What Latvian sports stars will do this summer

Beach volleyball player Artūrs Rinkevičs has set several personal goals for this summer. He plans to start learning Spanish and try golf, about which he has heard good reviews from friends. Additionally, he wants to travel around Latvia, visiting places he has not been to before, emphasizing that Latvia still has many undiscovered and interesting destinations.

The most decorated Latvian wrestler of all time, Anastasija Grigorjeva, will have a calmer and more family-oriented summer after ending her professional career. She plans to go to Ķemeri Bog to enjoy nature and peace, as well as sunbathe and recharge. Grigorjeva also wants to go hiking with her children – son Alans and daughter Mia, who was born in June 2023.

Elīna Ieva Bota, silver medalist at the Milan and Cortina Winter Olympics, will travel to Spain with her husband Mārtiņš Bota this summer. Although she has been there before, the trip is especially anticipated. The athlete says that time with family and friends helps her restore energy best. Another summer joy is berries – she especially looks forward to berry season, and the Bota family garden in Sigulda is full of berries and other seasonal treats.

Former Latvian women's basketball national team leader Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota, after ending her professional career, devotes herself entirely to her family and her three daughters. One destination she would love to return to is Barcelona – a city with a special atmosphere, warm climate, and Mediterranean vibe. Most of the summer, Anete plans to spend with her husband Edgars and daughters – Patrīcija, Letīcija, and Keitija – swimming and spending time outdoors. An essential part of summer for her is berries – strawberries, raspberries, and currants.

Beach volleyball player Aleksandrs Samoilovs, who has won medals in World Cup stages and the European Championship, emphasizes family this summer. He is especially looking forward to his children's first swimming camp and hopes that sports will become an integral part of their lives. After many years in professional sports and constant travel, Samoilovs now much more appreciates a calm summer in Latvia, often going to Jūrmala and spending active leisure time with his family.