World
Champion Figure Skater
Born in Amsterdam, the largest
and capital city of the Netherlands, 1946, Petra Burka came to Canada with
her parents, 1951. Ten years later, she was the Junior Canadian Skating
Champion and the Senior Canadian Champion, 1964-66. World Champion Figure
Skater, 1965, the first Canadian to win this event since Barbara Ann Scott’s
achievement, 1947, Petra represented Canada at the 1964 Olympics and won
the Bronze Medal. She was also two times World’s Bronze Medalist. For her
accomplishments as one of the world’s pre-eminent figure skaters, Petra
was voted Canada’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year, 1965, and Canada's
Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year, 1964 and 1965. A frequent colour
commentator on skating events for CBC and CBS for Olympic, World, European,
and Canadian championships, Petra Burka brought great glory to Canada in
the 1960s and, after her retirement, took on coaching responsibilities
at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, giving back to a country
that helped to spotlight her on the worldstage. [Photo, courtesy Petra
Burka]
