Uschi KESZLER

West German figure skater Uschi Keßler finished 24th in women’s singles at the 1964 Innsbruck Winter Games. She participated in the 1964 (15th) and 1966 (11th) Worlds, and the 1965 (11th) and 1966 (8th) Europeans. In 1965 she claimed her only West German championship, after finishing second in 1964 and 1966. Keßler then had to retire due to health problems, as she spent eight months in hospital after contracting tuberculosis and was advised by her doctors not to return to competition.

In April 1966, it was reported that Keßler and fellow singles skater, Ralph Borghard, had considered teaming up to compete in pairs. The two practiced some lifts together but her parents rejected the idea.

At the age of 18 Keßler emigrated to North America, where she started a very successful career as a skating coach and choreographer, and changed her name to Keszler. She also studied modern dancing and acting at Rutgers University for 12 years, supported by her husband Aram Boornazian. Among her pupils since the 1980s were world class skaters such as Elaine Zayak, Brian Orser, Elvis Stojko, Claudia Leistner, Tanja Szewczenko, Surya Bonaly, among others.