Denise Biellmann

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Denise Biellmann
Personal Info
Country: Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Date of birth: December 11, 1962 (1962-12-11) (age 45)
Retired: 1981

Denise Biellmann (born December 11, 1962) is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion. She won the Swiss Figure Skating Championships three times.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Amateur career

Denise Biellmann was born in Zurich. At age eleven, she won the Swiss junior figure skating championships. At 14, she competed at the 1977 European Figure Skating Championships and placed second in the free skating portion of the competition.

She was the first female skater to land the triple lutz in competition, which she performed for the first time at the 1978 European Championships. At the 1980 Winter Olympics, she won the free skating event and placed fourth overall.

The Biellmann spin, performed by Arina Martinova.
The Biellmann spin, performed by Arina Martinova.

Biellmann's signature spin was later named the Biellmann spin after her. She did not invent the spin, but she was the one to popularize it. It remains the only figure skating spin to be officially named after a person in ISU regulations.

Biellmann retired from amateur competition shortly after her World Championship win in 1981.

[edit] Professional career

She skates professionally in shows. She has continued to remain involved in the international figure skating community as a participant in both professional shows and competitions.

She participated in Pro7 Season 1, partnered with television presenter Pierre Geisensetter, and in Season 2, partnered with actor Patrick Bach.

She participated in the Eurovision Dance Contest 2007 representing Switzerland with partner Sven Ninnemann.


[edit] Competitive highlights

Event 1972-1973 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1981
Winter Olympic Games 4th
World Championships 15th 10th 5th 5th 6th 1st
European Championships 6th 4th 3rd WD 1st
Swiss Championships 5th J. 1st J. 11th 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st
NHK Trophy 1st
  • J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

[edit] External links


Awards
Preceded by
Flag of Switzerland Cornelia Bürki
Swiss Sportswoman of the Year
1979
Succeeded by
Flag of Switzerland Ruth Keller
Preceded by
Flag of Switzerland Ruth Keller
Swiss Sportswoman of the Year
1981
Succeeded by
Flag of Switzerland Erika Hess