RSU student pole vaulter Valters Kreišs wins Latvia’s only FISU World University Games Summer medal - silver in pole vault

Photo: Publicity photo

On 27 July, one of the most significant international multi-sport events in the world - the 32nd FISU World University Summer Games – concluded in the Rhine-Ruhr in Germany. This year, the Games brought together more than 9,200 student athletes from 150 countries. The Latvian delegation included 49 student athletes from ten universities, among them nine students from Rīģa Stradiņš University (RSU), representing Latvia in five sports disciplines.

Valters Kreišs – silver medal and best result of the season

Latvia’s only medal at the Games was won by RSU student and national record-holder Valters Kreišs. He claimed the silver medal in pole vault with a result of 5.65 meters – his best performance of this summer. Following his return to the sport after an injury, Kreišs demonstrated his ability to compete at the international level, confidently clearing both 5.55 m and 5.65 m on his first attempt.

Kreišs moved his final attempt to 5.85 meters – potentially a new Latvian record – but the attempt was unsuccessful. The RSU athlete concluded the competition with a result of 5.65 meters and a silver medal.

RSU athletes’ performances at the Games

 In addition to Kreišs' achievements, other RSU students also competed at the World University Games:

• Krista Sprūde – 12th place in heptathlon (5456 points)
• Ralfs Eduards Gauja – 22nd place in shot put (16.43 m)
• Roberts Jānis Zālītis – 23rd place in long jump (7.32 m)
• Two RSU students, Pēteris Salmiņš and Ņikita Kuzņecovs, played on the basketball team, finishing the tournament in 11th place
• Kintija Laima Trinkūna – 64th place in archery (out of 80 participants)
• RSU was also represented by swimmer Kristiāna Maskava–Pudāne and taekwondo athlete Viktorija Helviga (weight category up to 73 kg)

The delegation was led by Prof. Agita Ābele from the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE), who is the President of the Latvian Higher Education Sports Association, while the team’s daily activities on site were coordinated by Signija Santa, Office Manager of the RSU Sports Club.

The FISU World University Games is the second largest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympic Games. It takes place every two years and brings together the best student athletes from around the globe. This was the first time the Summer Games were held in Germany, with competitions taking place in six cities – Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Bochum, Essen, and Berlin.