Alfrēds Alslēbens

Alfrēds Alslēbens’ father was a painter by trade and later became a member of the Latvian parliament. In 1910 Alfrēds claimed his first podiums at the Imperial Russian Championships, placing second in the high jump and javelin throw. One year later he won titles in the high jump and long jump. In 1912, he became the Baltic champion in the long jump, setting Russian records with 1.77 m in the high jump and 6.62 m in the long jump, respectively. Alslēbens was also an excellent gymnast and tended the goal of Rīga’s city football team. He was also co-founder and board member of the Āgenskalna Sports and Gymnastics Society (ĀVSB).

As a volunteer Alslēbens joined the 3rd Imperial Hussars in Mariampol in Lithuania. Ranked lieutenant, he served in World War I and was wounded. He was then promoted to cavalry captain and received the orders of St. Anne and St. Stanislav. After the October Revolution, he served in several Armies in different positions, including gymnastics coach, interpreter, and tank driver. Being sick with typhus he was marooned near Varna in Bulgaria, where he survived in the vineyards. For some time, he played in restaurants with his own musical group before he returned to Rīga in 1920 via Wien (Vienna) and Berlin.

In Rīga, Alslēbens worked as an accountant at the French company Huguenin Frères, watch decorators and medal makers (including the medals of the St. Moritz Winter Olympics). In the now independent Latvia, he was drafted again, serving as a cavalry captain. He later took up work as an accountant, this time for the local Chrysler’s agency, and became involved in local politics representing a German list.

In the 1920s Alslēbens continued to be active for his sports club winning the Latvian gymnastics championship and competing successfully at German gymnastics festivals. He was head gymnast (1922-1930) and gymnastics director (1926-27) of the ĀVSB. In 1933, he was posthumously awarded the “Merit Badge” of the Association of Latvian Sports Organizations. Alslēbens died at the age of 38 suffering meningitis as a complication from influenza.

Personal Best: Dec – 4823 (1912).