with companies like West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., and State Street Bank and Trust Company.

In 1976, she was the main doctor for the U.S. Winter Olympic team. The American Academy of Achievement gave her a Golden Plate Award in 1976. In 1983, she was inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Tenley Albright and Tudor Gardiner getting married on December 31, 1961

In 1962, Tenley Albright married Tudor Gardiner, who was a lawyer. They had three daughters together. Later, they separated. In 1981, she married Gerald Blakeley, who used to own the Ritz-Carlton hotel. He also had a connection to Woods Hole and led the Morehouse School of Medicine. Gerald Blakeley passed away on July 2, 2021.

Tenley Albright is part of the Executive Advisory Board for the World.Minds Foundation. She shares her knowledge about health, science, and leadership there.

Skating Achievements

See also

In Spanish: Tenley Albright para niños