On Friday evening, representatives of the sports community gathered at the “Sport laureate” in the Ādažu Sports Center to receive awards for the achievements in 2023. The bronze medalist of the world hockey championship, Kristaps Zīle, was recognized as the athlete of the year, according to the information of the regional municipality.
Toms Melderis, the winner of the Baltic States Championship, the Latvian champion and the owner of Latvia’s second best result of all time in the 300-meter hurdle race, and Krista Grantskalnas, the Baltic vice-champion in the W14 group in orienteering, were named the rising stars of the year (under 17 years of age).
The representatives of athletics and orienteering sports were also honored in other nominations – the silver medalist of the European Junior Championship, Matīss Saulīte, became the Sportsman of the Year in non-Olympic sports, while the relay team of the Ādaž Children and Youth Sports School (Markus Russo, Erik Veldre, Gustavs Pazars, Edvards Krūms) became the Sports team of the year. The Adaž quartet won 5th place in the European Games in the Czech Republic in the 4×60 meter relay and 1st place in the Latvian Championship in the U-14 age group in the 4×100 meter relay.
BMX cyclist Mateo Bogomazov and Judo legend Leonid Kuznetsov’s student Sumaija Usmanova were recognized as the Little Stars of the Year (up to 13 years of age). Bogomazov won several prize-winning places in the European Cup stages, including the first place in Portugal, while Usmanova triumphed in two international tournaments, as well as in the Latvian championship. Sports coaches were also awarded.
Baiba Kepe from preschool educational institution “Piejūra” was recognized as the Sports Teacher of the Year in 2023, “BMX Ādaži” as the Sports Organization of the Year. On the other hand, the title of the most sporty family was won by the Pāķi/Brakovski family (Eduards Pāķis, Sniedze, Alice and Henriks Brakovski). Last year, Eduards and Sniedze competed with great success in various rogaining competitions both in Latvia and abroad, also triumphing in the rogaining series “Legends of the City”.
According to the information of the municipality, several special awards were also presented. Igo Japiņš, a cyclist, coach, sports manager and official, was honored for his lifetime contribution to the development and popularization of sports in the Ādaži region, while the special award of the year went to basketball coach Aigars Nerips, who won silver medals in the European Championship last summer with the Latvian U-20 girls’ national team.
2024-01-29 09:36:17
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