Described as a dynamo on ice, Petra Burka was initially coached by her mother, former Dutch champion, Ellen Burka. In 1962, when Petra was15 years old, she was the Junior Ladies Champion. That same year she placed fourth at World’s in Prague where fellow team members Donald Jackson and Otto and Maria Jelinek made their marks in history. From 1964 – 1966 Petra was the reigning Senior Ladies Champion. She earned a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck where her performance was described as dazzling. In 1965 she won the triple Champion crown: Canadian, North American and World’s. In Colorado she became the first woman to complete a triple Salchow in World competition. For the second year in a row she was chosen as Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year. She placed third at World’s in Davos in 1966 and, for the second time, was awarded the prestigious Lou E. Marsh Trophy for Athlete of the Year. Petra was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1966, the Canadian Olympic Association Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Ontario Sport Legends Hall of Fame in 1995.