Shici brothers Photo: FIL
The Latvian Luge Federation (LKSF) on Thursday named the ten luge athletes who will go to the Beijing Olympic Games, reports LKSF. Kendija Aparjode, Elīza Tīruma, Elīna Ieva Vītola, Kristers Aparjods, Gints Bērziņš, Artūrs Dārznieks, Andris Šics / Juris Šics, as well as Mārtiņš Bots / Roberts Plūme will go to the Olympic Games.
The most experienced members of the Latvian national team are the Shitz brothers, who will have their fifth Olympic Games in Beijing in their career. At their first Olympics in Turin in 2006, they won seventh place, four years later the brothers became vice-champions of the Vancouver Olympics, then won bronze in Sochi, also finishing third in the team relay, and four years ago in Pyongyang, they were sixth.
All participants of the Latvian toboggan team qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games, but due to the limited number of participants, the Olympic team can consist of three women, three men and two double crews.
The seventh stage of the World Cup, which took place in Sigulda last week, was the last competition in which athletes could qualify for the Winter Olympics. The biggest competition was the only one for the third quota, where Vītols was ahead of Sigita Bērziņš in the selection, but the Gardener beat Rika Kristen Rozīte. Before going to Beijing on January 15/16, there will be the eighth stage of the World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, and on January 22/23, the World Cup final and the European Championship will take place on the St. Moritz track in Switzerland.
