Janis Minins
Encyclopedia
Jānis Miņins is a Latvia
n bobsledder who has competed since 1999. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009
in Lake Placid, New York
, earning the country its first championship medal ever.
In the 2004–05 season his best placing was a sixth place in the 4-man bob in Cortina d'Ampezzo
and Winterberg
, both times with Juris Latiss, Ainars Podnieks
and Jānis Ozols. For the 2005–06 season he changed his team mates, retaining Ozols but bringing in Mārcis Rullis and Intars Dīcmanis to the four-man bob. However, his team fell to a best place of 10th, and he has had his best placing in the World Cup this season at the World Cup in Igls, with a fourth place together with Daumants Dreiškens
. He placed first at the Latvian selection event for the Olympic Games in Sigulda
, and has been selected to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics
where he finished sixth in the two-man event and tenth in the four-man event.
Miņins missed the 2010 Winter Olympics
, because of an appendix
surgery he went through, when he had already arrived in Canada
just days before the Olympic start. This prevented him from competing in the two-man event, but attempted to return to the four-man event before finally withdrawing to pain still experienced following his surgery and injuries to other crew members.
He has also won 2008 FIBT European Championship in four-man event at Cesana.
Miņins' best Bobsleigh World Cup championship finishes were second place in the four-man events in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
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 bobsledder who has competed since 1999. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009
FIBT World Championships 2009
The FIBT World Championships 2009, officially known as the Bauhaus FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships, 20 February to 1 March 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York for the ninth time, doing so previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1997 , and...
in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, earning the country its first championship medal ever.
In the 2004–05 season his best placing was a sixth place in the 4-man bob in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and comune in the southern Alps located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Dolomites in an alpine valley, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene...
and Winterberg
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
, both times with Juris Latiss, Ainars Podnieks
Ainars Podnieks
Ainars Podnieks is a Latvian bobsledder who competed from 2003 to 2007. His best Bobsleigh World Cup finish was second in the four-man event at Lake Placid in December 2006....
and Jānis Ozols. For the 2005–06 season he changed his team mates, retaining Ozols but bringing in Mārcis Rullis and Intars Dīcmanis to the four-man bob. However, his team fell to a best place of 10th, and he has had his best placing in the World Cup this season at the World Cup in Igls, with a fourth place together with Daumants Dreiškens
Daumants Dreiškens
Daumants Dreiškens is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 2003. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York,...
. He placed first at the Latvian selection event for the Olympic Games in Sigulda
Sigulda
Other twinnings: Keila, Estonia chiatura Georgia-References:* , , , , , and -External links:*...
, and has been selected to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
where he finished sixth in the two-man event and tenth in the four-man event.
Miņins missed 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...
, because of an appendix
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
surgery he went through, when he had already arrived in 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...
just days before the Olympic start. This prevented him from competing in the two-man event, but attempted to return to the four-man event before finally withdrawing to pain still experienced following his surgery and injuries to other crew members.
He has also won 2008 FIBT European Championship in four-man event at Cesana.
Miņins' best Bobsleigh World Cup championship finishes were second place in the four-man events in 2008-09 and 2009-10.