Liz Chase

Liz Chase, born on April 26, 1950, in Umtali, Zimbabwe, was a distinguished field hockey player who made her mark on the international stage. A member of the Zimbabwe national team, she achieved the pinnacle of her career by winning a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Before representing Zimbabwe, she played for South Africa, showcasing her talent and dedication to the sport.

Chase's journey in field hockey began early; she was part of the national schools team in 1966 and later the under-21 team. After completing her education at Girls High School in Salisbury, she pursued a degree in physical education in South Africa. During her time there, she played for the university varsity team and local provincial teams, including Wits and Southern Transvaal. Her skills earned her a spot on the South Africa B team in 1973/74 and the Springbok Ladies hockey team in 1976/77.

Returning to Rhodesia, Chase continued to excel in her sport, playing for the Old Hararians club while teaching physical education at Oriel Girls High School. She was consistently selected for the Zimbabwe women's national team until her emigration to South Africa in the early 1980s. In 2000, she took on the role of head of the physical education department at the University of the Witwatersrand, a position she held until her retirement in 2015.

Tragically, Liz Chase passed away from cancer on May 9, 2018, just two weeks after celebrating her sixty-eighth birthday. She was the first member of the 1980 Olympic field hockey team to die, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and passion for the sport.