The Jūrmala Sportsmen of the Year title was awarded to checker player Guntis Valner and beach volleyball player Tīna Laura Graudiņa, the municipality informed.
The title of “Sportswoman of the Year” was awarded to world beach volleyball champion Graudiņa, who won gold medals in a three-set match with Anastasia Samoilova in Adelaide, Australia, this November, becoming the world’s best women’s beach volleyball pair.
Graudiņa is recognized as the best server of the World Tour with 10.6% of her opponents’ untaken serves, and also ranks high in the 2nd place in the ranking of the world’s most effective attacker and in the 3rd place in the ranking of the blocker.
The title “Sportsman of the Year” was won by the international checkers grandmaster Valneris, who this year won 1st place in the World Championship in rapid 100-square checkers, 3rd place in the World Championship in rapid 100-square checkers for men and 3rd place in the European Championship in classic 100-square checkers.
In total, awards for achievements in sports were awarded in 13 nominations.
The long-time sports and social studies teacher Zane Vilne, who has contributed to the education of Jurmala and Latvia for more than 40 years, has been awarded for her lifetime contribution to the development of sports in Jūrmala, devoting her working life to educating the new generation and strengthening the values of a healthy lifestyle.
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”.
In the nomination “Sports teacher of the year” the prize was awarded to Vladimirs Antonovs, the sports teacher of Kauguru Secondary School in Jūrmala.
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.
Rower Juris 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 Seniors of the Year”. Meikališ has won two victories in Latvian championships, won first and second places in international competitions in Lithuania.
The sports festival of basketball enthusiasts and professionals “Jūrmala 3X3 Basketball Championship” has been recognized as the sports event of the year in Jurmala.
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 finals of the International Tennis Federation satisfaction tournament and 3rd place in doubles.
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 “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.
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.
