The Ice King

Emmy-nominated documentarian James Erskine tells the story of John Curry, dubbed the ‘greatest ice skater in the world’, and the first openly gay Olympian.

"Curry’s early years resembled the plot of Billy Elliott. Forbidden to dance by his father, he was allowed to skate because it was considered a sport. The game’s authorities frowned upon his artistic approach. Repeatedly told to focus on his technical virtuosity, Curry changed his routine so judges couldn’t ignore the difficulty of what he was doing out on the ice. In 1976, he won the European, Olympic (a performance described as “a moment of perfection”) and World titles. Then he turned professional, creating a new kind of ice show, but the financial and physical demands were overwhelming. In 1994, Curry was one of the first British celebrities to make public an AIDS diagnosis." (Sydney Film Festival)

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