Athletes

  • AIGARS APINIS

    Discus Throw

    A four-time Paralympic champion and world record holder in discus throw.

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  • DIĀNA KRŪMIŅA

    discus and javelin throw

    A top Latvian Paralympian and Rio 2016 gold and bronze medalist.

  • RIHARDS SNIKUS

    para dressage

    A Paralympic dressage athlete and double silver medalist from Tokyo.

  • JURIS SEMJONOVS

    swimming

    Latvia’s top swimmer, 8th in the 100m backstroke in Tokyo.

  • EMĪLS DZILNA

    shot put

    Paralympic debutant Emīls Dzilna, a promising Latvian para-athlete, is a multiple shot put medalist in international competitions.

  • RAIVO MAKSIMS

    javelin throw and shot put

    Limbaži native Raivo Maksims excels in discus and javelin. The Paris Paralympics will mark his debut. Good luck!

  • MARGARITA KANOPKA

    shooting

    Margita Kanopka, a talented Paralympic shooter, will represent Latvia for the first time, competing in shooting and aiming for a top position.

  • OSKARS GALIŠS

    cycling

    Oskars Gailišs, a top Latvian Paralympic cyclist, has competed internationally, and the Paris Paralympics will be his debut.

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  • History

    The Paralympic movement began in 1948 with neurosurgeon Ludwig Guttmann organizing archery competitions for people with disabilities, which later evolved into the first Paralympic Games in 1960. In Latvia, Paralympic sports emerged in the 1980s with the founding of the sports club “Optimists” by Jānis Iluss in 1984. The Latvian Paralympic Committee (LPK) was officially established in 1995 and became part of the International Paralympic Committee network. Latvian athletes first participated in the Paralympics in 1992, with the country later being represented in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.

  • The Latvian Paralympic Committee

    LPK is an association responsible for sports for people with disabilities in Latvia, aiming to promote the Paralympic movement. Its role includes ensuring participation in national and international competitions and representing athletes' interests. LPK covers 28 Paralympic sports, non-Paralympic sports, and adapted sports for people with intellectual and hearing disabilities. As a member of the International and European Paralympic Committees, LPK includes 23 sports federations, offering 27 sports, with clubs across Latvia. It also oversees Deaf Sports and Special Olympics. The committee is led by President Daiga Dadzīte.

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Notable Athletes

  • Athletics

    Aigars Apinis, one of Latvia's most decorated Paralympians, began competing in 1998. He won two bronze medals in shot put and discus at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics and later claimed gold in discus. Apinis holds eight Paralympic medals. Diāna Dadzīte debuted internationally in 2014 and won gold in javelin and bronze in discus at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Other notable athletes include Dmitrijs Silovs, Edgars Bergs, and Ingrīda Priede.

  • Wheelchair Basketball

    Raimunds Beginskis, Latvia's first professional wheelchair basketball player, played in Italy and Germany and was recognized as one of Europe's top scorers and MVP.

  • Para Dressage

    Rihards Snikus gained attention with a 4th-place finish at the 2012 London Paralympics.

  • Wheelchair Fencing

    Wheelchair Fencing
    Poļina Rožkova quickly rose to the top in her category, leading in Epee A class.

  • Archery

    Top Latvian archers Ieva Melle and Gints Jonasts competed internationally, with Melle finishing 8th in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

  • Contacts

    • Stabu iela 60-26, Rīga, Latvija LV-1011
    • +371 20363331
    • info@lpkomiteja.lv
    Official website