MILAN — Tenley Albright vividly recalls the moment 70 years ago when she secured Olympic gold in figure skating at the 1956 Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Standing in an outdoor rink with the majestic Dolomites casting shades against the ice, Albright enjoyed the rousing support of the crowd humming along to “Barcarolle.”
Reflecting on that day, Albright, now 90, says the experience feels fresh. She had initially won a silver medal four years prior but was favored to take gold in Cortina. “It was so beautiful, up there in the mountains,” she reminisced. The moment when her performance began and the crowd began to hum her music lifted her spirits, especially as she executed a challenging double axel.
Albright’s journey to the Olympics was marked by sheer determination. After contracting polio in 1946, she faced the possibility of paralysis. However, she regained her strength by training at the Skating Club of Boston, eventually becoming an elite figure skater, winning five national titles and two world championships before the 1956 Games.
Before the competition, a misstep left her ankle injured, casting doubts on her ability to perform. Despite this, she overcame the odds, making her Olympic performance a triumph to remember. After her skating career, she graduated from Harvard Medical School, served as a surgeon, and dedicated more than two decades to medicine while remaining involved in Olympic sports.
Carol Heiss, who finished behind Albright to earn a silver medal, also reflected on her Olympic experience. At just 15, she was less burdened by expectations, drawing excitement from meeting athletes from around the world. The U.S. team’s surprise birthday party in Cortina added to her joy during the competition, as Heiss celebrated her 16th birthday amid the grandeur of the Olympic festivities.
The stark contrast between her experiences at the 1956 and 1960 Games was significant. While 1956 involved little pressure, four years later, Heiss found herself a favorite at the Squaw Valley Games. She managed to handle the attention and ultimately won her own gold medal, solidifying her place in Olympic history.
Both Albright and Heiss highlighted the sense of patriotism and pride that accompanied their journeys to the Olympics, a sentiment that continues to resonate with athletes today. The recent return of the Olympics to Milan and Cortina reflects the enduring legacy of such pivotal moments in sports history, inspiring future generations of athletes around the world.