b'The Spirit of Tenley Albright AwardThe Spirit of Tenley Albright Award is one of the Clubs newest trophies housed in the Richard T. Button Trophy Room. Established in 2009, this award honors Dr. Albrights perseverance and commitment despite an extended injury or illness. At age 11, Tenley suffered an attack of polio. She spent months in bed, unable to walk three steps without help. At the advice of medical professionals, Tenley took up skating as a part of her rehabilitation and within ten years she had won six consecutive U.S. championship titles, the World championships and a silver medal at the 1952 Winter Olympic Games in Oslo. Two weeks before the 1956 Winter Olympic Games began in Cortina, Italy, Dr. Tenley slipped on a bump in the ice and slashed her right ankle to the bone with her left skate. She had to be helped off the ice. Few expected her to compete for a figure skating medal, let alone win Olympic gold (which she did just weeks later). The award is intended to recognize Club athletes who have overcome injury or illness while demonstrating high standards of sportsmanship and Club spirit, just as Tenley had. Each year, the Club and Dr. Albright select an active Club member to receive the Spirit of Tenley Albright Trophy.The trophy depicts a skater and was made by the late Josef Petriska, husband to Norma (Sedlar) Petriska. Norma was a competitive and professionalskater,three-timegoldmedalwinnerinCanadaand a member of Team Canada for the 1964 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck.She has coached at the Oakville Skating Club in Oakville, Ontario, since 1969.Like so many skaters of her time, Normas own love of skating was inspired by Tenley Albright.She even named her first child Tenley!Normas husband Joseph fled Europe during World War II and made his way to Canada where he became a famous artist mainly known for creating works of art focused on portraying humans neglect for our environment.In addition to his pieces focusing on the environment, he made several sports trophies including this gorgeous bronze sculpture of a figure skater mounted on a piece of glass (intended to resemble ice) and black marble. Norma and Tenley reconnected via phone in 2022 and following that conversation Norma generously donated a small bronze sculpture to be used for the Spirit of Tenley Albright Award.The Club is grateful for this generous gift to commemorate the lasting influence of Tenley Albright and to celebrate the winners of The Spirit of Tenley Albright Award!The Richard T. Button Trophy Room Jane Piercy at The Skating Club of Boston Club Historian 4 jane.piercy@scboston.org'