Last Updated on February 8, 2021 by Netropolitan Museum
For a third consecutive year, 1978, the World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Megève, France. The two prior junior world events in 1976 and 1977 had been referred to as “ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships,” but 1978 brought with it an official renaming of the event to include the more prestigious word “World,” allowing junior-level skaters to earn an ISU world title.
More change was coming. For the event’s third year in Megève, the pin design was updated to a much cleaner and simpler look than had been used in 1976 and 1977 (read the blog about those two pins here). On a silver-colored base metal, the 1978 pin is dominated by graduated-size circles that create not only an interesting visual reference but hint at the precision of compulsory figures, which were formerly the basis of the sport of figure skating.
On a silver-colored base metal, the 1978 pin is dominated by graduated-size circles that create not only an interesting visual reference but hint at the precision of compulsory figures…
Set inside the smallest of the circles are pair skaters in an elegant inside spread eagle. The image is quintessential 1970s figure skating. To the right in all capital letters are the event name, location, and year: “World Junior, Megeve, 1978.” Unlike the 1976 and 1977 pins, the second “e” in Megève does not feature the accent. A skate blade is used effectively as both a design element and an indicator of the sport the pin commemorates. The simplicity of the pin is appealing, with a textural finish that adds dimension. It measures 1-1/4″ in diameter (3.175 cm).
Of interest is that this championship saw both Brian Boitano of the United States and Brian Orser of Canada compete against one another ten years prior to the infamous “Battle of the Brians” at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada. Although the match-up back in 1978 could not have been termed a battle, it was Boitano who prevailed in Megève, winning the bronze medal while Orser finished just off the podium in fourth.
Enjoy Three for Three. 1978.
1978 World Junior Championships Gallery
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