Dianne Margaret de Leeuw (born 19 November 1955) is a Dutch-American former competitive figure skater who represented the Netherlands. She is the 1975 World champion, the 1976 European champion, and the 1976 Olympic silver medalist.[1]
Dianne de Leeuw | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dianne de Leeuw in 1974
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Full name | Dianne Margaret de Leeuw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1955-11-19) 19 November 1955 (age 68) Orange, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Figure skating career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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De Leeuw was born in Orange, California, United States to a Dutch mother and a father with dual United States and Dutch citizenship. She married her former coach, Doug Chapman.[1]
Since there were few international opportunities for U.S. skaters, de Leeuw's mother decided she should try to compete for the Netherlands.[2] She won her first national title in the 1970–71 season and was assigned to the 1971 European ChampionshipsinZürich, where she placed 19th. To gain a berth to the 1972 Winter Olympics, de Leeuw was required to finish in the top ten at the 1972 European Championships.[2] She managed to place ninth and made her Olympic debut, finishing 16th. She then made her first appearance at the World Championships.
De Leeuw's international breakthrough came in the 1973–74 season. Her first ISU Championship medal was silver at the 1974 European ChampionshipsinZagreb, behind Christine Errath. At the 1974 World ChampionshipsinMunich, she was awarded the bronze medal and stepped onto the podium with Errath and Dorothy Hamill.
In 1975, de Leeuw repeated as silver medalist at the European ChampionshipsinCopenhagen, while Errath again won gold. She became World champion at the 1975 World ChampionshipsinColorado Springs, Colorado, finishing ahead of Hamill and Errath, and was voted the 1975 Dutch female athlete of the year.
De Leeuw won gold at the 1976 European ChampionshipsinGeneva. At the 1976 Winter OlympicsinInnsbruck, she carried the Dutch flag and made daily trips to Germany for ice time.[2] She received the silver medal, while Hamill and Errath obtained gold and bronze respectively. After taking bronze at the 1976 World ChampionshipsinGothenburg, de Leeuw retired from ISU competition. She toured with Holiday on Ice and the Ice Follies and then became a coach, working at the Westminster Ice Palace in Westminster, California and Anaheim Ice.[2]
International | ||||||
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Event | 70–71 | 71–72 | 72–73 | 73–74 | 74–75 | 75–76 |
Olympics | 16th | 2nd | ||||
Worlds | 17th | 15th | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | |
Europeans | 19th | 9th | 6th | 2nd | 2nd | 1st |
Prague Skate | 3rd | |||||
Richmond Trophy | 1st | |||||
National | ||||||
Dutch Champ. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Olympic Games | ||
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Preceded by | Flagbearer for Netherlands Innsbruck 1976 |
Succeeded by |
Awards | ||
Preceded by | Dutch Sportswoman of the Year 1975 |
Succeeded by |