After placing second four times , the Jelineks won their first Canadian senior title in 1961 . The pair had a bad fall a day before the North American Championships , resulting in a concussion to Otto and a large gash in Maria 's thigh , however , they competed and won gold . They decided to compete at the 1961 World Championships to be hosted by Prague , despite the risk to citizens who had fled . After the International Skating Union threatened to change the host , the Czechoslovak government resolved the dispute by stripping the pair 's citizenship . The competition , however , was cancelled due to the Sabena Flight 548 crash which killed the entire U.S. team . The Jelineks had planned to travel with the Americans to Prague but missed the flight because they were waiting for their coach , Bruce Hyland , whose wife was about to give birth
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Maria Jelinek