Jean Westwood (figure skater)

Jean Westwood
Full name Jean Thomson Westwood
Born 1931
Manchester, England
Died 26 July 2022 (aged 90–91)
British Columbia, Canada
Figure skating career
Country United Kingdom
Partner Lawrence Demmy
Retired 1955
Medal record
Figure skating
Ice dancing
Representing United Kingdom
Gold medal – first place 1955 Vienna Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1954 Oslo Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1953 Davos Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1952 Paris Ice dancing
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1955 Budapest Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1954 Bolzano Ice dancing

Jean Thomson Westwood (1931 – 26 July 2022) was a British ice dancer. With partner Lawrence Demmy, she was the World Champion for four consecutive years, 1952 to 1955 (plus the unofficial trial event in 1951), and European Champion in its first two editions in 1954 and 1955. They were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1977.

She later became an elite-level coach in the United States and Canada (she had switched national teams, via a spell as skating director of the Ice Follies touring show, prior to the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 aviation disaster in which several former students and colleagues were killed). She was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame for her coaching services in 1997.

The Scottish long jumper Alix Jamieson (1964 Summer Olympics) was her second cousin.

Results

(with Lawrence Demmy)

Event 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
World Championships 1st* 1st 1st 1st 1st
European Championships 1st 1st
British Championships 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st