Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3.3–32.8 ft) above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain.
Jūrmala is a state city in Latvia, about 25 kilometres west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching 32 km and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. It has a 33 km stretch of white-sand beach, and a population of 49,325 in 2019, making it the fifth-largest city in Latvia.
Valmiera is the largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of 19.35 square kilometres. As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2020 – 24 879. It is a state city the seat of Valmiera Municipality.
Sandis Ozoliņš, commonly spelled Sandis Ozolinsh in North America, is a Latvian former professional ice hockey player and coach. During his career in North America, Ozoliņš was a seven-time NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, and Norris Trophy finalist. He is also the all-time leader for goals, assists, points and games played by a Latvian in the NHL and holds several Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks franchise records. Ozoliņš also was the highest paid sportsman in Latvian history, before NBA basketball player Andris Biedriņš succeeded him in 2008. He became the head coach of Dinamo in 2017.
Sportin Latvia includes basketball, football, ice hockey, athletics (track), rugby, tennis, cycling, and others. Ice hockey is historically the most popular of the Latvian sports and is closely followed by basketball. Some of Latvia’s most notable athletes include hockey player Sandis Ozoliņš, football player Māris Verpakovskis, olympic javelin thrower Jānis Lūsis, two-time Olympic BMX champion Maris Strombergs, and basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis. The national sport of Latvia is ice hockey.
Jeļena Prokopčuka is a retired Latvian long-distance runner, best known for winning the New York City Marathon in 2005 and 2006.
The Riga Marathon is an annual road marathon held in Riga, Latvia, since 1991. A flat, single-lap marathon course in the Baltics' largest city. The marathon course has been measured and certified by AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics. All courses are traffic-free. Rimi Riga Marathon is one of the fastest-growing marathons in Northern Europe. In 2019, there were 25 659 participants over five different distances from 82 countries.
Kristaps Zvejnieks is an Alpine ski racer and inline Alpine slalom racer from Latvia. He competed for Latvia at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He competed in slalom and giant slalom and his best result was a 37th place in the slalom. He competes in FIS, CIT, EC and WC levels. He had his first World Cup start in Schladming on 24 January 2012.
Diana Lobačevskė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner who specialises in marathon and half marathon races.
Marius Žiūkas is a race-walker who competes internationally for Lithuania.
Eleonora Anna Giorgi is an Italian race walker bronze medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in 20 km walk.
Amy Louise Cure is an Australian former professional track cyclist. She cycles for Team Jayco–AIS. She has set several world records. She won a junior world championship race in 2009, and represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She is the first person in history to medal at every endurance track event at world championship level; with three newly gained medals in the team pursuit, omnium, and madison at 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Hong Kong.
Arnis Rumbenieks is a Latvian track and field athlete competing in road walking. Rumbenieks has competed at 2010 European Championships. At the 2012 International Road Walking Festival in Alytus, Lithuania he finished second behind Marius Žiūkas at the 20 km walk. He has competed in the 20 km men's walk at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in the 50 km walk. In 2018, he competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2018 European Athletics Championships held in Berlin, Germany. He did not finish his race.
Agnese Ozoliņa is a Latvian former swimmer, who specialized in sprint freestyle events. She is a three-time Olympian, a multiple-time Latvian and Baltic record holder, and a seven-time All-North Coast Atlantic Conference swimmer. She is also a varsity swimmer for the Kenyon Ladies, and an economics graduate at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.
Latvia competed at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia, from 10–18 August 2013.
Latvia women's national floorball team is the national team of Latvia. At the 1997 Floorball Women's World Championship in Godby and Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, the team finished seventh. At the 1999 Floorball Women's World Championship in Borlänge, Sweden, the team finished seventh in the A-Division. At the 2001 Floorball Women's World Championship in Riga, Latvia, the team finished sixth in the A-Division. At the 2003 Floorball Women's World Championship in Germany, the team finished sixth in the A-Division. At the 2005 Floorball Women's World Championship in Singapore, the team finished fifth in the A-Division. At the 2007 Floorball Women's World Championship in Frederikshavn, Denmark, the team finished fourth in the A-Division.
Agnese Āboltiņa is a Latvian alpine skier. She was born in Riga. She competed at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2013 in Schladming, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, in giant slalom, slalom and super-G. She placed 31st in super-G and 37th in slalom at the 2014 Olympics.
Juni Marie Benjaminsen is a Norwegian former competitive figure skater. In 2015, she became the first Norwegian ladies' skater in 16 years to advance to the free skate at the World Junior Championships. She has competed in the final segment at two editions.
Dzmitry Mikhailavich Dziubin is a Belarusian male racewalking athlete. He was the bronze medallist in the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2018 European Athletics Championships and won silver medals in that event at the European Race Walking Cup and Military World Games in 2019. He has represented Belarus twice at the World Athletics Championships and is a five-time participant at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Cameron "Cam" Corbishley is a British race walker. He specialises in the 20 km and 50 km walks.
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