Fratianne, Linda S.
Figure skating
b. Aug. 2, 1960, Northridge, CA
A flashy, often spectacular skater with a remarkable repertoire of spins and jumps, Fratianne won four consecutive U. S. championships, but inconsistency and problems in the compulsory figures often troubled her in international competition.
She dueled Annet Potzsch of the German Democratic Republic five times and won only twice. After winning the world championship in 1977, Fratianne finished second to Potzsch in 1978. She won her second world championship in 1979, Potzsch finishing just behind.
At the 1980 Olympics, Fratianne turned in a brilliant free skating performance, but it wasn't quite good enough to overcome the big lead Potzsch had built up in the compulsories, and Fratianne had to settle for a silver medal. The story was much the same at the 1980 world championships.
Fratianne then left amateur skating to star in the Walt Disney's World on Ice.