Kurt Oppelt

Who is Kurt Oppelt?

Kurt Oppelt was an Austrian figure skater. He won the 1956 Olympics pair skating event with his partner Sissy Schwarz. The pair also won the World and the European titles that same year.

In pair skating Oppelt and Sissy Schwarz had their international début as a couple in 1952. In each year from 1952 thru 1956, they won the Austrian Championships. At Worlds in 1955 they were close runners-up to the Canadians Frances Dafoe and Norris Bowden. The following year in the 1956 Olympic competition, the two-time world champion Canadians faltered on a lift, causing them to finish after their music ended. The judging panel then split 6 to 3 in favor of Schwarz and Oppelt for their gold medal victory. The couple subsequently turned professional and skated in ice shows.

Oppelt started his career as a singles skater, placing third at the Austrian Championships in 1951-52 and second in 1953. He placed 11th at his only competition in singles at the 1953 World Championship, as well as 11th at the 1952 Winter Olympics.

Oppelt was the coach of the Royal Dutch Figure Skating Team from 1957-1960. He later settled in the United States. Beginning in 1967, Oppelt was an instructor at the Pennsylvania State University in its College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He was inducted into Austrian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1996 he received the Golden Medal of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria.