The Latvian Olympic team go 4 gold in Rio!

Tons of excitement in our house today with the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio! The Opening Ceremonies are tonight at 7pm on NBC; we’ll be watching as the US team walks in following Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals including 18 gold medals in Olympic swimming.

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We will also be cheering for the Latvian Olympic team, walking in with over 30 athletes and led by 2x gold medalist, Māris Štrombergs. Štrombergs successfully defended his Olympic title in men's BMX cycling in the London Olympics in 2012, becoming the first Latvian athlete to win two Olympic gold medals since 1991 and the only bmx gold medalist since the sport debuted in ‘08. There were three Olympic medals in Beijing: Māris Štrombergs with his gold in men’s BMX cycling, a silver for Ainārs Kovals in the men's javelin throw, and Viktors Ščerbatihs with a bronze in weightlifting.

Štrombergs, source here

The Beijing trifecta was followed with two medals in London in 2012. Latvia won a hard-fought bronze in men’s beach volleyball, Mārtiņš Pļaviņš and Jānis Šmēdiņš showing the rest of the world what the fans at Gaŗezers volleyball weekend have known all along – Latvians are world-class volleyball players. Well, among other talents, like BMX cycling.

Pļaviņš and Šmēdiņš in London, source here

Štrombergs will be defending his BMX title in Rio, and Šmēdiņš is back for volleyball gold with teammate Aleksandrs Samoilavs. Their first game is Sunday (August 7th) against Canada, followed by a faceoff with Cuba on the 9th & Brazil on the 11th. Group standings in Pool D will determine if they advance to the elimination round.

Šmēdiņš and Samoilavs with a FIVB beach volleyball world tour Olsztyn grand slam this June, source here

Other  athletes to watch include Jeļena Prokopčuka, two-time winner of the NYC Marathon (2005 & 2006) and three time participant of the summer Olympics (1996, 2000 & 2004). Prokopčuka is the record holder for seven Latvian records, ranging from 3000 meters to the 26 mile-long marathon.

NYC marathon champ, source here

Also keep an eye out for first-time Olympian Toms Skujiņš, the young cyclist who took the cycling world by storm in the 2015 Tour of California when he won the leaders jersey and the king of the mountain jersey after a solo-breakaway in stage 3. Toms will have every cycling fan in the Upstate rooting for him, as Toms was racing for Greenville-based Hincapie during this first of two Tour of California wins. This year Toms won Stage 5, currently racing for Cannondale-Drapac.

Toms Skujiņš, source here

Here is the full Latvian line-up as per the Latvian Olympic committee’s website:

Laura Ikauniece-Admidiņa, track & field

Mareks Ārents, track & field

Ketija Birzule, sailing

Jevgēņijs Borodavko, judo

Gunta Latiševa-Čudare, track & field

Anastasija Grigorjeva, wrestling

Ariana Kira Hilborna, track & field

Rebeka Koha, weightlifting

Dagnis Iļjins, canoe sprint

Uvis Kalniņš, swimming

Ilona Marhele, track & field

Līna Mūze, track & field (reserves, injured in the European Championship)

Ruslans Nakoņečnijs, pentathlon (reserves)

Artūrs Ņikiforenko, judo

Jeļena Ostapenko, tennis

Sinta Ozoliņa, track & field

Madara Palameika, track & field

Agnese Pastare, track & field

Artūrs Plēsnieks, weightlifting

Jeļena Čelnova-Prokopčuka, track & field

Pauls Pujāts, track & field

Aļona Ribakova, swimming

Arnis Rumbenieks, track & field

Aleksejs Rumjancevs, canoe sprint

Aleksandrs Samoilovs, beach volleyball

Aleksejs Saramotins, cycling - road

Zigismunds Sirmais, track & field

Toms Skujiņš, cycling - road

Jānis Šmēdiņš, beach volleyball

Rolands Štrobinders, track & field

Māris Štrombergs, cycling - BMX

Edžus Treimanis, cycling - BMX

Dainis Upelnieks, shooting

Valērijs Žolnerovičs, track & field

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This year's youngest team member is Ketija Birzule, the 17 year old competing in sailing. Meanwhile, several Latvians will be competing under the flags of other nations: Sanita Pupure (Ireland, rowing), Lāsma Liepa (Turkey, canoe sprint), and Vita Heine (Norway, cycling). 

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On a different note, the Latvian Rio 2016 uniform collection was designed by 4F in conjunction with Latvia’s Olympics Committee. I love the colors and the skujiņa, but think the cut of the coats and long-sleeved leave something to be desired... what do you think? 

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To watch the official presentation of the "Rio 2016" Latvian Olympic team, complete with appearance by President Vējonis and his wife, click here (video in Latvian)

To view the official "Rio 2016" Latvian team uniform collection, click here

SARAUJ LATVIJA! source here