Riga, March 15, LETA. The competitiveness of Latvia’s young sleigh riders at the start is the merit of the junior national team coaches, Kristaps Mauriņš, the coach and manager of the Latvian adult team, admitted in an interview with LETA.
At the end of the season, the new change of Latvian luge in Elīna Ieva Vītola women’s singles competition and Mārtiņš Bots / Roberts Plūme in men’s doubles celebrated her first victory in her career, as well as junior Gints Bērziņš spent a successful season in the adult elite.
At the beginning of the season, Bērziņš ‘participation in the first stages was under question, because the 19-year-old athlete underwent elbow surgery in the autumn, due to which he had to do no training for about one month.
“The coaching corps had a dilemma whether to take him to the World Cup or leave him in Sigulda, where he could train and collect the necessary trips. We came to the conclusion that we would take him with him. In the first half of the season we could see that he was not ready yet. , and physical fitness, “said Mauriņš.
In the second half of the season, the athlete had ridden the track and gained physical shape, fighting for positions in the top ten. In Oberhof, he won the high seventh place.
“A commendable result for an 18 – year – old athlete [pirms nedēļas Bērziņš svinēja savu 19 gadu dzimšanas dienu]. He is talented and purposeful, good material to work with, “Mauriņš emphasized.
In his first season, Vītola shows a competitive result among adults at the start. Sigita Bērziņa, the second young sledge driver in Latvia, also has good results at the start.
“Sigita is stronger in sprint disciplines on speed and running, as well as in long jump, but Elīna is stronger in strength exercises – barbell lifting and similar exercises. When it comes to the big ones, only a few nuances need to be honed. The girls’ good start is definitely the contribution of junior coaches, “explained Mauriņš.
The start time of the top ten is also for the two-man crew Bot / Plūme, whose good results last season surprised everyone.
“The results they showed in doubles are amazing considering the previous season, in which they raced only in the Nations Cup and could not qualify for the main competition. The competitiveness of young sledge riders at the start with the world’s best athletes is the merit of junior coaches,” said Mauriņš.
For the next generation – juniors – in the competitions of 2020/2021 no international competitions took place and Latvians maintained their sports form on the Sigulda track.
“Our coaches had ideas to take them to a training camp in Germany, but after consulting with sports doctors at the Latvian Olympic team, they came to the conclusion that the whole season should be spent in Sigulda. They also had their own control training where they could compete. Juniors were in an unenviable situation this season, because “He worked hard and prepared for the summer, but in the end there was only such a” chick “and the whole season passed in Sigulda,” revealed Mauriņš.
A two-man crew of Eduards Ševics-Mikeļševics / Lūkass Krasts could knock on the doors of the adult team in the near future from the young athletes.
“They are strong young people with good height parameters. Also, as we have seen on the track, they have the right driving feelings.
During the World Cup season, Latvians won a total of 15 medals – four gold and silver, as well as seven bronzes.
Read the full interview with Latvian national team coach and manager Kristaps Mauriņš: https://leta.lv/plus/5BB6239B-6224-4994-8796-2CBE8E596EB1/
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