{{Short description|Ukrainian ice dancer (born 1991)}} {{Infobox figure skater | name = Alisa Besseghier | image = 2018 EC Alisa Agafonova Alper Uçar 2018-01-20 14-54-25.jpg | caption = Alisa Agafonova and Alper Uçar in 2018 | fullname = Alisa Alexandrovna Besseghier | altname = Alisa Agafonova | native_name = Аліса Олександрівна Агафо́нова | native_name_lang = UK | country = {{TUR}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR,<br>Soviet Union | hometown = Detroit, Michigan,<br>United States | height = 1.71 m | beganskating = 1997 | retired = 25 March 2018<ref name=AU180325/> }}
'''Alisa Alexandrovna Besseghier''' ({{née|'''Agafonova'''}}, {{langx|uk|Аліса Олександрівна Агафо́нова}}, born 15 January 1991) is a former competitive ice dancer. She is best known for her partnership with Alper Uçar. Representing Turkey, they competed at two Winter Olympics (2014 and 2018) and won eight international medals, including silver at the 2011 Winter Universiade and three medals on the ISU Challenger Series. They skated in the final segment at six European Championships and four World Championships.
Competing with Dmitri Dun for Ukraine, Besseghier won five medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series and placed as high as 7th at the World Junior Championships (2008).
== Personal life == Besseghier was born on 15 January 1991 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.<ref name=ISU-1718/> She studied business management at Kharkiv National University.<ref name=Oly2018/>
On 14 February 2020, she married French figure skater, Chafik Besseghier.<ref name=IG-200214/>
== Career ==
=== Early years === Besseghier began learning to skate in 1997.<ref name=ISU-1718/> Her first coach was Valeriy Barats.<ref name=CHUA091126/>
Besseghier teamed up with Dmitri Dun in 2001.<ref name=ISU-0910/> They represented Ukraine and competed on the novice level before making their ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) debut in September 2004, in Harbin, China. At the time, they were coached by Halyna Churylova and Svetlana Chernikova in Kharkiv.<ref name=ISU-0405/>
In 2006, Besseghier/Dun won their first JGP medal, silver, in Taipei. Svetlana Chernikova and Marina Zoueva were listed as their coaches in the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 seasons.<ref name=ISU-0607/><ref name=ISU-0708/> In 2007–2008, they placed 4th at one JGP event, took silver at another, and finished 6th at the Junior Grand Prix Final. They placed 7th at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In 2008–2009, Besseghier/Dun were coached by Chernikova, Zoueva, and Alexander Gorshkov.<ref name=ISU-0809/> After winning gold and silver on the JGP series, they qualified to the JGP Final, where they finished 7th. Having won the Ukrainian national junior title, they were sent to the 2009 World Junior Championships and finished 13th in Sofia.
Coached by Gorshkov and Chernikova in Moscow, Besseghier/Dun won bronze at the 2009 JGP event in Minsk.<ref name=ISU-0910/> After placing fourth at the JGP in Istanbul, in October 2009, they decided to end their partnership.<ref name=CHUA091126/>
=== First three seasons with Uçar === In 2010, Besseghier teamed up with Alper Uçar to compete for Turkey. They won a silver medal at the 2011 Winter Universiade, skating in their first season together.
Besseghier/Uçar placed 26th at the 2012 European Championships in Sheffield, England, and 31st at the 2012 World Championships in Nice, France.
Besseghier/Uçar were originally coached by Natalia Dubova and Oleg Voyko in Stamford, Connecticut.<ref name=ISU-1112/> They changed coaches in December 2012, deciding to join Alexander Zhulin and Oleg Volkov in Moscow, Russia.<ref name="ISU-1213"/><ref name=AS130227/> They placed 13th at the 2013 European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, and 28th at the 2013 World Championships in London, Ontario, Canada.
=== 2013–2014 season === Besseghier/Uçar began their season at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy, the final Olympic qualifying opportunity. By finishing 5th, they earned a spot for Turkey in the ice dancing event at the Olympics. They then won a silver medal at the 2013 NRW Trophy.
Besseghier/Uçar finished 17th at the 2014 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. In February, the two competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia; their short dance placement, 22nd, was insufficient to advance to the next segment. They qualified to the free dance and finished 20th overall at the 2014 World Championships, which took place in March in Saitama, Japan.
=== 2014–2015 season === In December, Besseghier/Uçar won silver at the Santa Claus Cup in Hungary. In January, they took silver at the Toruń Cup in Poland and placed 12th at the 2015 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. In March, they achieved their career-best world placement, 16th, at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, China.
=== 2015–2016 season === Making their Grand Prix debut, Besseghier/Uçar placed 7th at the 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard in November. In December 2015, the two moved to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to work with Anjelika Krylova and Pasquale Camerlengo due to visa problems which were exacerbated following the 2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown.<ref name=IN160524/>
They finished 12th at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, and 21st at the 2016 World Championships in Boston, United States.
=== 2016–2017 season === Besseghier/Uçar received two Grand Prix assignments; they placed 9th at the 2016 Skate America and 8th at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup. They ranked 11th at the 2017 European Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.<ref name=AS170321/> It was the best continental result of their career.
The two finished 17th at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Due to their result, Turkey qualified a spot in the ice dancing event at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
=== 2017–2018 season === [[File:20180119 Euros - Agafonova & Ucar - 10509.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Agafonova/Uçar at the 2018 European Championships in Moscow]]
Besseghier/Uçar competed at two Grand Prix events and then won silver at the 2017 CS Tallinn Trophy. In January, they finished 13th at the 2018 European Championships in Moscow, Russia. In February, the two competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics and qualified to the final segment. They ranked 20th in the short dance, 18th in the free dance, and 19th overall in Pyeongchang, South Korea. They had the same result at the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy. They announced their retirement from competitive skating on March 25, 2018.<ref name=IDC180330/><ref name=AU180325/>
== Programs ==
=== With Uçar === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Season ! Short dance ! Free dance ! Exhibition |- ! 2017–2018 <br><ref name=ISU-1718/><ref name=Oly2018/> | * {{small|Samba:}} Cuba <br>{{small| by DJ Rebel ft. Gibson Brothers }} * {{small|Rhumba:}} How Deep Is Your Love <br>(DJ Maksy Remix) <br>{{small| by Sophia Guem }} * {{small|Samba:}} Cuba <br>{{small| by DJ Rebel ft. Gibson Brothers }} | * Marco Polo <br>{{small| by Loreena McKennitt }} * Cleopatra <br>{{small| by Maxime Rodriguez }} * Iron <br>{{small| by Woodkid }} | |- ! 2016–2017 <br><ref name="ISU-1617"/> | * {{small|Blues:}} Why Don't You Do Right? <br>{{small| performed by Amy Irving }} * {{small|Jive:}} Straight to... Number One <br>{{small| by Touch and Go }} | * Near Light <br>{{small| by Ólafur Arnalds }} * Beethoven's Five Secrets <br>{{small| by The Piano Guys }} * Sand <br>{{small| by Nathan Lanier }} | |- ! 2015–2016 <br><ref name="ISU-1516"/> | * {{small|Waltz:}} Until... * {{small|Foxtrot:}} Moon over Bourbon Street <br>{{small| by Sting }} | * Preserved Figs <br>{{small| ("Incir Receli") <br> by Engin Bayrak }} | * Say Something <br>{{small| by A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera }} |- ! 2014–2015 <br><ref name="ISU-1415"/> | * {{small|Flamenco:}} Babaylon <br>{{small| by Gaudi }} * {{small|Paso Doble:}} Fuegos <br>{{small| by Puro Latino }} * {{small|Flamenco:}} Bailando bajo la luna <br>{{small| by Chiquita Herrada }} | * Piano Concert No. 23 <br>{{small| by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart }} * Penser l'impossible <br>{{small| (from Mozart Rock Opera) }} | |- ! 2013–2014 <br><ref name="ISU-1314"/> | * {{small|Quickstep:}} Stepping Out With My Baby <br>{{small| by Frank Devol }} * {{small|Foxtrot}} * {{small|Quickstep}} | * Black and Blue <br>{{small| by Dave Brubeck }} * I Feel Good <br>{{small| by James Brown }} | |- ! 2012–2013 <br><ref name="ISU-1213"/><ref name=AS130227/> | * Fairytale <br>{{small| by Alexander Rybak }} | * Muhteşem Yüzyil <br>{{small| (Magnificent Century) <br> by Fahir Atakoglu }} | |- ! 2011–2012 <br><ref name="ISU-1112"/> | * La vida es un carnaval * Historia de un amor * Baila baila conmigo | * Summertime <br>{{small| performed by Victoria Pierre-Marie }} * Istanbul Pas Constantinople <br>{{small| by Ayhan Sicimoglu }} | |- ! 2011–2012 | * Waltz * Oblivion Tango <br>{{small| by Astor Piazzolla }} | * Be Italian <br>{{small| (from Nine) <br> by Fergie }} | |}
=== With Dun === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Season ! Original dance ! Free dance |- ! 2009–2010 <br><ref name="ISU-0910"/> | * Gandzya <br>{{small| (Ukrainian folk dance) }} | * Blues for Klook <br>{{small| by Eddy Louiss }} |- ! 2008–2009 <br><ref name="ISU-0809"/> | * Puttin' On the Ritz <br>{{small| by Irving Berlin }} | * Aurora <br>{{small| by Valeriy Tyshler }} |- ! 2007–2008 <br><ref name="ISU-0708"/> | * Verkhovyno <br>{{small| (Ukrainian folk dance) }} | * Harem <br>{{small| performed by Sarah Brightman }} |- ! 2006–2007 <br><ref name="ISU-0607"/> | * Tanguera <br>{{small| by Astor Piazzolla }} | * Pirates of the Caribbean <br>{{small| by Klaus Badelt }} |- ! 2004–2005 <br><ref name="ISU-0405"/> | * Black Bottom * Torero * Fish and Chips | * Spring Tango <br>{{small| by Astor Piazzolla <br> arranged by P. Nicholson }} |}
== Competitive highlights == {{smalldiv| *GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series *JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series *CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series }}
=== With Alper Uçar (for Turkey) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=senior|ref={{r|SS-AAAU}} |season1=2010–11|season2=2011–12|season3=2012–13|season4=2013–14 |season5=2014–15|season6=2015–16|season7=2016–17|season8=2017–18 |{{FS placements|8|Winter Olympics|p4=22nd|p8=19th}} |{{FS placements|8|World Championships|p2=31st|p3=28th|p4=20th|p5=16th|p6=21st|p7=17th|p8=19th}} |{{FS placements|8|European Championships|p2=26th|p3=13th|p4=17th|p5=12th|p6=12th|p7=11th|p8=13th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|GP}} Rostelecom Cup|p7=8th|p8=9th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|GP}} Skate America|p7=9th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|GP}} Skate Canada|p8=10th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|GP}} Trophée de France|p6=7th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Denkova-Staviski Cup|p6=1st}} |{{FS placements|8|{{nowrap|{{small|CS}} Golden Spin of Zagreb}}|p2=9th|p4=3rd|p7=3rd|p8=7th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Ice Challenge|p1=6th|p3=12th|p5=6th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Mordovian Ornament|p6=4th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Nebelhorn Trophy|p2=11th|p4=5th|p6=6th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Tallinn Trophy|p7=4th|p8=2nd}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} U.S. Classic|p7=7th}} |{{FS placements|8|{{small|CS}} Warsaw Cup|p5=5th|p8=6th}} |{{FS placements|8|Bavarian Open|p3=6th}} |{{FS placements|8|Crystal Skate of Romania|p3=5th}} |{{FS placements|8|Cup of Nice|p2=8th}} |{{FS placements|8|Ice Star|p7=2nd}} |{{FS placements|8|Istanbul Cup|p2=4th|p8=1st}} |{{FS placements|8|Mentor Toruń Cup|p3=4th|p5=2nd}} |{{FS placements|8|Mont Blanc Trophy|p1=5th}} |{{FS placements|8|NRW Trophy|p1=7th|p2=9th|p3=9th|p4=2nd|p6=1st}} |{{FS placements|8|Santa Claus Cup|p5=2nd}} |{{FS placements|8|Winter Universiade|p1=2nd}} }}
=== With Dun for Ukraine === right|thumb|200px|Agafonova and Dun in 2008
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan="7" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International<ref name="ISU-AADD"/> |- ! Event ! 04–05 ! 05–06 ! 06–07 ! 07–08 ! 08–09 ! 09–10 |- | align=left | Junior Worlds || || || || 7th || 13th || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Final || || || || 6th || 7th || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Belarus || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} China || 7th || || || || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Estonia || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} France || || || 4th || || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Germany || 10th || || || 4th || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Poland || || 10th || || || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Taiwan || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || || || |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} Turkey || || || || || || 4th |- | align=left | {{small|JGP}} U.K. || || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || |- | align=left | Pavel Roman || bgcolor="cc9966" | || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd J || || |- ! colspan="7" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | National<ref name="ISU-AADD"/> |- | align=left | Ukrainian Champ. || 6th J || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st J || |}
== References == {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ISU-AADD">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00007725.htm |title=Competition Results: Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107103854/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00007725.htm |archivedate=7 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-0405">{{cite web |url=http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN: 2004/2005 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404071625/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |archivedate=4 April 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-0607">{{cite web |url=http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN: 2006/2007 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704215430/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |archivedate=4 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-0708">{{cite web |url=http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN: 2007/2008 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514132026/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |archivedate=14 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-0809">{{cite web |url=http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN: 2008/2009 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302013122/http://isufs.org/bios/isufs00007725.htm |archivedate=2 March 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-0910">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007725.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Dmitri DUN: 2009/2010 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309141604/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00007725.htm |archivedate=9 March 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=SS-AAAU>{{cite web |title=TUR–Alisa Agafonova/Alper Uçar |url=https://skatingscores.com/tur/dance/alisa_agafonova_alper_ucar |website=SkatingScores}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1112">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2011/2012 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531033238/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=31 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1213">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2012/2013 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130012305/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=30 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1314">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2013/2014 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521065313/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=21 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1415">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2014/2015 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512231833/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=12 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1516">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2015/2016 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527083357/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=27 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="ISU-1617">{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2016/2017 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519134008/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=19 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name=ISU-1718>{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |title=Alisa AGAFONOVA / Alper UCAR: 2017/2018 |publisher=International Skating Union |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423214612/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012930.htm |archivedate=23 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=CHUA091126>{{cite news |url=http://www.champion.com.ua/figure-skating/2009/11/25/251143/ |title=Аліса Агафонова: Ніколи не говори ніколи |language=Ukrainian |website=champion.com.ua |date=26 November 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215012610/http://www.champion.com.ua/figure-skating/2009/11/25/251143/ |archivedate=15 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=AS130227>{{cite news |url=http://www.absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2013agafonovaucar |title=Alisa Agafonova and Alper Ucar – a fairytale on the ice |first=Titanilla |last=Bőd |work=Absolute Skating |date=27 February 2013}}</ref>
<ref name=IN160524>{{cite news |url=http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/05/24/179929312/ |title=Agafonova, Uçar show resolve in trying season |first=Vladislav |last=Luchianov |work=IceNetwork.com |date=24 May 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702225216/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/05/24/179929312/ |archivedate=2 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name=AS170321>{{cite news |url=http://www.absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2017agafonovaucar |title=Alisa Agafonova and Alper Ucar: "We always managed to overcome obstacles" |first=Titanilla |last=Bőd |work=Absolute Skating |date=21 March 2017}}</ref>
<ref name=AU180325>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1898160720196124&id=338662142812664 |title=This was an emotional 8 years of our career. We say good bye to all our fans with our performance of free dance yesterday in Milano World Championship. |first1=Alisa |last1=Agafonova |first2=Alper |last2=Ucar |type=Facebook |date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=Oly2018>{{cite web |url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/OWG2018/en/figure-skating/athlete-profile-n3026848-alisa-agafonova.htm |title=Athlete Profile - Alisa AGAFONOVA |website=PyeongChang2018.com |publisher=PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423214023/https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/game-time/results/OWG2018/en/figure-skating/athlete-profile-n3026848-alisa-agafonova.htm |archive-date=23 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name=IDC180330>{{cite news |url=https://www.ice-dance.com/site/agafonova-ucar-the-final-dance/ |title=Agafonova & Uçar: The Final Dance |first=Anne |last=Calder |website=ice-dance.com |date=30 March 2018}}</ref>
<ref name=IG-200214>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ixkcghnYD/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/chafikbesseghier/2243573573174588931_2243573569969988018 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration |title=I can officially call you my Wife ❤️💍👰🏽🇲🇻 |first=Chafik |last=Besseghier |author-link=Chafik Besseghier |type=Instagram |date=14 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}
== External links == {{commons category}} * {{ISU figure skater|00012930|Alisa Agafonova & Alper Ucar}} * {{SkatingScores|tur/dance/alisa_agafonova_alper_ucar|Alisa Agafonova & Alper Uçar}} * {{ISU figure skater|00007725|Alisa Agafonova & Dmitri Dun}} * {{Olympedia|name=Alisa Agafonova}} * {{Olympics.com|alisa-agafonova|Alisa Agafonova}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Besseghier, Alisa}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Figure skaters from Kharkiv Category:Turkish female ice dancers Category:Ukrainian female ice dancers Category:Ukrainian emigrants to Turkey Category:Figure skaters at the 2014 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic figure skaters for Turkey Category:Winter World University Games medalists in figure skating Category:Naturalized citizens of Turkey Category:Figure skaters at the 2018 Winter Olympics Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for Turkey Category:Competitors at the 2011 Winter Universiade Category:21st-century Ukrainian sportswomen