Winter Games of the IX Olympiad
The weather in Innsbruck, Austria in February 1964 was the mildest the popular sport centre had experienced in 58 years. Three thousand Austrian soldiers hauled 40,000 cubic meters of snow to the ski courses.
For the first time, Canadians took part in the bobsleigh competition. On the first run of the day, the team of Vic and John Emery, Peter Kirby and Doug Anakin streaked to a new course record, giving them a lead they would hold throughout the competition. After the completion of the fourth run, Canada’s total time was more than a second better than the second place Austrian sled. In a sport decided by fractions of second, the margin of victory was remarkable.
Bronze medals were brought home by Canadian figure skaters Petra Burka and the pairs team of Debbi Wilkes and Guy Revell.
Russian speed skater Lydia Skoblokova added four gold medals to the two she had already won four years before. Her six golds made her the first Winter athlete to reach this total and the first athlete to win four gold in a single Winter Olympic Games.
