Ilonda Lūse

Ilonda Luse, born in Riga, was the first Latvian skater to compete internationally since Latvia’s independence in 1991. Lūse débuted at the 1994 European Championships, aged 22, and took part in the Lillehammer Olympics that same year, finishing 25th in the 3,000 m. Lūse, a former chemical student, participated in seven European Championships and three World Championships, but never made the final distance. She also took part in one World Sprint Championship (32nd, 1998) and one World Single Distance Championships, in 2001, where she was disqualified in the 5,000 m.

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.98 (2001); 1000 – 1:19.77 (2001); 1500 – 2:02.63 (2001); 3000 – 4:17.96 (2001); 5000 – 7:26.24 (2001).