Martha Bachem

Martha Bachem, née Marta Musilek (8 June 1924 – 29 May 2015) was an Austrian-German figure skater. She became a three-time German national champion before representing Austria at the 1948 Winter Olympics.

Martha Bachem
Personal information
Alternative namesMarta Musilek
Country representedAustria
Germany
Born(1924-06-08)8 June 1924
Vienna
Died29 May 2015(2015-05-29) (aged 90)
CoachKarl Schäfer
Skating clubVK Engelmann Wien
Wiener EG
Training locationsVienna
Retiredc. 1948

Life and career

Musilek was born on 8 June 1924 in Vienna, Austria.[1] She belonged to VK Engelmann Wien and Wiener EG.[2] Karl Schäfer served as her coach.[3]

Having become a German citizen due to the Anschluss of Austria, Musilek began her international career skating for Germany. She placed 9th at the 1939 European Championships in Davos, Switzerland, and 7th at the 1939 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Due to World War II, no ISU Championships were held during the following years. Musilek competed at national events, winning German and Austrian titles. In 1944, she married Hans Erich Bachem from Cologne.[3] She missed the 1946–1947 season, having recently given birth,[4] but resumed skating the following season.

As Germany was barred from the 1948 Winter Olympics, she arranged for the Austrian Repatriation Commission in Munich to send her back to her birth country.[3] Representing Austria, she placed 11th at the 1948 European Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia; 9th at the Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland;[1] and 7th at the 1948 World Championships in Davos, Switzerland.

Later in 1948, Austria expelled her to Germany because she had not fulfilled the requirements for Austrian repatriation, i.e. divorcing her German husband.[3]

Competitive highlights
International
Event 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1948
Winter Olympics9th
World Championships7th7th
European Championships9th11th
National[2]
German Championships3rd3rd2nd1st1st1st
Austrian Championships2nd1st1st

References
  1. "Martha Bachem". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016.
  2. "Deutsche Eiskunstlauf Meisterschaften bis 1963" [German Figure Skating Championships through 1963]. sport-record.de (in German). Archived from the original on 21 December 2016.
  3. "Zweckmäßiger eine andere: Madame Bachem, Austriche". Der Spiegel (in German). 18 December 1948.
  4. "Eisgekrönte Ingemaus". Der Spiegel (in German). 8 March 1947.
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