Chauncey Bangs

Chauncey Bangs took up figure skating a young age, but his first major success did not come until the age of 20, when he first became Canadian Champion as a member of a fours team. By 1926 he was performing well in the doubles and, with partner Marion McDougall, finished second in the national championships. They improved to first the following year and also went on to capture the North American Championships, repeating their national title in 1928. Bangs went on to pair with Frances Claudet, with whom he won the Canadian Championship in 1931 and finished runner up in the North American Championship that same year. The duo placed second at the 1932 national championships, behind Bud Wilson and his sister Constance Wilson-Samuel, but this was sufficient to make them part of Canada’s delegation to the 1932 Winter Olympics, where they finished sixth among seven starters. They were also fifth at the World Championships that year.

Bangs retired after the Games to focus on his management of the C. W. Bangs Coal Company, a business started by his father. He had originally intended to study law at the University of Toronto, but abandoned this pursuit to join the family business. He attempted a brief comeback in 1934, but returned to retirement following a serious facial injury. He nonetheless remained active with his Minto Skating Club, until his death at the young age of 40. Athletically, he was also involved in tennis and golf.