Norma Sahlin

Norma Sahlin
Sahlin in the 1950s
Born	Norma Lee Caine[1] September 9, 1927 Ionia, Michigan
Died	June 22, 2005 (aged 78)
Figure skating career
Country	United States
Partner	Wally Sahlin
Coach	Bill Swallender
Skating club	Ice Follies

Norma Lee Sahlin (September 9, 1927 – June 22, 2005)[2] was a figure skating coach and a national level competitor.

Personal life

Sahlin was born in Ionia, Michigan. She started skating in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan under coach Pierre Brunet. She later moved to Chicago to train under Bill Swallender.[3] She competed in pairs with her husband, Wally Sahlin. They won the junior title at the 1947 Midwestern Sectional Championships. The pair skated with the Ice Follies for three seasons, before decided to live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They also have a son, Michael, who with his partner won the junior pairs title at the 1972 Midwestern Sectional Championships, 25 years after his parents.[4]

Skating career

Sahlin coached Charles Tickner to win the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships, bronze at the 1980 World Figure Skating Championships, and bronze at the 1980 Winter Olympics.[5] She also coached Barbara Brown and Doug Berndt at the 1972 Winter Olympics.[3] Other students included Tom Zakrajsek for seven years[5][6] and Jill Trenary for eighteen months.[7] In total she coached students at seven World Championships.[3]

Awards

She and her husband, Wally Sahlin, were inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004.[4] Other awards include:[3]

• Honorary Member of the Professional Skaters Association (PSA)
• inducted to PSA Coaches Hall of Fame in January 2005
• Betty Berens Award in 2003
• Sportswoman of Colorado Superior Achievement in 1978

References

1. "DAYS GONE BY: Bertha Brock Park cherished as Ionia County's frozen jewel". Lenconnect. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
2. "Norma L Sahlin". Fold3. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
3. "PSA Coaches Hall of Fame". Professional Skaters Association. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
4. "Six Individuals Inducted Into U.S. Hall of Fame". U.S. Figure Skating. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
5. Schneider Farris, Jo Ann (10 March 2008). "Zakrajsek leads all-star group of American skaters". Ice Network. U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
6. Schneider Farris, Jo Ann (2008). "Interview With Figure Skating Coach Tom Zakrajsek". About.com. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
7. Hersh, Phil (7 January 1988). "Trenary Still Is Defensive About U.s. Skating Title". Chicago Tribune. Denver. Retrieved 5 January 2015.