Dianne de Leeuw

Dianne de Leeuw
File:Dianne de Leeuw 1974c.jpg Dianne de Leeuw in 1974
Personal information
Full name	Dianne Margaret de Leeuw
Country represented	Netherlands
Born	(1955-11-19) 19 November 1955 Orange, California
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Retired	1976
Medal record Representing the Netherlands Ladies' Figure skating Olympic Games 1976 Innsbruck Ladies' singles World Championships 1975 Colorado Springs Ladies' singles 1976 Gothenburg Ladies' singles 1974 Munich Ladies' singles European Championships 1976 Geneva Ladies' singles 1975 Copenhagen Ladies' singles 1974 Zagreb Ladies' singles

This is a Dutch name; the family name is de Leeuw, not Leeuw.

Dianne Margaret de Leeuw (born 19 November 1955) is a Dutch figure skater. She is the 1975 World champion, the 1976 European champion, and the 1976 Olympic silver medalist.

Personal life

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.

Career

Since there were few international opportunities for U.S. skaters, de Leeuw's mother decided she should try to compete for the Netherlands. She won her first national title in the 1970–71 season and was assigned to the 1971 European Championships in Zürich, 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. 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 Championships in Zagreb, behind Christine Errath. At the 1974 World Championships in Munich, 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 Championships in Copenhagen, while Errath again won gold. She became World champion at the 1975 World Championships in Colorado 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 1974 European Championships in Geneva. At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, she carried the Dutch flag and made daily trips to Germany for ice time. She received the silver medal, while Hamill and Errath obtained gold and bronze respectively. After taking bronze at the 1976 World Championships in Göteborg, 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.

Results

International
Event	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
Winter Olympics		16th				2nd
World Championships		17th	15th	3rd	1st	3rd
European Championships	19th	9th	6th	2nd	2nd	1st
Richmond Trophy				1st
National
Dutch Championships	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st

References

Olympic Games
Preceded by Atje Keulen-Deelstra	Flagbearer for Netherlands Innsbruck 1976	Succeeded by Piet Kleine
Awards
Preceded by Enith Brigitha	Dutch Sportswoman of the Year 1975	Succeeded by Keetie van Oosten

External links

• Coaching biography