Suzanne Morrow Francis

Suzanne Morrow Francis (December 14, 1930 – June 11, 2006) was a Canadian figure skater and veterinarian. She competed in Ladies' Singles in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics.[1] Between 1947 and 1948, Francis competed in Pairs Mixed competitions with Canadian figure skater Wallace Diestelmeyer. Together they won the bronze medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics and the 1948 World Figure Skating Championships. They were the first pair team to perform the death spiral one-handed, with the man holding the woman in position with one hand, at the 1948 Olympic Games.[2]

Suzanne Morrow Francis
Suzanne Morrow Francis in 1947
Born(1930-12-14)December 14, 1930
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedJune 11, 2006(2006-06-11) (aged 75)
Figure skating career
Country Canada
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ladies' figure skating
North American Championships
Silver medal – second place1951 CalgaryLadies' singles
Pairs' figure skating
Winter Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1948 St. MoritzPairs
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place1948 DavosPairs
North American Championships
Gold medal – first place1947 OttawaPairs

Figure skating

Competing in Ladies' Singles, Suzanne Morrow Francis came in 14th at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics but ended up in 6th place at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics.[3] She retired from competition in 1953 but did not sever ties with figure skating.[4] While working as a veterinarian, Francis continued to serve as a figure skating judge and has been for over fifty years.[5] Additionally, she planned to work to work with the Peterborough Figure Skating Club.[4] Also, she was included in the top six women skaters in the world five years prior to when she had retired.[4]

At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Francis took the Judge's Oath, the first woman to do so at the Winter Olympics. In 1992, she was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame together with Diestelmeyer.[1] She continued working as a veterinarian until retirement in 1995.[1][5]

Veterinary career

In 1952, Francis earned her degree in veterinary medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario.[4] For a time, Francis shared a clinic with Dr. Edith Williams, the second Canadian woman to earn a degree as a veterinarian.[4][6] During that time, she also served as an All Breed dog show judge as part of the Canadian Kennel Club.[1][5]

Francis had always loved dogs and frequently had a dog by her side.[4] Her favourite dog was a German Shepherd.[4] Other than the time she went to College in Guelph for veterinarian school her longest time she spent in school was two months because figure skating took up the majority of her time.[4] As well, because of this she mostly relied on tutors to get the help she needed to get through school.[4]

Francis' figure skating records

Ladies singles

Event 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953
Winter Olympics14th6th
World Championships13th4th4th4th5th
North American Championships2nd
Canadian Championships3rd1st1st1st

Pairs Mixed with Wallace Diestelmeyer

Event 1947 1948
Winter Olympics3rd
World Championships3rd
North American Championships1st
Canadian Championships1st1st

Ice dance with Wallace Diestelmeyer

Event 1948
Canadian Championships1st

References
  1. Suzanne Morrow. sports-reference.com
  2. "Canadian Pair Break Figure Skating's Mould with 'Death Spiral'". Olympic.com. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. "Suzanne Morrow Francis". Team Canada - Official 2018 Olympic Team Website. 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  4. "Former Skating Champion Returns to First Love". The Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 14 July 1962. p. 16. Retrieved 27 May 2017 – via Newspaperarchive.com. open access
  5. "Skate Canada: News & Views: News". 2007-03-10. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  6. Coates, Richard (4 September 1954). "Dog Owners and Their Pets Eventually Look Alike, Claims Lady Veterinarian". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
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