At the beginning of January, a gold medal was won on the Altenberg track in the European U-20 Championship, 3rd place in the U-23 Championship, and 4th place in the European Cup. This is the end of a rather busy and active season, so now it is possible to focus on studies, as the 12th grade exams are expected in the spring. It is possible to combine training and training several times a day, but without discipline and self-compulsion. Although the nearest plans are related to the skeleton, at the same time I plan to get a higher education so that I can also think about my company in the future.
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
Get a chance to train
In order to be able to practice skeleton professionally, I moved to Sigulda at the age of 14, where I also finished 9th grade. I continued my studies in high school, but due to the fact that there is both an early training on the track during the season and another gym training in the afternoon, it became more and more difficult to study in a regular school and train. The pandemic also had its correction – it was not possible to predict when it will be possible to study at school, although there will be distance lessons. There was a lot of uncertainty, so I started studying at the European Distance Learning High School when I started 12th grade. There was internal unrest in making this decision, as it is a year of examinations, and my parents have repeatedly asked me if I will be able to cope, but as a result, the risk is very justified.
Following sports plans for business
At present, the ability to combine learning and sports, in fact, school performance has even improved, which is very gratifying. In addition, I also received a scholarship to help purchase new equipment and improve the training process. This is my fifth season in the skeleton and the achievements so far encourage me to continue and do even more. At the same time, I am aware that I have to finish school, because after that I want to continue my studies. I’m thinking about studying entrepreneurship right now. Unfortunately, you can’t always earn as much with professional sports in Latvia as you want, so in the future I want to build my own business and not be without education.
With a view to the 2026 Olympics
The company is in the future plans, because for now the main focus is on sports, where I still have a lot of goals and even more work and training ahead of me. Until January 2020, my big goal was the Lausanne2020 Youth Olympic Games, where I won 2nd place, and the current goal is the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. In fact, the goal is to start each race better than the previous ones and I think it is for a lot of athletes.
Probably the World Cup and the ICC
As for next season, it must be said that there is still a lot of uncertainty and a lot depends on the decision and plans of skeletonists Dukuri. Next season’s plans are to start in the highest possible competition – the Intercontinental Cup (ICC) and possibly the World Cup, as well as to get as many points as possible to be in the world ranking as high as possible. This year, the ICC is in 12th place in the sum of two races, but next year, of course, I would like to start better.
With a focus on 12th grade exams
Now, during the off-season, there is an opportunity to reflect on future goals and pass all tests and tests. I am glad that friends from the previous school also remember me and invite me both on excursions and to Token evening. I very much hope that the difficulties caused by the pandemic will be reduced in the near future, so that it will be easier to travel and train.