Dorothy Greenhough-Smith

Dorothy Greenhough-Smith (27 September 1882 – 9 May 1965) was a British figure skater. She won the bronze medal in women's singles at the 1908 Summer Olympics and was the 1912 World silver medalist, as well as a two-time (1908, 1911) British champion.

Early life Greenhough-Smith was the daughter of writer James Edward Preston Muddock.

Career Greenhough-Smith, like her rival Madge Syers, competed in mixed-sex events and sometimes defeated men. She was the British champion in 1908 and 1911; at the time, the event was not divided by gender.

In 1906, she competed in the first women's event at the 1906 World Championships, where she placed fifth out of the five competitors.

She won the bronze medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics where figure skating was contested. She came in second in the free skating section of the competition, and The Field noted that she did an Axel jump. According to T. D. Richardson, she was the first women to perform this jump, and she did so in an ankle-length skirt. The Westminster Gazette praised the power and accuracy of her movements.

Greenhough-Smith was the 1912 World silver medalist, which was the first silver medal in women's skating for Great Britain. (Madge Syers previously won a silver medal at the 1902 World Championships, where it was assumed all entrants would be men.)

Away from the ice, she also played swam and played tennis; she entered the 1914 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the first round.

Personal life Greenhough-Smith married publisher and editor Herbert Greenhough Smith in 1900, when she was 17. After she finished competing, she had a son who died in infancy. She died 9 May 1965.

Competitive highlights

Event 1906 1908 1911 1912 Summer Olympic Games 3rd World Championships 5th 2nd British Championships 1st 1st