Latvian Paralympians competing at this year’s European Athletics Championship in the United Kingdom won two gold medals and one bronze medal. Aigars Apinis took gold in discus, Dmitrijs Silovs won the top medal in javelin, and Ingrīda Priede took bronze in discus.
“We all had silent hopes that we would win at least two medals at the European Athletics Championship,” says Latvian Paralympic Committee (LPK) president Daiga Dadzīte. “Sports are sports, so we did not express that hope out loud, but now we are all delighted about the achievements and three medals of our team members. Coaches of the Paralympic athletes did enormous work to prepare our athletes for the competition, and the athletes themselves did much work in that area, as well. We are sure that Latvia’s Paralympic athletes will continue to excel in future, because we already see new athletes on the winners’ pedestal, and several other athletes barely missed getting into the top three.”
“We very much congratulate all three medal winners from the European championship, as well as everyone on the Latvian team who represented our country in the United Kingdom to the best of their ability,” says Citadele Bank board member Santa Purgaile. “We are delighted that the ‘You Are. You Can’ campaign that was established by the Citadele Bank and that has involved much support from the public and the Paralympic Committee has allowed the athletes to train for international competitions and achieve such outstanding results in terms of representing Latvia there.”
Latvia’s Paralympic athletes competed in javelin, shot-put, long jump and other disciplines, the championship having 560 athletes from 37 countries. The European Athletics Championship was held in Swansea in the UK. Latvia’s delegation included 17 people. Going to England along with them were their closest and most important supporters – coaches, medical personnel, as well as representatives of the Latvian Paralympic Committee.
More extensive information about the Latvian team’s results at the European Athletics Championship in the United Kingdom can be found on the LPK homepage: www.lpkomiteja.lv.
