Alise Dzeguze

During her career Alise Dzeguze was one of the most popular figure skaters in Latvia, with her winning multiple national titles. Dzeguze became interested in skating while she was at school, with her older sister becoming her coach. In the early 1930s she would often travel to Wein, Austria to take part in training sessions. She won her first Latvian title in 1932, becoming the pairs champion with partner Florian Shrader. From then she focused her efforts in the singles competition, winning seven national titles from 1933 to 1940, only missing out in 1939 due to health issues.

Dzeguze competed in several international competitions across Europe, including demonstration events, in preparation for the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics. Even though she competed in some competitions, there was a limited number of opportunities to practice, which was reflected in her 23rd place in the women’s singles at the 1936 Games. Despite this she continued to skate after the Olympics, winning the figure skating competition of Latvia and Lithuania in 1937. During World War II she became the figure skating champion of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1941, and the Latvian champion during the Nazi occupation in 1942. In late 1944 Dzeguze fled Latvia to live in Germany, before heading to Argentina in 1948. She then spent time in Canada and Mexico, before returning to Canada where she spent the rest of her life.