Nearly a quarter of Latvian Olympic delegation are RSU and RSU LASE graduates

Ilze Āķe-Vīksne, RSU Communications Department, Public Relations Unit
Photo: Courtesy of Edijs Pālens (LETA), Romāns Kokšarovs (LOC) 

The Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) has approved the composition of the Latvian Olympic delegation for participation in the 25th Winter Olympic Games, which will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, from 6 to 22 February this year. The delegation includes a total of 140 athletes, coaches, medical, management and technical staff.

Of the entire delegation, 33 members are graduates or employees of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education (RSU LASE), accounting for 25 per cent, or one quarter, of the Latvian Olympic delegation. This figure clearly underscores the systematic and long-term contribution of RSU and RSU LASE to the training of high-performance athletes, coaches, and sports science, medical and management professionals, whose expertise is recognised at the highest international level – the Olympic Games.

Wide range of representation – from athletes to performance support teams

RSU and RSU LASE representatives in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be involved in several winter sports and will fulfil important performance support roles for athletes, including biathlon, bobsleigh, luge, ice hockey, cross-country skiing, short track speed skating and figure skating. The delegation includes athletes, head and assistant coaches, medical staff – doctors and physiotherapists – as well as team management and information support specialists.

It should be noted that RSU LASE Prof. Agita Ābele (pictured) will serve as an international judge for the men’s figure skating competition at the Olympic Games, as well as provide expert commentary on the Olympic figure skating events for Latvian Television’s Olympic Studio.

Sustainable tradition and a testament to quality

The representation of RSU LASE in Latvian Olympic delegations is a permanent and sustainable value. Twenty-nine RSU LASE students, graduates and employees participated in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, 31 in Pyeongchang in 2018, and 30 in Sochi in 2014. The composition of the Milan and Cortina 2026 delegation confirms that this tradition is not only continuing but also strengthening.

RSU and RSU LASE wish the Latvian Olympic team successful competitions, resilience, professional confidence, and high results in Milan and Cortina 2026!

#KomandaLatvija #MilanoCortina2026 www.olimpiade.lv

 The Latvian flag at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be carried by Latvian ice hockey team captain Kaspars Daugaviņš and alpine skier Dženifera Ģērmane

RSU and RSU LASE graduates and employees in the Latvian Olympic delegation (as approved by the LOC)

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will bring together the world’s leading winter sports athletes. The participation of the Latvian delegation with a record number of athletes marks a new milestone in the country’s Olympic history and raises high expectations among fans across Latvia.