Maria and Otto Jelinek’s journey to athletic excellence began well before their 1962 World Championships win—simply put, it was born before they were. Their parents, Henry and Jarmilla Jelinek, were winter sports fanatics, travelling from their home in Prague to every winter Olympics from 1930–1948. For this reason, following Otto’s birth in 1940 and Maria’s in 1942, the pair soon learned to skate.
Their skills immediately blossomed, with a 6-year-old Otto and 4-year-old Maria giving their first public performance at a 1946 winter carnival in Prague. However, 1948 brought major changes for their family unit. Following WWII, Czechoslovakia was taken over by a communist regime, forcing the Jelinek family to seek refuge in Switzerland—and then Oakville.
While this relocation was incredibly difficult, the young athletes found that the adjustment was made easier by sport; as a result, they continued to pursue their talents at the Oakville Skating Club. Over the years, the pair’s obvious skill, unbridled love for skating, and genuine mutual respect developed into a partnership that would conquer the world. At the ages of 13 and 15, they became the 1955 Junior Canadian National Champions, and won silver at the senior level the next year. In 1957, they won the silver medal at the North American Championships, and took bronze at the World Championships in 1957 and 1958.
As a result of their hard work and dedication, the siblings were selected to represent Canada in the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics, where they placed fourth. Months later, they were awarded silver medals at the World Championships, and won their first senior Canadian title the following year. Following this collection of victories, the pair returned to Prague for the 1962 World Championships; to their delight, they won gold.
After coming full circle in their city of birth, the Jelineks were inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. From 1962 to ’68, Maria and Otto performed in the Ice Capades. They retired in 1969 after their win at the World Professional Pairs Championship. Today, the pair remains a hallmark of Canadian athletic achievement.
During their illustrious career, they were the first team to perform lifts with several rotations, as well as sideby-side double jumps—movements which require incredible skill. In 1994, they were named to the Skate Canada Hall of Fame. Following their retirement, the pair raised their families in Oakville, a city to which they remain irrevocably tied. Additionally, Otto has served as a Member of Parliament, and was appointed Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic in 2013.
