Vera Ralston (born Věra Helena Hrubá; July 12, 1919 or 1920 or 1921
â€" February 9, 2003) was a Czech figure skater and actress. She later
became a naturalized American citizen. She worked as an actress during
the 1940s and 1950s.Ralston was born Věra Helena Hrubá in Prague to
a Catholic family with a home on the Berounka River. Her father,
Rudolf Hrubá, was a jeweler. Her year of birth has been given as
1919, 1920, 1921, and 1923. Her brother, Rudy Ralston, later became a
film producer in the United States.As a figure skater, she represented
Czechoslovakia in competition under her birth name Věra Hrubá. She
competed at the 1936 European Figure Skating Championships and placed
15th. Later that season, she competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics,
where she placed 17th. During the games, she personally met and
reportedly insulted Adolf Hitler. Hitler asked her if she would like
to "skate for the swastika." As she later boasted, "I looked him right
in the eye, and said that I'd rather skate on the swastika. The
Führer was furious."
â€" February 9, 2003) was a Czech figure skater and actress. She later
became a naturalized American citizen. She worked as an actress during
the 1940s and 1950s.Ralston was born Věra Helena Hrubá in Prague to
a Catholic family with a home on the Berounka River. Her father,
Rudolf Hrubá, was a jeweler. Her year of birth has been given as
1919, 1920, 1921, and 1923. Her brother, Rudy Ralston, later became a
film producer in the United States.As a figure skater, she represented
Czechoslovakia in competition under her birth name Věra Hrubá. She
competed at the 1936 European Figure Skating Championships and placed
15th. Later that season, she competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics,
where she placed 17th. During the games, she personally met and
reportedly insulted Adolf Hitler. Hitler asked her if she would like
to "skate for the swastika." As she later boasted, "I looked him right
in the eye, and said that I'd rather skate on the swastika. The
Führer was furious."
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