Haralds Silovs
Encyclopedia
Haralds Silovs is a Latvia
n short track
and long track speed skater
who became the 2008 European champion in short track. During the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
, Canada
, he gained worldwide media attention after competing in the 1500m short track
and 5000m long track
speed skating events in the same day, February 13. He is the only athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics to compete in both short track and long track events at the same Games, and the only athlete to compete in two different disciplines on the same day.
, Latvia
on April 7, 1986. His mother Signe was a figure skater, and his father Edvins was a track cyclist for the USSR, and his older brother was involved in athletics as well. In addition to speed skating, Silovs became involved in mountain biking, and in 2001 at the age of 15 he won the Latvian Junior Championship in that sport.
He first became interested in speed skating in 1996, but interest in the sport across Latvia was relatively low and there were few training or competition opportunities. Both Silovs and his brother were invited in 2001 to a training camp in Slovakia
where they were given instruction in speed skating by Hungarian coaches. By 2003, he was competing successfully in regional events across eastern Europe, and over the next few years trained with a number of Belgian and French athletes. In 2006, he began working with a personal coach, Jeroen Otter from the Netherlands. While he continued to train in speed skating, he also began attending Ventspils University College.
In 2007, Silovs had his first major success at the World Cup level of competition, winning a bronze medal in a 1000m race and placing fifth in two World Championship events. The next year, in 2008, he won the gold medal at the European Championship in short track when the competition was held in his home territory, in Ventspils, Latvia. On his road to the title won both the 1500m and 3000m distances in the competition. In 2009, he attempted to defend the title, but instead won the silver, losing to four-time champion Nicola Rodigari
of Italy.
Silovs holds several national records in both disciplines. For example, in August 2008 he reached new Latvian records of 37.05 (500 m) and 3:45.13 (3000m), followed in February 2009 by 6:17.14 (5000m). These national records were all set in Calgary
and Salt Lake City.
, he became the first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short track
(1500m) and long track
(5000m) speed skating, and the first to compete in two different disciplines on the same day. Only one other athlete in recent memory had attempted to compete in both sports at the same Games, American Shani Davis
, but Davis did not make his country's short track team. However, with fewer athletes in Latvia competing in the sport, Silovs was able to make both teams for his country. It was his first Olympic Games, and he hoped that being able to compete in multiple events would allow him to acclimate to the level of competition in the Olympics more readily. He also hoped that differences in the two disciplines, between long track which is more demanding of aerobic fitness and short track, which is more tactically and technically demanding, would mean that he would not be too physically exhausted to be competitive in both events. On February 13, 2010, after competing in the long track event and placing 20th, he skated a warm down lap and took a car across the city from Richmond to the Pacific Coliseum for the short track qualifying event. He qualified for the semifinal race, but later failed to qualify for the medal round. In the classification round, he finished in 10th place. Despite his disappointing finishes, Silovs expressed excitement about having the opportunity to compete at all and having set a record as the first person to compete in both speed skating disciplines. However, he admitted that competing in both events in the same day was, "a little crazy." He was encouraged by other speed skaters, like Apolo Anton Ohno
, who recognized the feat. On February 17, he began the third event of his Olympic career, qualifying for the short track 1000m event.
Silovs currently lives in Heerenveen
, The Netherlands.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n short track
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
and long track speed skater
Long track speed skating
Speed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating...
who became the 2008 European champion in short track. During the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he gained worldwide media attention after competing in the 1500m short track
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The short track speed skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Pacific Coliseum 13–26 February 2010.China dominated the competition, sweeping the women's events - winning gold in the 500 m, 1,000 m 1,500 m and 3000 m relay...
and 5000m long track
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval between 13 and 27 February 2010.- Notes :Haralds Silovs became the first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short track and long track speed skating, and the first to compete in two...
speed skating events in the same day, February 13. He is the only athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics to compete in both short track and long track events at the same Games, and the only athlete to compete in two different disciplines on the same day.
Biography
Silovs was born in RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
on April 7, 1986. His mother Signe was a figure skater, and his father Edvins was a track cyclist for the USSR, and his older brother was involved in athletics as well. In addition to speed skating, Silovs became involved in mountain biking, and in 2001 at the age of 15 he won the Latvian Junior Championship in that sport.
He first became interested in speed skating in 1996, but interest in the sport across Latvia was relatively low and there were few training or competition opportunities. Both Silovs and his brother were invited in 2001 to a training camp in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
where they were given instruction in speed skating by Hungarian coaches. By 2003, he was competing successfully in regional events across eastern Europe, and over the next few years trained with a number of Belgian and French athletes. In 2006, he began working with a personal coach, Jeroen Otter from the Netherlands. While he continued to train in speed skating, he also began attending Ventspils University College.
In 2007, Silovs had his first major success at the World Cup level of competition, winning a bronze medal in a 1000m race and placing fifth in two World Championship events. The next year, in 2008, he won the gold medal at the European Championship in short track when the competition was held in his home territory, in Ventspils, Latvia. On his road to the title won both the 1500m and 3000m distances in the competition. In 2009, he attempted to defend the title, but instead won the silver, losing to four-time champion Nicola Rodigari
Nicola Rodigari
Nicola Rodigari is an Italian short track speed skater who competed in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.He was born in Tirano....
of Italy.
Silovs holds several national records in both disciplines. For example, in August 2008 he reached new Latvian records of 37.05 (500 m) and 3:45.13 (3000m), followed in February 2009 by 6:17.14 (5000m). These national records were all set in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Salt Lake City.
2010 Olympics
At the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, he became the first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short track
Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The short track speed skating competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Pacific Coliseum 13–26 February 2010.China dominated the competition, sweeping the women's events - winning gold in the 500 m, 1,000 m 1,500 m and 3000 m relay...
(1500m) and long track
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval between 13 and 27 February 2010.- Notes :Haralds Silovs became the first athlete in Olympic history to participate in both short track and long track speed skating, and the first to compete in two...
(5000m) speed skating, and the first to compete in two different disciplines on the same day. Only one other athlete in recent memory had attempted to compete in both sports at the same Games, American Shani Davis
Shani Davis
Shani Davis is an Olympic Champion speed skater from the United States.At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Davis became the first Black athlete to win a gold medal in an individual sport at the Olympic Winter Games . He also won the silver in the 1,500 m...
, but Davis did not make his country's short track team. However, with fewer athletes in Latvia competing in the sport, Silovs was able to make both teams for his country. It was his first Olympic Games, and he hoped that being able to compete in multiple events would allow him to acclimate to the level of competition in the Olympics more readily. He also hoped that differences in the two disciplines, between long track which is more demanding of aerobic fitness and short track, which is more tactically and technically demanding, would mean that he would not be too physically exhausted to be competitive in both events. On February 13, 2010, after competing in the long track event and placing 20th, he skated a warm down lap and took a car across the city from Richmond to the Pacific Coliseum for the short track qualifying event. He qualified for the semifinal race, but later failed to qualify for the medal round. In the classification round, he finished in 10th place. Despite his disappointing finishes, Silovs expressed excitement about having the opportunity to compete at all and having set a record as the first person to compete in both speed skating disciplines. However, he admitted that competing in both events in the same day was, "a little crazy." He was encouraged by other speed skaters, like Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno is an American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics. He is the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time....
, who recognized the feat. On February 17, he began the third event of his Olympic career, qualifying for the short track 1000m event.
Silovs currently lives in Heerenveen
Heerenveen
Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...
, The Netherlands.