By: Pj Kwong

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships isn’t just about the competition, it’s where so many of the sport’s legends naturally gather. Along with watching the best skating in the world, it’s also a great chance to catch up with the “knowledge keepers” who’ve helped shape the sport over the years. It’s the reason I came to Prague.

I was looking to find information on what happened in Prague at the time that the 1961 Worlds were cancelled here. I needed to find someone who would have been there at the time and who could speak to the shock of finding out that the US figure skating team had died in a plane crash enroute to Prague. We have already heard the North American side of the story through Canadian team members Debbi Wilkes and Maria Jelinek here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-d7LU-NCyM and here: https://skateontario.org/intheloop/welcome-back-to-prague/

In this special feature, I had the privilege of sitting down with Czech national and Prague native Gerhardt Bubnik, a name that resonates deeply within the international skating community. His journey through the sport is both extensive and extraordinary. From his early days as a competitive skater to his work beyond the boards in virtually every capacity you can think of. Mr. Bubnik’s extraordinary career as a Harvard-trained lawyer later extended into serving as a legal advisor to the International Skating Union for 30 years, contributing to the governance and integrity of the sport at the highest level.

What makes Mr. Bubnik’s story particularly compelling is his longstanding connection to Prague as a host city for major events. He played an integral role on the organizing committees for the World Figure Skating Championships held here in 1961, 1962, and again in 1993. Each edition representing a distinct era in the sport’s development. Through his firsthand experiences, we are transported back to 1961 and 1962 when the cancelled championships were ultimately staged.

The following video captures that conversation – an insightful look at the sport through the eyes of someone who has truly seen it all.