Latvia (LAT)

Prior to its annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940, Latvia competed at the Olympic Games of 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936, winning three medals. Latvia also competed at the Olympic Winter Games of 1924, 1928, and 1936. From 1952 to 1988, many Latvians competed for the Soviet Union (USSR). During this time the most successful Latvians were the volleyballer Ivans Bugajenkovs (two gold in 1964 and 1968), the basketballers Uļjana Semjonova (two gold in 1976 and 1980), Jānis Krūmiņš, Valdis Muižnieks, and Maigonis Valdmanis (all three silver each between 1952 and 1964) as well as the javelin thrower Jānis Lūsis, who won a full set of medals between 1964 and 1972. The canoeist Ivans Klementjevs won gold in 1988 while representing the Soviet Union and added two silver medals in 1992 and 1996 as a member of the Latvian team. At the 1988 Winter Olympics the Latvian Jānis Ķipurs won gold and bronze in bobsleigh.

After the Soviet revolution of 1991, Latvia declared and was granted its independence, and its National Olympic Committee was recognized by the IOC in 1991. Latvia returned to the Olympic fold in 1992 by competing at both Albertville and Barcelona, and has competed at all Olympic Games since. In 2000, gymnast Igors Vihrovs won the country’s first Olympic gold medal. As of 2022, Latvia has won 31 medals (five gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze), with 10 medals and one gold at the Olympic Winter Games. To date, Māris Štrombergs is the only Latvian to win two gold medals as he won the BMX cycling in 2008 and 2012.

Latvia competed at the Olympic Winter Games three times before World War II, and then returned to the Winter Games at Albertville 1992. It has since appeared at every Olympic Winter Games. Latvia’s best winter sports are the sliding sports – bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton, as all ten of their Olympic Winter medals have come in those sports, along with their one gold, in 2014 four-man bobsleigh. Three Winter Olympians have won three medals: Oskars Melbārdis, with one gold and two bronze (bobsleigh), and brothers Andris Šics and Juris Šics (both with one silver and two bronze in the luge events).