1956 European Figure Skating Medals: Paris to Cortina to Garmisch.

Last Updated on March 1, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

Two medals help to commemorate the annual event, held in Paris for just the second time

The 1956 European Figure Skating Championships in Paris were more than just a high-stakes competition—they were a pivotal stop on the road to Olympic and World Championship glory. Concluding just five days before the Olympic Winter Games opened in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, this event crowned Europe’s best skaters before many of them continued their journey to the world’s biggest stages. Then, just ten days after the Olympics ended, the world’s finest figure skaters reconvened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships. It was undoubtedly a whirlwind time for the sport’s elite, and among the lasting mementos of this fast-paced season are two medals from the 1956 European Figure Skating Championships, explored in today’s blog.

Medals Gallery: 1956 European Figure Skating Championships

Those who competed at the 1956 European Championships received a heavy, well-crafted participant medal to commemorate their time at the event. The silver-colored medal portrays a peaceful outdoor skating scene in detailed relief, with a frozen pond, lightly dusted with snow, inviting skaters to lace up for an afternoon glide. It’s a stark contrast to the bustling energy of Paris, where the event took place at the Vélodrome d’Hiver in late January.

At the bottom of the medal, the stylized letters “FFSG” (for Fédération Française des Sports de Glace, France’s governing body of ice sports) are engraved, while the maker’s mark is etched just to the right. On the back, the inscription is simple and clear: “Championnat d’Europe, Paris – 1956.” The all-capital lettering gives the medal a formal and timeless feel, a reflection of the prestige of the event.

Adding to the historical significance of this championship is a rare and remarkable artifact: an International Skating Union (ISU) bronze winner’s medal awarded to Great Britain’s Gerard Rigby, who, alongside partner Barbara Thompson, earned his place on the podium in Paris. This is not just any medal—it is the medal presented to Mr. Rigby at the event, a tangible piece of figure skating history. Attached to a decorative and colorful ribbon, the medal features the ISU inscription “Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat”—meaning “Let whoever earns the palm bear it” (here, palm meaning reward). The reverse of the medal features the inscription “European Championship Ice Dancing Paris 1956,” done in a flourish script. At the top, a figure skate blade and at the bottom, a speed skate blade symbolize the ice sports governed by the ISU. A simple safety pin is stitched to the ribbon to allow it to be worn by the recipient.

The medal was produced by the famous Huguenin Médailleurs, and, when not on display here at The Netropolitan, rests in its original presentation case. The maker’s mark can be seen on the face of the medal, just below the word “Ferat.” Acquired by The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins in 2023 from a private auction house near London, England, the 1956 European Figure Skating Championships winner’s medal is part of a collection of medals awarded to Rigby during his career. See another of Rigby’s medals in the 1956 World Figure Skating Championships blog.

Interestingly, despite decades of collecting, The Curator of The Netropolitan has never come across a lapel pin from the 1956 European Championships. If you have a 1956 European Figure Skating pin available for sale or trade, we’d love to hear from you.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on May 21, 2022, and has been updated with an additional medal and new and expanded information.

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Figure Skating Flashback: 1956

• Dorothy Hamill, born in 1956, won the gold medal in women’s singles at the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Hamill’s iconic “Hamill Camel” spin and her warm, charismatic performances made her a stand-out figure in the sport, securing her place as one of the most beloved skaters of all time.
• At the 1956 Olympic Winter Games, U.S. skaters dominated the competition, winning five of the available nine medals. The men’s podium was a clean sweep, with Hayes Alan Jenkins, Ronnie Robertson, and Hayes’ younger brother, David Jenkins, finishing 1-2-3. On the women’s side, Tenley Albright became the first U.S. Olympic women’s figure skating champion, while Carol Heiss earned a silver medal.
• Carol Heiss turned the tables on Tenley Albright at the subsequent 1956 World Figure Skating Championships, winning gold and relegating Albright to silver. This victory marked the beginning of Heiss’ incredible run of five consecutive world championship titles.
• The touring ice spectacle Ice Follies, created by Oscar Johnson and Eddie and Roy Shipstad, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1956. The production would continue to captivate audiences for many decades, becoming one of the many enduring ice shows.
• In a minor early figure skating scandal, an unnamed foreign skating association claimed that “excessive expenses” were demanded in connection with skating exhibition performances to be given in Europe by the U.S.’s Ronnie Robertson. The claim, if true, could have jeopardized Robertson’s amateur status. However, after an investigation by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA), no impropriety was found, and Robertson retained his silver medal from the 1956 U.S. Championships, which took place following the World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The year 1956 was filled with remarkable achievements that helped to shape the future of figure skating in exciting ways.

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