Jacqueline du Bief
Jacqueline du Bief is a French retired figure skater who competed mainly in single skating. She is the 1952 Olympic bronze medalist, the 1952 World champion, a three-time European medalist, and a six-time French national champion.
Early life
Bief was born in Paris. She began skating at age 7. She paused training due to World War II and then again for another two years due to illness. Her older sister, Raymonde, skated professionally.Career
Bief was known for being weak in compulsory figures but stronger in free skating, as well as her musicality and revealing costumes. As a pair skater, she competed with Tony Font, winning the 1950 & 1951 French national titles.In 1949, Bief made an unusually large rise in placement after the free skate; she was in 16th place after the compulsory figures but finished in 9th place overall. A judge writing for Skating magazine noted her "truly outstanding, smooth flowing, ballet-like execution of a difficult program". The next year, she finished 6th at the 1950 World Championships. Skating magazine praised her free skate for powerful jumps, including a double Lutz jump, as well as her footwork. Three of the judges placed her first in the free skate segment.
In 1951, she won silver at both the European Championships and the World Championships. The following year, she again won silver at the 1952 European Championships. Later that month, she was the bronze medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics. She performed an illusion spin during her free skate as well as a double Lutz and a double loop jump.
Going in to the 1952 World Championships, Bief had the advantage of skating in her home city, and the Olympic champion, Jeannette Altwegg, did not compete, while silver medalist, Tenley Albright withdrew early due to being ill. Bief won the competition over Sonya Klopfer and Virginia Baxter.
After the 1952 Championships, she turned professional. She toured with several shows like Ice Capades, Hollywood Ice Revues, Scala Eisrevue from 1952 to 1964.