Rosalynn Sumners is an American ladies’ singles figure skater…..who was the World Junior champion in 1980….the U.S. National champion in 1982, 1983 and 1984…..the World champion in 1983….and won a silver medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics….while coming in 2nd to skating legend Katarina Witt of East Germany.
In 1982-1983 big things were expected of Sumners….as she had shown great improvement in her weakness of compulsory figures…..when she won Skate America….as seen in this video herewith….by defeating strong competitors including Claudia Leistner and Kristina Wegelius….. when expected to win again…..she finished a disappointing bronze at Skate Canada….which was won by teammate Vikki De Vries….after Sumners had several bad falls in the long program. She then settled for silver behind Katarina Witt at NHK after a pair of lackluster performances. By U.S Nationals though Rosalynn was at her best….while showing improved fitness and power in her jumps….and easily defending her title over reigning World Champion and 1981 U.S Champion Elaine Zayak….after winning all 3 phases (compulsory figure, short program, long program).
At the World Championships that year she came in as one of the favorites….and did not disappoint…..after winning her first and only World title. She won the figures, settled for 4th in the short due a miss on her triple jump combination she had done so well at Nationals, then winning the long program.
