Singles, Men

The United States had won the last four gold medals in this event, going back to 1948. But the plane crash of the American figure skating team near Brussels, while travelling to the 1961 World Championships, had decimated the US figure skating program. The 1961 Worlds were cancelled but in 1962-63, no American man made the podium, the best finish being fifth in 1963 by Scott Ethan Allen. There was no odds-on favorite in this event in Innsbruck. The last two world titles had been won by two Canadians – Don Jackson in 1962 and Donald McPherson in 1963. At the 1962 Worlds, Jackson had stunned the crowd with one of the great free skate performances ever, including the first clean landings of a triple Lutz and triple Salchow. The slight favorite was France’s Alain Calmat. Calmat had been third at the 1960 Worlds, and runner-up in 1962-63, but was European Champion in 1962-63. In the school figures, Manfred Schnelldorfer (FRG) pulled ahead, followed by compulsory specialist Karol Divín (TCH), who had also been second in 1960. Calmat was third, followed by the surprising Allen in fourth place. Schnelldorfer won the free skate as well, to win the gold medal. Calmat, later Minister of Spors in France, placed only fifth in free skating, but moved up the silver medal, and was even ranked first overall by two judges. Allen placed fourth in the free skate, but hung on to win a surprising, and inspirational, bronze medal for the US team. Described in some sources as “the young millionaire’s son,” he was waving to the audience during his free program, which resulted in a warning. Divín dropped to fourth after placing ninth in the free program.