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Theresa Weld

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Theresa ("Tee") Weld Blanchard (August 21, 1893 – March 12, 1978) was an American figure skater who competed in the disciplines of single skating and pair skating. Her pair's partner was Nathaniel Niles.[1] She has been called the "grande dame" of American figure skating.[2] According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, she earned 32 medals in her career, "was a voice of encouragement to several generations of skaters, and was of assistance to many coaches".[2]

Theresa Weld
Other namesTheresa Weld Blanchard
Born(1893-08-21)August 21, 1893
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 1978(1978-03-12) (aged 84)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
Skating clubSC of Boston
Retired1934
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Ladies' figure skating
Summer Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1920 Antwerp Ladies' singles
North American Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1925 Boston Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 1923 Ottawa Ladies' singles
Pairs Figure skating
North American Championships
Silver medal – second place 1929 Boston Pairs
Silver medal – second place 1927 Toronto Pairs
Gold medal – first place 1925 Boston Pairs
Silver medal – second place 1923 Ottawa Pairs

As a singles skater, she won the gold medal at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships six times and competed three times in the Olympics, capturing a bronze medal in 1920.[citation needed] She came in first place in women's singles at three of the five regional championships held in the U.S. prior to and immediately after World War I.[2] She was the first North American to win a medal at the Olympics.[3] With Niles, she won the national pairs title nine times and also participated in the Olympics three times.[citation needed] After her marriage in 1920, she competed under her married name.[2]

Blanchard was also the long-time volunteer editor of the United States Figure Skating Association's official publication, Skating magazine; first jointly with Niles from the magazine's founding in 1923, and then as sole editor after his death in 1931, until 1963.[2] The magazine was originally published from her home. Her long competitive career gave her many contacts throughout the skating world. She also served as the first chair of the association's Professionals Committee from 1937 to 1947.

Results

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Singles career

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Event 1914 1918 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928
Olympic Games 3rd 4th 10th
North American Championships 1st 3rd
U.S. Championships 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd

Pairs career

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(with Niles)

Event 1914 1918 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1932
Olympic Games 4th 6th 9th
World Championships 7th 6th 8th
North American Championships 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd
U.S. Championships 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd

References

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  1. ^ "Theresa Weld". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-8108-6859-5.
  3. ^ Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. xxii. ISBN 978-0-8108-6859-5.

Sources

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  • Wright, Benjamin T. (1996). Skating in America (1921–1996): The 75th Anniversary History of the United States Figure Skating Association. Colorado Springs.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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