David Wilkinson Jenkins (born June 29, 1936) is an American former

figure skater Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic d ...

. He is the 1960 Olympic champion, the 1956 Olympic bronze medalist, a three-time World champion, and a four-time U.S. national champion.

Personal life

Jenkins was born on June 29, 1936, in

Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...

. He is the younger brother of Hayes Alan Jenkins, also an American former figure skater. He studied at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine during his competitive career. He took a leave of absence during his time with Ice Follies. After graduating in 1963, he became a practicing physician. Jenkins graduated with an M.D. in 1963 and immediately after served two years in the U.S. Air Force. In June 1965 he married Barbara Ruth Boling and settled in Tulsa, where he became a gastroenterologist. Neither his wife nor his three children skate.

Skating career

Jenkins won his first senior national medal, silver, at the 1954 U.S. Championships. His first world medal, bronze, came at the 1955 World Championships. He received the bronze medal at the

1956 Winter Olympics The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games () and commonly known as Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 ( or ), were a multi-sport event held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which ...

while his brother won the gold. The brothers received financial support from the Broadmoor Hotel in

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010 United States Census, 2 ...

, and a foundation. In 1957, David Jenkins became the U.S. national champion and won the first of his three consecutive world titles. He performed a triple Axel jump in a 1957 exhibition, 21 years before that jump was landed for the first time in competition. After taking his fourth consecutive national title, he won the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. Edi Scholdan served as his coach. Following the 1960 Olympics, Jenkins declined to compete at the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships and turned professional, joining the Ice Follies.

Competitive highlights

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, David American male single skaters Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine alumni Figure skaters at the 1956 Winter Olympics Figure skaters at the 1960 Winter Olympics Sportspeople from Akron, Ohio Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in figure skating Olympic gold medalists for the United States in figure skating 1936 births Living people World Figure Skating Championships medalists Medalists at the 1956 Winter Olympics Medalists at the 1960 Winter Olympics 20th-century American sportsmen