Sport in Latvia

=Basketball=

In Latvia, basketball is sometimes mentioned as a national sport.

Latvia has a long basketballing tradition. Latvia won the first European championship in 1935 and hosted the second championship in 1937.

In Soviet period, Latvian men's basketball team, ASK Rīga was dominant in the Soviet League in 1950s and early 1960s, winning several Soviet league championships and three European Champion's Cups, in 1958, 1959 and 1960. In 1960 Summer Olympics, four Latvians, Jānis Krūmiņš, Valdis Muižnieks, Cēzars Ozers and Maigonis Valdmanis were a part of the silver-medal winning Soviet team. Soviet Olympic teams in 1956 and 1964 Summer Olympics had three Latvian players each. The Soviet team in 1952 Summer Olympics had one Latvian.

The women's team, TTT Riga was very successful in 1970s and 1980s, winning European Champion's Cup 18 times, more than any other team in any team sport. 2.12 m (7 ft) tall Uljana Semjonova was the women's key player in this period. She was also very dominant with Soviet team in international games, never losing a game in international competitions and winning 2 Olympic and 3 World Championships.

For men's basketball, the guard Valdis Valters was the most highly acclaimed player of 1980s. He won a European Championship with Soviet team in 1981 and was recognized as the MVP of the tournament, but did not get a chance to play in Olympics, because of the Soviet boycott of 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles which coincided with Valter's best playing years. Another Latvian, Igors Miglinieks won gold with the Soviet team four years later, in 1988 Summer Olympics.

Latvia returned to international competition as an independent country in 1992. The qualifiers of 1992 Summer Olympics were the first tournament for Latvia's team.A major controversy was caused by two Latvian players, Igors Miglinieks and Gundars Vētra. They had a choice of either playing for the Unified Team which was certain to qualify for Olympics or Latvian national team which had a chance but was not certain to qualify. The two players chose to play for Unified Team. The Latvian team, playing without them, failed to qualify for Olympics. This caused a long resentment in Latvia and the two players never played for Latvia in an international game.

After the country regaining independence, the most successful tournament for Latvia was 2001 European Championships when the Latvian team finished in the 8th place. The center/power forward Kaspars Kambala was Latvia's best player in this tournament. Latvia's national championship, "Latvijas Basketbola Līga", was dominated by "Brocēni" team in 1990s and "Ventspils" team in 2000s. In 2006, Ventspils team won its seventh consecutive championship.

Gundars Vētra became the first Latvian in NBA when he briefly played in Minnesota Timberwolves for 13 games in 1993. Andris Biedriņš was drafted in 2004 NBA Draft with 11th pick by the Golden State Warriors and has already played three seasons, becoming the second Latvian to play in NBA. He was the youngest player the 2004-05 NBA season.

In EuroBasket Women 2007 national women's basketball team reached semifinals, best results by first national basketball team after gaining independence from Soviet Union, and faced Russia. Struggling with injuries, most notably key players Gunta Baško and Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota, Latvia eventually lost and reached 4th place, losing to Belarus. External links:
* [http://www.basket.lv Latvian Basketball Association]
* [http://www.lff.lv/en/news/ Latvian Football Federations]

Ice hockey

Ice hockey is considered to be the most popular sport in Latvia. Latvia has one pro hockey league, there are also several amateur hockey leagues.

Ice hockey has been played in Latvia since 1920s. Latvia was a member of International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), its national team participated in several World Championships and 1936 Winter Olympic Games. After Latvia was occupied by Soviet Union in 1940, its membership in IIHF was interrupted. Latvians had a significant role in establishing ice hockey in Soviet Union. Latvia's Dinamo Rīga team was one of eleven teams which played in the first Soviet championship tournament in 1946/1947 winter. Latvian Harijs Mellups was the goalkeeper for the Soviet Union National team in its first international game in 1948.

Latvian hockey experienced a decline in 1960s, with Dinamo Rīga being relegated from the Soviet High League ("vysshaya liga") to the first league and then even to the second league. It began a comeback in 1970s, under the coach Viktor Tikhonov who would later go on to coach CSKA Moscow and the Soviet national team. In the 1973/1974 season, Dinamo Rīga returned to the Elite League where it stayed until the end of Soviet Union in 1991.

In 1975, Viktor Hatulev of Dinamo Rīga became the first ice hockey player from the Soviet Union drafted by the National Hockey League but never had a chance to play, as Soviet players were not allowed to play for foreign teams. Helmuts Balderis was the brightest Latvian hockey star of 1970s and 1980s, and retained all-time scoring records (scoring 333 goals in Soviet championships) for Latvian forwards. He was the leading scorer in the Soviet Elite League twice (1977 and 1983) and the Player of the Year once (1977). Balderis also played for the Soviet National team, being on the losing side of the Miracle on Ice game in 1980 but winning World Championships on other occasions (1978, 1979 and 1983). Balderis was named the best forward of 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship. Despite his continuing high scoring results, he was not selected to the Soviet National team for 1984 Winter Olympics, possibly because of political or national reasons (in those years the Soviet team consisted of sportsmen only from Moscow ice hockey teams, any other Soviet cities or Soviet republics were not represented). Thus Balderis became the all-time top scorer among those Soviet ice hockey forwards who played for the national team but had never been awarded with the Olympic gold medal. Goalkeepers Vitālijs Samoilovs and Artūrs Irbe also starred for the Soviet team in the 1980s, Irbe was the best goalkeeper of the 1990 Ice Hockey World Championship. Samoilovs was the backup goaltender on the gold-medal winning Soviet team at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

The best season for Dinamo Rīga came in 1987/1988, the first season when the Soviet Elite League instituted an NHL-style playoff system. Dinamo Rīga finished third in the regular season and upset Dynamo Moscow in semifinals, before losing to CSKA Moscow, the perennial Soviet champions of the 1980s, in the finals.

After Latvia regained independence in 1991, Latvia restored its membership in IIHF and Latvian national team returned to international competitions. As a new team, they were initially placed in the C Pool (third division) of World Championships and had to qualify for the higher level competitions. They debuted in the B Pool in 1994 and the top-level A Pool in 1997. Latvia has played in the A Pool championship since then. The best result has been the 7th place in 1997 and 2004. While not a medal contender, the Latvian team has produced some upsets over the top teams in World Championships, defeating the USA twice (in 1998 and 2001) and archrival Russia twice (in 2000 and 2003). Latvia has also competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, finishing 9th.

As of 2006, fourteen Latvian ice hockey players have played in NHL. The first of them was Helmuts Balderis, who came to play in Minnesota North Stars team at the age of 36 in the 1989-90 season .Sandis Ozoliņš, Artūrs Irbe, Sergejs Žoltoks and Kārlis Skrastiņš have been the most successful ones. Ozoliņš is the only Latvian to win the Stanley Cup, in the 1995-96 season with the Colorado Avalanche. Ozoliņš and Irbe have played in NHL All-Star Games. The other Latvian players who have played in NHL are: Aleksandrs Kerčs, Grigorijs Panteļejevs, Pēteris Skudra, Viktors Ignatjevs, Herberts Vasiļjevs, Kaspars Astašenko, Raitis Ivanāns, Jānis Sprukts, Harijs Vītoliņš.

2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was held in Latvia.

External links

* [http://www.lhf.lv Latvian Ice Hockey Federation]
* [http://www.nhl-latvia.tk All about Latvians in NHL!]

Football

Football (soccer) was most popular sport in Latvia during first independence (1918-1940).

Latvian national team participated in final stage of 2004 European Football Championship. The leading scorer of Latvian national football team is Māris Verpakovskis. See also: Latvia national football team

External links:
* [http://www.lff.lv Latvian Football Federation]

Athletics

Latvian athletes have achieved medals in Olympics and European/World championships. Most recently Vadims Vasilevskis with a silver medal in the men's Javelin throw at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Stanislavs Olijars won silver medal in 2002, and gold medal in 2006 at European Championships in the 110 m hurdles. Jeļena Prokopčuka has won New York City marathon in 2005.

In soviet period there were many great Latvian javelin throwers. Javelin thrower Inese Jaunzeme became first Latvian who won Olympic games she did it in 1956 Olympics. In 1960 Summer Olympics gold medal won another javelin thrower Elvīra Ozoliņa. Latvian javelin thrower Jānis Lūsis won 1968 Summer Olympics also he is 4 time European champion. Lūsis set two world records in javelin throw, 91.68 m in 1968 and of 93.80 m in 1972. In 1987, IAAF nominated him as the all-time greatest javelin thrower in the world. Another javelin thrower won gold medal in 1980 Olympics it was Dainis Kūla.

Tennis

Since 2006 tennis has become popular sport in Latvia, because of Ernests Gulbis achievements. He has participated in 3 Grand Slam tournaments, reaching 4th round of 2007 U.S. Open where in 3rd round he beat world No. 8 Tommy Robredo. He has reached 56th position in ATP ranking. Of course he isn't only Latvian who has played tennis at high level. Starting from late 1980s until beginning of 1990's one of top tennis players in doubles were Ukrainan-born Larisa Neiland. Partnering Natasha Zvereva she has won 2 Grand Slam doubles tournaments (1989 French Open and 1991 Wimbledon). In singles her highest achievements are quarterfinals at 1994 Wimbledon and 1988 U.S. Open. Her best position in WTA singles ranking was 58th, which she reached in 1996, while in beginning of 1992 she was 1st in doubles ranking.

Latvian team is participating in Davis Cup since 1993 when it won rights to get promoted to Group II of Europe/Africa zone. In 2000 Latvia was relegated to Group III. It next year Latvia returned to Group II, but was relegated again in 2002. Latvia returned to Group II already in next year and since then is playing there. In 2007 Latvians met Monaco team. Latvia won and were promoted to Group I for 2008, where the Republic of Macedonia shall be their first rival. Besides Gulbis, in team were also playing Andis Juska, Deniss Pavlovs and Karlis Lejnieks.

Cycling

Also Latvian cycling athletes are famous in the world arena. Lately in BMX. First time in Europe cycling history one country Latvian BMX Elite Riders (Artūrs Matisons, Ivo Lakučs, Artis Zentiņš) triumphed on European Championships 2006. Māris Štrombergs is the reigning UCI BMX World champion (2008) and Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics gold medalist .

Other sports

Many other sports and recreational activities are also popular in Latvia.

*Orienteering is a popular sport that combines cross-country running with land navigation skills in the woods. Orienteering in Latvia is organized by the [http://www.orient.lv/ Latvijas Orientēšanās Federācija] .

*Amateur Radio Direction Finding is a sport that combines the skills of orienteering with the skills of radio direction finding. ARDF in Latvia is organized by the [http://www.lral.ardi.lv/ Latvias Radioamatieru Līga] .

See also

*Latvia at the Olympics
*Latvia at the 2008 Summer Olympics