Otto Jelinek, a former cabinet minister and world-champion figure skater, dead at 86

**Former Cabinet Minister and World‑Champion Figure Skater Otto Jelinek Dies at 86**

Ottawa – Otto Jelinek, a former world‑champion figure skater and long‑serving federal cabinet minister, died on Saturday at the age of 86. The Jelinek family said he passed peacefully in hospital after nearly two decades of living with Parkinson’s disease.

Jelinek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and his family fled the communist regime when he was a young boy. He and his sister Maria represented Canada in figure skating at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.

After his athletic career, Jelinek entered federal politics. He represented the Oakville, Ontario riding for twenty years and served as Minister of National Revenue under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. He also held portfolios for sport and multiculturalism. Jelinek left politics after considering a run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party and was later appointed Canadian Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

The report was originally published by The Canadian Press on September 6, 2026.

Article and image source: winnipegfreepress.com