Vivi-Anne Hultén

1. Early Life and Family

Vivi-Anne Hultén was born on August 25, 1911, in Antwerp, Belgium. Details of her earliest childhood are not extensively documented, but her birthplace marks her early international connections. She later established herself as a prominent figure in Swedish figure skating, joining the Stockholms Allmänna Skridskoklubb. Her life would later see her marry twice and establish a family with deep roots in the United States.

2. Amateur Career

Hultén's amateur career was marked by consistent excellence and significant medal achievements on the international stage. She was coached by a brother of the renowned Swedish figure skater Gillis Grafström.

Hultén made her Olympic debut at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, where she finished in fifth place. Her competitive prowess continued to grow, and in 1933, she earned a silver medal at the World Championships held in Stockholm, finishing second only to the legendary Sonja Henie.

Hultén's most notable amateur achievement came at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where she secured the bronze medal in ladies' singles. This event was particularly significant not only for her athletic success but also for her display of integrity. When asked by officials to perform a Nazi salute to Adolf Hitler, Hultén famously declined, stating, "I am from Sweden. I don't do things like that." This courageous refusal underscored her commitment to personal principles over political compliance.

She continued her strong performance at the World Championships, winning bronze medals in three consecutive years: 1935 in Vienna, 1936 in Paris, and 1937 in London. In the European Figure Skating Championships, she earned bronze medals in 1930 in Vienna and 1932 in Paris. Domestically, Vivi-Anne Hultén was a dominant force, winning the Swedish Figure Skating Championships ten times, including victories in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, and 1934.

3. Professional Career and Coaching

After the 1937 season, Vivi-Anne Hultén transitioned from amateur competition to a professional career, marking a new chapter in her life in figure skating. She became a prominent performer in various major ice shows, touring with renowned productions such as the Ice Follies, Ice Cycles, and Ice Capades.

During her professional career, Hultén formed an adagio pair with Gene Theslof, a Finnish figure skater and gymnast who would later become her husband. Theslof had previously skated with Sonja Henie for seven years. Together, Hultén and Theslof toured extensively across the United States and Europe, captivating audiences with their skilled performances.

In the mid-1960s, Hultén settled permanently in the United States. She and Theslof established a large and successful skating school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, dedicating themselves to teaching the next generation of skaters. Her coaching extended beyond individual instruction; she was notably hired by Herb Brooks to serve as a skating coach for his Minnesota North Stars hockey team, demonstrating her versatility and influence across different disciplines of ice sports.

Hultén continued to perform and teach well into her later years. She had the honor of performing for King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise of Sweden. Even at the age of 80, she continued to skate in ten Ice Capades shows in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her dedication to the sport was extraordinary, as she actively taught on the ice until she was 86 years old.

4. Later Life and Personal Affairs

Vivi-Anne Hultén's personal life after her professional skating career was largely centered in the United States. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Nils Tholand, an American steel importer.

Later, in 1942, she married her skating partner, Gene Theslof. Together, they had a son, also named Gene Theslof. Their son followed in his parents' footsteps, becoming a leading adagio skater who toured with Holiday on Ice in the USA during the 1960s. He later transitioned into a career as a business executive in California. Hultén's family legacy in sports continued through her grandson, Nick Theslof, who became an American professional soccer coach.

5. Death

Vivi-Anne Hultén passed away at the age of 91 on January 15, 2003. Her death occurred in Corona del Mar, California, in the United States. The cause of her death was heart failure. She outlived her husband, Gene Theslof, by twenty years.

6. Competitive Results

7. Legacy and Recognition

Vivi-Anne Hultén's impact on the sport of figure skating, particularly in Sweden, has been profound. Her consistent success and longevity in the sport cemented her status as a legendary athlete. Swedish newspapers have widely recognized her as the country's all-time greatest female athlete, a testament to her enduring influence and admiration within her home nation.

Her graceful performances and principled character left a lasting impression. As a tribute to her artistry and contributions to skating, a statue depicting her performing a spiral is located at a lake in Budapest, Hungary. This monument serves as a permanent symbol of her elegance on the ice and her lasting legacy in the international figure skating community.