Born: 22 February 1902, Austria
Died: 7 May 1986
Country most active: Austria
Also known as: Herma von Szabó, Herma Plank-Szabo, Herma Planck-Szabo, Herma Jarosz-Szabo and Herma Jaross-Szabo
Herma Szabo is considered to be one of the most decorated figure skaters of all time, and was the 1924 Olympic champion and a five-time world champion (1922–1926). She is one of four women to have won the World title five times, the others being Sonja Henie, Carol Heiss, and Michelle Kwan.She also won two world titles in pairs with Ludwig Wrede in 1925 and 1927. She is the only skater to hold a simultaneous world titles in pairs and singles.
At the Olympics, she helped modernize women’s figure skating by wearing a skirt cut above the knee, which allowed for more freedom of movement in the legs. Despite this, Sonja Henie is usually credited with being the first to wear short skirts in competition.
She retired in 1927 after losing the World Championships to Henie. The decision was controversial because the judging panel consisted of three Norwegians – who all placed their fellow Norwegian Henie first – a German, and an Austrian – both of whom placed Szabo first. This left Szabo disillusioned with the sport and she never skated again. Henie offered a rematch years later, but Szabo refused. Despite the bitter end to her career, she was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1982.