Latvia at the 2016 Summer Olympics explained

Noc:LAT
Nocname:Latvian Olympic Committee
Games:Summer Olympics
Year:2016
Website: 
Location:Rio de Janeiro
Competitors:33
Sports:12
Flagbearer:Māris Štrombergs (opening)[1]
Aleksejs Rumjancevs (closing)
Gold:0
Silver:0
Bronze:0
Appearances:auto
App Begin Year:1924
See also: (1900–1912)
(1952–1988)

Latvia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's seventh consecutive appearance at the Games in the post-Soviet era and eleventh overall in Summer Olympic history.

The Latvian Olympic Committee sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Olympics since 2004, with 33 athletes, 20 men and 13 women, competing across 12 sports.[2] [3] Latvia made its Olympic debut in women's tennis and women's weightlifting, as well as its return to sailing after 12 years. Athletics had the largest team by sport with only 14 competitors, nearly half of the nation's full roster size; along with sailing and tennis, there was also a single competitor each in modern pentathlon, shooting, and wrestling.

The Latvian roster featured two returning Olympic medalists from London, namely beach volleyball player Jānis Šmēdiņš and two-time defending BMX champion Maris Strombergs. Hunting for his third consecutive gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, Strombergs was selected to lead the Latvian delegation as the flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1] Distance runner Jeļena Prokopčuka came out of retirement to run for the women's marathon at her fourth Games as the oldest (aged 40) and most experienced competitor, while windsurfer Ketija Birzule and weightlifter Rebeka Koha (women's 53 kg) entered their maiden Games as the youngest athletes (both 18) of the roster. Other notable Latvian athletes included heptathlete and 2015 world bronze medalist Laura Ikauniece-Admidiņa, reigning European javelin throw champion Zigismunds Sirmais, and world-ranked freestyle wrestler Anastasija Grigorjeva.

Latvia failed to win a single medal for the first time in Olympic history since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Koha, Ikauniece-Admidiņa, and sprint kayaker Aleksejs Rumjancevs produced the strongest results for the Latvians at these Games, finishing among the top five in their respective sporting events.[4]

Athletics

See main article: article and Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvian athletes achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):[5] [6]

Track & road events
  • Men
  • AthleteEventFinal
    ResultRank
    Valērijs ŽolnerovičsMarathon
    Arnis Rumbenieks50 km walk4:08:2837
    Women
    AthleteEventHeat SemifinalFinal
    ResultRankResultRankResultRank
    Gunta Latiševa-Čudare400 m53.087Did not advance
    Ariana Hilbornalign=left rowspan=3Marathon2:50:51106
    Ilona Marhele2:41:0261
    Jeļena Prokopčuka2:29:3212
    Agnese Pastare20 km walk1:40:1553
    Field events
    AthleteEventQualificationFinal
    DistancePositionDistancePosition
    Mareks Ārentsalign=left rowspan=2Men's pole vault5.45=16Did not advance
    Pauls Pujāts5.60=10 q
    Zigismunds Sirmaisalign=left rowspan=2Men's javelin throw80.6514Did not advance
    Rolands Štrobinders77.7328Did not advance
    Sinta Ozoliņa-Kovalaalign=left rowspan=2Women's javelin throw60.9214Did not advance
    Madara Palameika63.038 Q60.1410
    Combined events – Women's heptathlon
    AthleteEvent200 m800 mFinalRank
    Laura Ikauniece-AdmidiņaResult13.331.7713.5223.766.1255.932:09.4366174
    Points10759417621004887975973

    Canoeing

    See main article: article and Canoeing at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

    Sprint

    Latvia has qualified a single boat in men's K-1 200 m for the Games at the 2016 European Qualification Regatta in Duisburg, Germany, either by winning his event or when the quota place for his event passed to the highest finisher not qualified[7] [8] Meanwhile, an unused men's C-1 1000 m boat was awarded to the Latvian canoeing team, as a response to the "multiple positive cases" of doping on Belarus and Romania.

    AthleteEventHeatsSemifinalsFinal
    TimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
    align=left rowspan=2Dagnis IļjinsMen's C-1 200 m44.1255 Q45.0827Did not advance
    Men's C-1 1000 m4:11.7664 Q4:20.1816 FB4:10.08413
    Aleksejs RumjancevsMen's K-1 200 m35.1754 Q34.7224 FA35.8915
    Qualification Legend: FA = Qualify to final (medal); FB = Qualify to final B (non-medal)

    Cycling

    See main article: article and Cycling at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

    Road

    Latvian riders qualified for a maximum of two quota places in the men's Olympic road race by virtue of their top 15 final national ranking in the 2015 UCI Europe Tour.[9] [10]

    AthleteEventTimeRank
    Aleksejs Saramotinsalign=left rowspan=2Men's road race6:30:0546
    Toms Skujiņš6:30:0555

    BMX

    Latvian riders qualified for two men's quota places in BMX at the Olympics, as a result of the nation's sixth-place finish in the UCI Olympic Ranking List of May 31, 2016. Two-time defending BMX champion Māris Štrombergs and London 2012 Olympian Edžus Treimanis were selected to the Latvian team.[11]

    AthleteEventSeedingQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal
    ResultRankPointsRankPointsRankResultRank
    Māris Štrombergsalign=left rowspan=2Men's BMX34.9537145Did not advance
    Edžus Treimanis155Did not advance

    Judo

    See main article: article and Judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has qualified two judokas for each of the following weight classes at the Games. Remarkably going to his third Olympics, Jevgeņijs Borodavko was ranked among the top 22 eligible judokas for men in the IJF World Ranking List of May 30, 2016, while Artūrs Ņikiforenko at men's heavyweight (+100 kg) earned a continental quota spot from the European region, as the highest-ranked Latvian judoka outside of direct qualifying position.[12] [13]

    AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal /
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Opposition
    Result
    Rank
    Jevgeņijs BorodavkoMen's −100 kg
    L 000–100
    Did not advance
    Artūrs ŅikiforenkoMen's +100 kg
    L 000–111
    Did not advance

    Modern pentathlon

    See main article: article and Modern pentathlon at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has qualified one modern pentathlete for the men's event at the Games. Following the exclusion of the Russian athletes as a response to their previous doping cases, Ukrainian-born Ruslans Nakoņečnijs received a spare berth as the next highest-ranked eligible modern pentathlete, not yet qualified, in the UIPM World Rankings.[14]

    Sailing

    See main article: article and Sailing at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has received a spare Olympic berth from the International Sailing Federation to send a windsurfer competing in the women's RS:X class to the Olympic regatta, signifying the nation's Olympic return to the sport for the first time since 2004.[15]

    M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race

    Shooting

    See main article: article and Shooting at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has received an invitation from ISSF to send Dainis Upelnieks in the men's skeet to the Olympics, as long as the minimum qualifying score (MQS) was fulfilled by March 31, 2016.[16] [17]

    Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify for the next round; q = Qualify for the bronze medal (shotgun)

    Swimming

    See main article: article and Swimming at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has received a Universality invitation from FINA to send two swimmers (one male and one female) to the Olympics.[18] [19] [20]

    AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinal
    TimeRankTimeRankTimeRank
    Uvis KalniņšMen's 200 m individual medley2:02.3424Did not advance
    Aļona RibakovaWomen's 200 m breaststroke2:30.8227Did not advance

    Tennis

    See main article: article and Tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has entered one tennis player into the Olympic tournament. Jeļena Ostapenko (world no. 39) qualified directly for the women's singles, as one of the top 56 eligible players in the ATP and WTA World Rankings as of June 6, 2016.[21] [22]

    Volleyball

    See main article: article and Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

    Beach

    Latvia men's beach volleyball team qualified directly for the Olympics by virtue of their nation's top 15 placement in the FIVB Olympic Rankings as of June 13, 2016. The place was awarded to the newly-formed duo of London 2012 bronze medalist Jānis Šmēdiņš and two-time Olympian Aleksandrs Samoilovs.[23] [24]

    Weightlifting

    See main article: article and Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has qualified one male weightlifter for the Olympics by virtue of his top 15 individual finish, among those who had not secured any quota places through the World or European Championships, in the IWF World Rankings as of June 20, 2016. The place was awarded to London 2012 Olympian Artūrs Plēsnieks in the men's heavyweight division (105 kg).[25]

    Meanwhile, an unused women's Olympic spot was added to the Latvian weightlifting team by IWF, as a response to the vacancy of women's quota places in the individual World Rankings and to the "multiple positive cases" of doping on several nations.[26]

    AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRank
    ResultRankResultRank
    Artūrs PlēsnieksMen's −105 kg181821893998
    Rebeka KohaWomen's −53 kg90310741974

    Wrestling

    See main article: article and Wrestling at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Latvia has qualified one wrestler for the women's freestyle 63 kg into the Olympic competition, as a result of her top six finish at the 2015 World Championships.[27] [28]

    Women's freestyle

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. News: Latvijas karognesējs Rio olimpiskajās spēlēs būs Māris Štrombergs. Māris Štrombergs will be Latvia's flag bearer at the Rio Olympics. lv. Delfi. 21 July 2016. 21 July 2016.
    2. Web site: Ar 33 Latvijas sportistu līdzdalību tiek atklātas Riodežaneiro Olimpiskās spēles. 33 Latvian athletes participated at the Olympic opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 5 August 2016. 13 December 2016.
    3. Web site: Latvia puts best feet forward in Rio. Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 6 August 2016. 13 December 2016.
    4. Web site: Olympic Committee claims Rio performance satisfactory. Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 30 September 2016. 13 December 2016.
    5. Web site: iaaf.org – Top Lists. IAAF. 18 April 2015.
    6. Web site: IAAF Games of the XXX Olympiad – Rio 2016 Entry Standards. IAAF. 18 April 2015.
    7. News: Euro Olympic quotas secured. International Canoe Federation. 19 May 2016. 20 May 2016.
    8. News: Smaiļotājs Rumjancevs saņem ceļazīmi uz Olimpiskajām spēlēm. Canoeist Rumjancevs received a ticket to the Olympics. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 25 May 2016. 26 May 2016. 1 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601153801/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/smailotajs-rumjancevs-sanem-celazimi-uz-olimpiskajam-spelem-1008. dead.
    9. News: UCI announces men's road Olympic quotas. Cyclingnews.com. 18 January 2016. 20 January 2016.
    10. News: Riodežaneiro Olimpiskajās spēlēs grupas braucienā Latviju pārstāvēs divi riteņbraucēji. Latvia will be represented by two cyclists in the road race at the rio Olympics. lv. 19 January 2016. Latvian Olympic Committee. 6 March 2016. 29 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170329062704/http://rio2016.olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/riodezaneiro-olimpiskajas-speles-grupas-brauciena-latviju-parstaves-divi-ritenbrauceji-918. dead.
    11. News: Latvija BMX Olimpiskajā rangā paliek sestā un nopelna divas ceļazīmes uz Riodežaneiro. Latvia remains sixth in the BMX Olympic Rankings; earns two tickets to Rio de Janeiro. lv. 5 June 2016. Latvian Olympic Committee. 31 May 2016. 5 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805181216/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/latvija-bmx-olimpiskaja-ranga-paliek-sesta-un-nopelna-divas-celazimes-uz-riodezaneiro-1013. dead.
    12. News: IJF Officially Announces Qualified Athletes for Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 23 June 2016. International Judo Federation. 24 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160707205937/http://www.intjudo.eu/News/cikk3913. 7 July 2016. dead. dmy-all.
    13. News: Oficiāli apstiprināta džudistu Borodavko un Ņikiforenko dalība Olimpiskajās spēlēs. Judokas Borodavko and Ņikiforenko officially confirm their Olympic participation. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 8 June 2016. 9 June 2016. 6 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806130611/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/oficiali-apstiprinata-dzudistu-borodavko-un-nikiforenko-daliba-olimpiskajas-speles-1018. dead.
    14. News: Diskvalificēti Krievijas modernās pieccīņas sportisti, startēs R.Nakoņečnijs. With Russian athletes being disqualified, Ruslans Nakoņečnijs will officially compete in modern pentathlon. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 26 July 2016. 26 July 2016. 16 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816094204/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/diskvalificeti-krievijas-modernas-pieccinas-sportisti-startes-r-nakonecnijs-1068. dead.
    15. News: Burātāja Birzule iegūst iespēju pārstāvēt Latviju Olimpiskajās spēlēs. Sailor Birzule gets an opportunity to represent Latvia at the Olympics. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 1 July 2016. 3 July 2016. 16 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816113958/http://rio2016.olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/burataja-birzule-iegust-iespeju-parstavet-latviju-olimpiskajas-speles-1041. dead.
    16. News: Latvijas olimpiešu pulkam pēdējā brīdī pievienojas stenda šāvējs Upelnieks. Shooter Upelnieks joins the Latvian Olympic team at the last moment. lv. Delfi. 14 July 2016. 15 July 2016.
    17. Web site: Quota Places by Nation and Number. 30 May 2016. www.issf-sports.org/. ISSF. 30 May 2016.
    18. Web site: Swimming World Rankings . . 14 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110106131744/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=805 . 6 January 2011 .
    19. News: Rio 2016 – FINA Swimming Qualification System . . . 23 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221025939/http://www.fina.org/H2O/docs/events/rio2016/2014-07%20-%20Rio%202016%20-%20Qualification%20System%20-%20FINAL%20-%20Swimming%20-%20EN.pdf . 21 February 2015 .
    20. News: Zināmi Latvijas Olimpiskās komandas "Rio 2016" dalībnieki peldēšanā. Latvian Olympic swimmers named for Rio 2016. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 8 July 2016. 12 July 2016. 16 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816082615/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/zinami-latvijas-olimpiskas-komandas-rio-2016-dalibnieki-peldesana-1052. dead.
    21. News: ITF announces entries for Rio 2016 Olympics. International Tennis Federation. 30 June 2016. 1 July 2016.
    22. News: Ostapenko nopelna ceļazīmi uz Riodežaneiro Olimpiskajām spēlēm. Ostapenko earns ticket to Rio Olympics. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 6 June 2016. 7 June 2016. 6 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806021108/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/ostapenko-nopelna-celazimi-uz-riodezaneiro-olimpiskajam-spelem-1016. dead.
    23. News: Men's Olympic Ranking teams confirmed. FIVB. 12 June 2016. 13 June 2016.
    24. News: Samoilovam un Šmēdiņam apstiprināta dalība Riodežaneiro. Samoilovs and Šmēdiņš confirmed their participation in Rio de Janeiro. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 12 June 2016. 13 June 2016. 8 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808000052/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/samoilovam-un-smedinam-apstiprinata-daliba-riodezaneiro-1025. dead.
    25. News: Svarcēlājs Plēsnieks apstiprināts Riodežaneiro Olimpisko spēļu dalībnieku vidū. Weightlifter Plēsnieks confirmed his Olympic participation in Rio de Janeiro. lv. Latvian Olympic Committee. 14 June 2016. 19 June 2016. 10 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160810213459/http://olimpiade.lv/lv/jaunumi/zinas/svarcelajs-plesnieks-apstiprinats-riodezaneiro-olimpisko-spelu-dalibnieku-vidu-1029. dead.
    26. News: Second day of the IWF Executive Board meeting in Tbilisi. 23 June 2016. International Weightlifting Federation. 23 June 2016.
    27. News: Wrestling for Rio 2016. 19 September 2015. United World Wrestling.
    28. News: Latvijas labākā cīkstone Grigorjeva kvalificējas Riodežaneiro olimpiskajām spēlēm. Latvia's best wrestler Anastasija Grigorjeva qualifies for Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. lv. 12 September 2015. Apollo.lv. 11 September 2015. 13 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150913033851/http://apollo.tvnet.lv/zinas/latvijas-labaka-cikstone-grigorjeva-kvalificejas-riodezaneiro-olimpiskajam-spelem/704527. dead.