1961day.year
Laurence Owen
(1944 - 1961)
American figure skater
American figure skater
American figure skater and 1961 U.S. national champion whose life was tragically cut short.
Laurence Owen was an American figure skater who captured the U.S. national title in 1961 at just 16 years old.
Born in Boston in 1944 to skating champion Maribel Vinson Owen, she trained under her mother's guidance and quickly emerged as a leading talent.
Her graceful artistry and technical skill made her a favorite on the ice during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Tragically, Laurence and the entire U.S. figure skating team perished in the Sabena Flight 548 crash en route to the World Championships shortly after her national victory.
Her untimely death shocked the skating world and left a lasting legacy of promise and potential unfulfilled.
1961
Laurence Owen