“It’s amazing what one person is capable of! Although this year was difficult, each of you trained and tried to achieve better and better results. And you succeeded – you achieved good and high-quality results! And I wish you next year, despite the difficulties, it is full of results and goals!” athletes and coaches were addressed by Jelgava City Council Chairman Andris Rāviņš.
11 athletes, six coaches and five sports teams were congratulated for their sporting achievements in 2022 as well as the city’s Sports Teacher of the Year and an award for contribution to sports was presented. “Thank you for the strength and courage that you showed by training, participating in high-level competitions and even achieving great results,” greeted the city’s sports representatives Juris Kaminskis, director of the Jelgava municipal institution “Sporta servis centrs”. family, wishing 2023 to be a good year for Jelgava athletes and coaches would be even more productive. It should be noted that the sports teacher of the year was also congratulated by the head of the Jelgava Education Board Gunta Auza, who admitted that the highest driving force in the work of a pedagogue is the ability to inspire and excite.
Sports fans delighted the audience with performances: kickboxing coach and pianist Oto Kovči, who once worked as a teacher at Jelgava Music High School and is currently training Jelgava Olympic karate Kalvi Kalniņa, two-time Latvian and champion European sports yoga champion 2019 Sandis Inzelbergs, football and basketball presenter, comedian and former basketball player Rūdolfs Kugrēns, who once enjoyed the tenacity of Jelgava players in matches of the Latvian Youth Basketball League, former Jelgava canoeist Miks Galvanovskis. Former Jelgava canoeist, three-time 2022 Latvian champion and professional actor Matīss Ozols also led the event.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR IN OLYMPIC SPORTS
Reinis Bērziņš – Short track player SK “Zemgale” represented Latvia at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing this year, and for the first time in his career as a professional athlete he won a medal at one of the stages of the World Cup – he got 3rd place in the 1500m distance at the World Cup stage in Salt Lake City, USA.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR IN OLYMPIC SPORTS
Melania Chaman – Jelgava Children and Youth Sports School canoeist won 6th place in the world championship for junior women in doubles 500m, 7th place in the European championship for junior women in doubles 500m, 1st place in “Olympic Hopes” international competition for young women in singles and doubles 500m, and is also a multiple Latvian champion in adult and junior competitions.
COACH OF THE YEAR IN OLYMPIC SPORTS
Artis Aboli – the coach of the hockey team “Zemgale/LLU”. Hockey team “Zemgale/LLU” led by coach A. Ābola 2021/2022. became Latvian champion for the first time in the club’s history in the season of
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR IN NEOLYMPIC SPORTS
Kristaps Blumanis – the representative of the open-air wrestling club “Legacy Jelgava” this year became a two-time Latvian, European and world champion in the U-21 age group – both right-handed and left-handed – in the weight category up to 75 kilograms. He also took 3rd place in the European championship for left-handed adults in the weight category up to 75 kilograms.
SPORTS PLAYING TEAM OF THE YEAR
Hockey team “Zemgale/LLU” – hockey team “Zemgale/LLU” team “Zemgale/LLU” 2021/2022. won 1st place in hockey league “Optibet” in 2011 season and became Latvian champion for the first time in club history. This season, however, the team is also testing its strength in Finland’s second strongest league, the “Mestis”, and as national champion won the right to compete in the Continental Cup of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). .
THE MOST PROMISING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Nicholas Deichmann – The Jelgava Specialized Swimming School student successfully competed in many competitions this season. He won 1st place in 200m medley and 2nd place in 400m medley, 100m freestyle, combined 4x100m relay and 4x100m freestyle relay at the Youth Baltic Championships. She won 1st place in 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 200m medley at international swimming competition “Madwave challenge of Latvia / Stage 1”. She won 2nd place in the 200m medley and 3rd place in the combined 4x100m relay at the Nordic Youth Championships. He also represented our country at the European Youth Olympic Festival, is a multiple Latvian champion in adult, junior and youth competitions and broke several Jelgava records.
SPORTS TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Olga Fedorova – a teacher who is not afraid of change. Olga is actively involved in introducing new educational content: both in her Pārlielupe primary school in Jelgava, and sharing her experience with teachers in the city and Zemgale region. Together with colleagues and parents, she implemented the idea of developing cycling skills in sports and health lessons, while in swimming lessons students also learn about water safety. The teacher is involved in the Latvian Olympic Committee project “Sport for the Whole Class” and also organizes various sporting events in Pārlielupe Primary School, thus promoting the interest and involvement of the younger generation in physical activities.
FOR INVESTMENTS IN SPORT
Normund Hoffman – head of the sports tourism club “Remoss”. Normunds is a true Jelgava native: he was born and raised here, started his professional career here and still works in Jelgava. His great passion is sport tourism and mountaineering. When Normunds started working as a sports teacher at the current Jelgava State Spīdola gymnasium in 1991, he also created a sports tourism group and in 1998 founded the “Remoss” tourist club, which is still active. Representatives of “Remosa” took part in the European ice climbing championship of the technical mountaineering discipline, and were also included in the Latvian national team for competitions on real rocks, where they won medals. “Remos” also organizes competitions: the Latvian championship, the annual “Remosa” adventure race for all supporters of an active life, competitions in mountaineering techniques, which have already been held twice in this hall and brought together the most number of foreign teams so far in Latvian competitions. Normunds really loves what he does and never misses an opportunity to popularize sports tourism and rock climbing: he is not only a teacher of interest education at the “Junda” creative house, but also gladly participates in city events and offers activities sports for residents of Jelgava and guests of the city.
SPORT SERVICE CENTER SPECIAL AWARD
Edgar Berg – Jelgava Athletics Club para-athlete won 2nd place in shot put at IWAS world games, won 3rd place in shot put in “World Para Athletics Gran Prix” international competition, and has also won the title of Latvian champion in shot put. Maija Ukstiņa, the coach, helped Edgar to be successful.
FOR HIGH RESULTS IN SPORT
Athletes
Robert Lagzdins – The canoeist from the Jelgava Children’s and Youth Sports School won 2nd place in the Under 23 European Championship in the 1000m individual canoeing, tried his hand at the adult world championship, where he rowed in the 500m and 1000m individual. He is three times champion of Latvia in rowing in single canoe 500 and 1000 meters and in four 500 meters.
Edgar Krumins – 3×3 basketball player won 2nd place in the FIBA Europe Cup or European Championship and 3rd place in the overall standings of the FIBA World Tour.
Renard Krastenberg – hockey player. He represented the Latvian national team at the Beijing Winter Olympics and was the most productive player on the Latvian national team.
Kalvis Kalniņš – karate practitioner. He took 7th place at the World Games in the weight category up to 60 kilograms.
Thomas Stolzermanis – kart driver. He conquered the 1st place in the OK class “WSK open cup”, the SKUSA SuperNats KA100 2022 class, the 7th place in the FIA World Championship in the OK class, the 2nd place in the 1st stage of the “Champions of the Future” and the 3rd place in stage 4, OK class Thomas is a member of the selection camp for young talents of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Maris Janis Sternmanis – The Jelgava Ice Sports School short track athlete participated in the European Youth Winter Olympic Festival as part of the Latvian youth team and also won 2nd place in the ISU international competition for juniors.
Coaches
Juris Lauris – Kayak coach of Jelgava Children and Youth Sports School. His student Melanija Čamane had a great start to the season in the European and World Kayaking Championships for juniors, as well as the international competition “Olympic Hopes” and the Latvian championship for juniors and adults.
Sergei Bobkov – Canoe coach of Jelgava Children’s and Youth Sports School. His pupil Roberts Lagzdiņš won 2nd place in the Under 23 European Championship, participated in the Adult World Championship and became the champion of Latvia three times.
Astra Ozolina – Coach of the Jelgava Specialized Swimming School. His pupil Nikolas Deičmans is a multiple Latvian champion in adult, junior and youth competitions, won places in the Baltic and Nordic youth championships, in the international competition “Madwave challenge of Latvia/Stage 1”, and also represented Latvia in the Olympic Festival European Youth.
Avoid Krievane – Jelgava Ice Sports School and short track coach SK “Zemgale”. His student Reinis Bērziņš participated in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and won his first medal in the World Cup stage, while Māris Jānis Šternmanis participated in the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival and won 2nd place in the international competition ISU for boys.
Maia Ukstina Athletics coach. His student para-athlete Edgars Bergs won a silver medal at the IWAS World Games and was successful in other competitions this season.
Teams
Hockey team “Zemgale Juniors” – Jelgava Ice Sports School 2021/2022 team. won 1st place in the Latvian Junior Development Hockey League in the season of
Basketball team “Jelgava” – Team BK “Jelgava” 2021/2022. won 1st place in the Latvian National Basketball League in the season of
Women’s volleyball team “Jelgava” – volleyball team “Jelgava” 2021/2022. they became the winners of the 2022 Super Cup in the 2022 season. The girls are also Latvian vice-champions.
Football club “FS Jelgava” – team 2021/2022 In the 2018 season, they became champions of the future league and got the right to compete in the Latvian football super league next season.
Photo: Jelgava Sports Service Center
