Runner Agate Caune and Latvian hockey national team goalkeeper Artūrs Šilovs were recognized as the best Latvian athletes of 2023 at the “Three Star Awards” ceremony in Riga on Wednesday, January 17.
At the “Hanza platform” ceremony, in the “Sportsman of the Year” nomination, the goalkeeper of the Latvian hockey team Artūrs Šilovs beat the captain of the same world championship bronze medal team Kaspars Daugavinas, the basketball player Kristaps Porziņgis, the weightlifter Ritvars Suhareva and the defender of the Latvian basketball team Artūrs Žagar.
The winner of the “Sportswoman of the Year” nomination was Agate Caune, the champion of the European Games in the 5000-meter run, the winner of the European U-20 Championship in the distances of 3000 and 5000 meters, as well as the owner of many records in different age groups.
She overtook tennis player Alon Ostapenko, cross-country skier Patrizia Eidukas, shot putter Agati Rashmani and javelin thrower Aneti Sietins.
Beach volleyball players Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Samoilova won the “Sports Small Team of the Year” award, ahead of luge drivers Mārtiņa Bota and Roberta Plūma, the bobsleigh foursome piloted by Emīls Cipulis, as well as two Latvian 3×3 basketball national team quartets.
In the nomination “Sportsman of the Year in technical sports”, the 17-year-old brothers Daniel and Bruno Lielbärži won fifth place for the crews of the World Motocross Championship. They overtook motor sportsman Jānis Baumanis, motor sportsman Jānis Mārtiņas Reišulis, e-athlete Helvijs Saukants and rally crew Mārtiņš Sesks and Renārs Francis.
In the nomination “Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year” the world champion in javelin throwing Diana Krūmiņa won, ahead of the world champion in swimming for the deaf Zani Embrekti and the world champion in wheelchair curling for mixed pairs together with Agri Lasmans Polina Rozhkova.
World champion in discus throw Aigars Apinis became the winner of the “Paralympic Sportsman of the Year” award, ahead of Agri Lasmans and world champion in Paralympic dressage Rihardas Sniks.
In the fight for the “Sports Coach of the Year” award, the head coach of the men’s basketball team, Luka Banki, beat the head coach of the men’s hockey team, Harija Vitolinas.
The Latvian Hockey Federation won the “Sports Federation of the Year” nomination, ahead of the Latvian Basketball Union. In May and June, the world championship was held in Riga, at the end of which the Latvian team won bronze medals for the first time in the Finnish city of Tampere and on Wednesday was recognized as the “Sports Team of the Year”, ahead of the Latvian men’s basketball team.
The municipality of Liepāja state city was recognized as the “Municipality of the year in sports”, which won the municipality of Madona district and the municipality of Riga state city, the municipality of Sigulda district and the municipality of Valmiera district.
Jānis Freimanis was recognized as the sports journalist of the year, the sports teacher of the year award of the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) was awarded to Bauska State Gymnasium teacher Aiva Aišpurei, the youth sports coach of the year was recognized as the kayaking and canoeing coach of the Limbažu District Sports School Igo Ažuks, while in the nomination ” The Braškevich family became the winner of “Family of the Year in Sports”.
The winner of the ten nominations was determined as last year, taking into account three components – the popular vote, which will make up 50% of the total vote, the vote of accredited sports journalists, which will make up 25% of the total vote, and 15 athletes who will not be nominated for any of the awards. and is a vote nominated by the boards of the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK), the Latvian Paralympic Committee (LPK) and the Council of Latvian Sports Federations (LSFP), which will make up the remaining 25% of the total vote.
These nominations are: “Sports Federation of the Year”, “Sports Municipality of the Year”, “Sports Coach of the Year”, “Paralympic Athlete of the Year”, “Paralympic Athlete of the Year”, “Sports Team of the Year”, “Sports Small Team of the Year”, “Sportsman of the Year” in technical sports”, “Sportswoman of the Year”, “Sportsman of the Year”.
The winners in five more nominations are determined by other institutions. The youth sports coach of the year is determined by the board of directors of Latvian sports educational institutions, the winner in the nomination “Family of the year in sport” – the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the sports journalist or photographer of the year – the Artūrs Vaiders Foundation, the sports teacher of the year – the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM), and the lifetime award contribution to sport is awarded by a jury and is the only one that was known before the ceremony.
It has already been reported that the “Lifetime investment in sport” award has been given to cyclist, coach, sports manager, entrepreneur and former president of the Latvian Cycling Federation Igo Japiņas.
All laureates were presented with a five-kilogram gilded brick made by the artist Artūrs Analts.
The ceremony was led by Baiba Sipeniece-Gavare and sports journalist Kaspars Dvinskis.
In 2022, figure skater Deniss Vasiļjevs and beach volleyball player Tīna Graudiņa were recognized as the best athletes of Latvia.
The Three Star Award 2023 is organized by the Latvian Olympic Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science.
