Graudiņa & Valneris: Jūrmala Athletes of the Year – Beach Volleyball

Awards were given in 13 nominations. The award winners were greeted and awarded by Jūrmala City Council Deputy Chairman Romāns Mežeckis and Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) President Raimonds Lazdiņš.

The title “Sportswoman of the Year” was awarded to the world champion in beach volleyball Tina Graudiņawho won gold together with Anastasia Samoilova this November.

The title of “Sportsman of the Year” was won by the international checkers grandmaster Guntis Valneriswho this year won first place in the World Championship in rapid 100-square checkers, third place in the World Championship in rapid 100-square checkers for men and third place in the European Championship in classic 100-square checkers.

Jurmala City Council Deputy Chairman Romāns Mežeckis: “Dear winners of the sports award! I would like to say on behalf of Jurmala City Council and the entire city of Jurmala that we are indescribably proud of you, of your achievements and of the fact that you carry the name of Jurmala to the world. Thank you for that! We have to change, and we will change the state’s attitude towards sports. We will make it much, much better, and we will fight for it. We we will fight on the beaches, on the volleyball courts, and we will achieve it. Our big goal is to make Jurmala the best city in Latvia in many areas and also in sports. We are proud of our heroes, and we will work to make sports more accessible to everyone and our athletes can reach even higher heights.”

LOK president Raimonds Lazdiņš: “I express my deepest respect and gratitude to all sports teachers – you are the first to open the door to the world of sports for children and help them take the first steps towards success. Sports life is unimaginable without parents and families, coaches, medical and technical staff, the work of federations, as well as local governments and state support. Our joint task is to ensure that the athlete, preparing for competitions, feels valued, receives proper financial support and could reach their highest potential.”

In the “Coach of the Year” nomination, the prize was awarded to karate coach Andrejas Ozerovs, whose students compete in Latvian and international competitions with high success in all age groups, winning prize-winning places both in individual competitions and in team evaluations.

This year, the Jurmala Sports School’s Artistic Gymnastics team was recognized as the “Team of the Year”. Young athletes Renāte Erba, Stefania Belova, Linda Ieviņa, Katrīna Juškovska, Anastasija Andžane won the gold medal at the Latvian Championship in group gymnastics. In 2025, the Latvian national team at the world junior championship “3rd Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championship” consisted entirely of athletes from Jūrmala, and the girls from Jūrmala won 27th place in the competition of teams from 35 countries.

In the nomination “Sports teacher of the year”, the sports teacher Vladimirs Antonovs of Jūrmala Kauguru Secondary School received the award.

The title “Rising Star of the Year in Sports” was won by young karate player Simona Fyodorova, who won 2nd place in the European Kumite Championship in the age group under 12 years. The athlete has also won several gold and silver medals in Latvian and international competitions.

The rower Valdis Meikališs, who won one 1st place, two 2nd places, 3rd and 5th place in the world’s largest rowing competition for veterans “World Rowing Masters Regatta 2025”, was awarded in the nomination “Sports Senior of the Year”. Meikališ has won two victories in Latvian championships, won first and second places in international competitions in Lithuania.

“Sports event of the year in Jūrmala” – a sports festival for basketball enthusiasts and professionals “Jūrmala 3X3 Basketball Championship”. It took place during the summer period in four stages, one of which was held on the beach of Jurmala. Players who have reached the age of 13 had the opportunity to accumulate points for the individual FIBA ​​3×3 basketball world ranking. In total, more than 180 boys and girls teams participated in all stages of Jūrmala.

Speedboat pilot Nikita Lijcs, who won 1st place in the European Speedboat Championship “Formula 2”, was recognized as the best in the nomination “Sportsman of the Year in Technical Sports”.

Wheelchair tennis player Žanete Vasaraudze-Gailīte received the title “Sportsperson of the Year in Paralympic sports” for the fourth year in a row. The athlete won 2nd place in singles and 2nd place in doubles in the final of the consolation tournament of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) “Płock Orlen Polish Open” and 3rd place in doubles in ITF “Płock Open”.

Judoka Eriks Homka was awarded in the nomination “Sportsman of the Year for young people”. He won 1st place in the “Millennium Team” European Cadet Judo Cup, 1st place in the Baltic Judo Championship and 2nd place in the International Judo Tournament.

The young basketball player Marta Pētersone was recognized as the “Young Athlete of the Year”. The athlete won 4th place in the European Championship as part of the Latvian U16 national team. Competing in the Latvian Youth Basketball Championships in the U15 and U16 age groups, as well as in the 2nd division of the Latvian Women’s Basketball League, the Jūrmala Sports School team won second place, as well as the 2nd place in the U15 age group of the Baltic Girls Basketball League (BGBL).

Zane Vilne, a long-time sports and social studies teacher, who has made a significant contribution to the education of Jūrmala and Latvia for more than 40 years, dedicating her working life to educating the new generation and strengthening the values ​​of a healthy lifestyle, inspiring students to personal growth, mutual respect and value-oriented education, providing an emotionally positive learning environment, was awarded in the nomination “For Lifetime Contribution to the Development of Jūrmala Sports”.

Annual sports awards have been awarded in Jurmala for the 26th year. The purpose of the awards is to honor athletes for their outstanding success and express appreciation to those who have promoted a healthy and sporty lifestyle for the residents of Jūrmala.

“Jūrmala Sports Awards of the Year”, winner’s archive

Resources used:
jurmala.lv