IN BRIEF:
- Gustavs Pētersīlis lives in a wheelchair after a BMX cycling injury, but supports himself and works
- Former BMX cyclist Artis Žentiņš bakes pizzas and organizes summer camps for children after eight leg surgeries
- Former mountain skier Kristaps Zvejnieks has overcome a malignant tumor and helps others as a sports psychologist
- None of the three former athletes is currently a beggar, but support was very important in the beginning
- Getting over yourself and asking for help is a tough test, especially for athletes
In February, it will be 12 years since the fatal fall of former BMX cyclist Gustavas Pētersīlis during BMX training. After that, his life is spent in a wheelchair, but Gustavs always sympathizes with Latvian BMX athletes.
“Okay, I can’t keep my fingers crossed, my fingers don’t move, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Veronica [Stūrišku]that she will succeed,” said Pētersīlis.
Another former BMX cyclist, Artis Žentiņš, will turn 16 in March since his last fall on the BMX track. It drew a black line for Žentinas’ Olympic hopes.
“What happened was the least expected at that moment. When I thought I was going to shoot for London [olimpiskajām spēlēm] yet. I didn’t go to Beijing because I had another injury,” Žentinņš admitted.
Former mountain skier Kristaps Zvejnieks defeated a malignant tumor a year and a half ago.
“I was also stuck on the couch for a while. Between the couch and the TV. Because it was difficult to find someone… I wouldn’t say that I found the motivation to live on, but there was a period when I just didn’t want to do anything,” said the sports psychologist learned Kristaps Zvejnieks.
All three athletes mentioned above are currently living full lives. Gustav works for a private transfer company operating in France. He organizes the work schedule of 20 drivers and transports tourists. The acquired contacts and knowledge also allowed me to try a descent with a monoski from a mountain in France.
“It was the donations, I think, that gave them the strength to fight. There was a bit of a sense of responsibility – people invest in me so that I can,” said Pētersīlis. “Then I had the feeling that I needed to show what I was doing. Well, where I am in Estonia, well – I bought a bicycle ten years ago. It also costs a lot, really. I still have it, and I still ride with it and that it’s cool to have him.”
Zhentins runs like a shuttlecock even after eight leg surgeries. Bakes pizzas, prepares pasta, organizes summer camps for children.
“I also started organizing camps when my sports career ended. I like to be with children, I like to be with nature, a healthy lifestyle without a phone. It’s something I do every summer, an integral part,” explained Žentiņš . “It is in Vīnkalnos, where I do it, that I share the most with young people, where they take from me the most of what I can give them.”
Kristaps Zvejnieks continues to provide psychological consultations mostly to people in the sports environment – professionals, amateurs, parents of young athletes.
“I try to help overcome things that are in sports and outside of sports. It is very important how we mentally position ourselves and how we motivate ourselves all the time to live on. Because sport will end for everyone,” emphasized Zvejnieks.
None of the three former athletes are currently petitioners. Rather, their own experience allows them to give, but support was very important in the beginning.
“I had so much support at the beginning that it seems that now I have to cope on my own. There are other people who need it,” Gustavs Pētersīlis revealed his motivation.
Kristaps Zvejnieks considers building his support group very important.
“Absolutely, we need to use all the options that we can find and feel are necessary. Different types of doctors, different types of therapy. Yes, of course, I went to a therapist about this. To several to understand how to go forward, ” Zejnieks opened his way.
On the other hand, Žentiņš did not hide the dark moments he had experienced before, in ignorance of the future.
“A very depressed feeling, you can say depression with “wonderful” words. It’s like a hangover when you don’t know where to feel, how to be. Reflections on life, how to live on, how to be, what course to follow. I was very lost, confused,” about Artis Žentiņš said about his feelings at the crossroads of life.
Parsilis remembers that the harder time was later, not in the first couple of years after the injury.
“For the first year or two, I didn’t fully realize it. Rather, I had thoughts in my head that I would continue to work, work and it would be fine,” said Pētersīlis. “Was it the thought that in two or three years everything would be back to the way it was before? Or it would be half back to the way it was before, I don’t know. Rather, that initial period in my case was such that you understand less.”
The fisherman emphasizes that a push is needed, people who could help look at the situation from a different point of view. Another nuance – the athlete’s way of thinking tends to hide his weakness, but in a crisis situation he must be able to overcome it.
“You don’t need to bury it in yourself, you need, as with many other things, to find a reliable person who can help you,” said Zvejnieks. “That’s what I encountered when I started working more mentally with athletes, that it’s maybe harder for an athlete to talk about those things, because athletes tend to think that we’re supermen. We want to be that.”
Zhentins does not hide that it was difficult for him to overcome himself to ask for help.
“I can do everything by myself, and then the girls were the ones who helped me the most. We are talking about ziedot.lv, they encouraged me. Those friends of mine laid the foundation for the fact that there could be help from the outside. Then Kaspars Garda, such a cool guy – for us, the operator – he said the words that it is often harder to ask than to give,” said Žentiņš.
After such severe injuries, which change the whole life, the moment when you go home after resuscitation and the first rehabilitation is very difficult, remembers Pētersīlis.
“You need means to adapt the environment at home. For example, a functional bed – you can go up and down with a remote control. What exercise equipment to buy, I also had a lift at the beginning when I can be moved with a lift in bed. All things cost money, and such things do not compensate country,” explained Pētersīlis.
Žentiņš sees that people donate who have at least a little free money left.
“It is important to eat for the family, put food on the table during the holidays, especially at Christmas, and if there is a little left over, then if not for the church, at least put it in a pot. Because someone definitely needs it,” added Žentiņš.
Donation options for the “Give five!” charity marathon:
- from November 20 to December 19 – on the website of the charity marathon “dodpieci.lv” it is possible to exchange a donation for your favorite song on the air of Latvijas Radio 5 through electronic payments;
- from December 13 at From 18.00 to 19 December, cash and non-cash donations will be accepted for the charity marathon “Give Five!” in the glass studio in Dome square, Riga;
- until January 6, 2025, donations are accepted on the website of the “Ziedot.lv” charity organization, selecting the “Give five!” project;
- from November 20 to January 4, 2025, every resident of Latvia has the opportunity to support “Give five!” by donating in the special donation boxes in “Narvesen” stores throughout Latvia, as well as by making a donation with a bank payment card.
“High five!” as always, for a week – from December 13 to 19 – broadcast from a special glass studio in Doma Square, Riga. You can follow the charity marathon on the air of Latvian Radio 5 – Pieci.lv, as well as in a continuous live video broadcast on the LSM.lv and REplay.lv portals.
About the charity marathon “Give five!”
“High five!” is organized by Latvijas Radio in close cooperation with Latvian Television, public media portal LSM.lv and long-standing donation partner – charity organization Ziedot.lv.
The main goal of the charity marathon is a more humane environment – every “Give five!” the story is about where we still have to work on ourselves as a society.
“High five!” organized by Latvian Radio in cooperation with Latvian Television and public media portal LSM.lv. The project partner is the charity organization Ziedot.lv. The partners of the charity marathon are “AJ Power”, Luminor banka, “Narvesen”, “Bonava Latvija”, “KPMG Latvia”, Apines dental clinic, “Compensa Life”, “Rimi Latvia”, “Straumann Latvia” and the IT company “Zabbix” “. The communication campaign is created by the “Magic” advertising agency. “High five!” more than 20 companies are also helping: “Gemoss”, “AlanDeko”, furniture manufacturer “ISKU”, SIA “Egļu privita”, “Gutenbergs”, “Toi Toi”, “Mega Sargs”, “Brinks”, “Lindstrom”, ” Alma”, “Lavazza”, “My Fitness”, “Euronics”, “Limpo”, “Laima”, “Elis”, “Modul”, “Magnum NT”, “Rimi Latvia”, “New Black”, “Visual Media “, “DScreen”, “Skrivanek Baltic”, “Bakery Flora”, “Printful”.
