Skating community saddened by the death of Peter Dunfield

Canadian figure skater and renowned coach Peter Dunfield passed away in his sleep peacefully next to his wife Sonya yesterday at 82 years of age.

Dunfield was the 1951 junior national champion and the senior bronze medallist in 1952 and 1953. He went on to represent Canada on two world teams and one North American team before teaming up with wife Sonya Klopfer to become one of the world’s top coaching duos.

Among their success stories was Elizabeth Manley, whom they guided to three Canadian national titles and 1988 Olympic and world silver medals. The Dunfields were inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2001 as builders.

Dunfield was awarded the Longines-Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award in 1988 and the Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award in 1994, both presented by the Coaching Association of Canada. He was named CFSA Coach of the Year in 1993, and the Professional Skaters Guild of America Coach of the Year in 1994.

Dunfield will be missed by the skating community for his dynamic coaching style and his life-long passion for the sport.

Skate Canada offers its sincere sympathies to Dunfield’s family and friends and a special condolence to his wife Sonya and their two sons.

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