ISU vice-president David Dore has died aged 75 ©Skate Canada

David Dore, the International Skating Union (ISU) first vice-president for figure skating, has died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 75.

The Canadian is considered a pioneer of skating and is one of the most decorated sporting administrators and volunteers in the country.

A former athlete, Dore took up skating to strengthen his legs after a bout of polio at the age of 12.

He duly teamed up with Bonnie Anderson, Laura Maybee and Greg Folk to win the fours title at the 1964 National Championships in North Bay before serving as a judge at seven editions of the World Figure Skating Championships, as well as at the 1984 Winter Olympics in  Sarajevo. 

He served as President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association from 1980 to 1984 before spending the next 18 years as director general of the national body, which changed its name to Skate Canada in 2000.

During this time, he was credited with developing the national team programme, creating an athlete trust, developing successful marketing and television concepts and staging three editions of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships.

In 2002, he was elected to his ISU role at the body's 49th Ordinary Congress in Kyoto in Japan, duly serving to help clean up the sport following the major judging scandal at that year's Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

"It is with profound regret and sorrow that the ISU learnt of the passing of ISU 1st Vice-President Figure Skating, skating pioneer and our good friend Mr. David M. Dore," said an ISU statement.

They paid tribute to his "outstanding contribution to ice skating and devoted service to the ISU and sends its sincerest sympathies to David Dore’s family and friends".

David Dore was involved in the organisation of numerous major events including the 2001 World FIgure Skating Championships in Vancouver ©Getty Images
David Dore was involved in the organisation of numerous major events including the 2001 World FIgure Skating Championships in Vancouver ©Getty Images

"The skating community in Canada and around the world are extremely saddened by the passing of David," added Skate Canada chief executive Dan Thompson.

"He brought figure skating to a whole new level with his innovative and forward-thinking ideas - many practices that he implemented are still in use today.

"The sport has lost a true champion."

It comes at a time of huge change for the sport of skating ahead of an election to select a replacement for longstanding ISU President Ottavio Cinquanta, who Dore had at one point been tipped to succeed.

The other ISU vice-president, speed skating representative Jan Dijkema of The Netherlands, yesterday became the fourth to enter the race after France's Didier Gailhaguet, Britain's Christopher Buchanan and Hungary's György Sallak.

Dore is survived by his wife, two sons and three grandchildren.