Manfred Schnelldorfer was born on 2 May 1943 in Munich, Bavaria, the son of two figure skating coaches.

The favorite was Alain Calmat of France, who won the Europeans between 1962 and 1964 and was silver medalist at the 1963 Worlds.

After his Olympic win, the Ice Capades offered Schnelldorfer a $1.5 million three-year contract but he declined because of a promise to his parents.

[1] For two years beginning in 1967, he served as the sports director, officially "national coach", of the Deutsche Eislauf Union.

[1] Schnelldorfer was also a pop singer (German: Schlagersänger) and actor before becoming a coach and sport teacher.