Латвия / Latvia

Latvians first competed in the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games as part of the Imperial Russian team.

The first medallist was Harry BLAU, who took a bronze in shooting (men's trap).

Independence came at the end of the First World War and the Latvian Olympic Committee was constituted in 1922.

Latvia sent a team of 32 to the 1924 Games in Paris.

Janis DALINS claimed the first medal by an athlete in Latvian colours, a silver in the 50km walk at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games.

Adalberts BUBENKO took bronze in the same event at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.

Wrestler Edvin BIETAGS collected a silver in the Greco-Roman light heavyweight, but this was Latvia's last appearance as an independent nation until 1992.

At Sydney 2000, gymnast Igors VIHROVS won gold in the floor exercises. Latvia sent a team of 47 to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to contest 11 sports. Maris STROMBERGS won gold in men's cycling BMX at Beijing 2008.

From 1952 to 1988 Latvians competed as part of the Soviet Union. Inese JAUNZEME won gold in the women's javelin at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games, beginning a tradition continued by Janis LUSIS, who won gold in 1968 and also collected a silver and a bronze.

His son Voldemars competed in the same event in 2000 and 2004. Latvia provided members of the men's gold medal volleyball squad in 1964, 1968 and 1980. Latvians also helped win women's basketball gold in 1976 and 1980.

Aleksandr MUZICENKO won gold in sailing at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games and pistol shooter Afanasijs KUZMINS, canoeist Ivans KLEMENTJEVS and gymnast Natalja LASCONOVA all won gold medals at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.