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Haralds Silovs

Latvia

SportShort Track
NOCLatvia
Born07 Apr 1986 in Riga 
GenderMen
ResidenceRiga, LAT
Higher educationBusiness Management - Ventspils University College: Latvia
LanguagesEnglish, Latvian, Russian
FamilyPartner Elina Deksne
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    Overall 2 1    
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursHe was flag bearer for Latvia at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 25 Feb 2018)  
Hero / IdolSlovakian cyclist Peter Sagan. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.haraldssilovs.lv/  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began short track skating in 1996 in Riga, Latvia, and took up speed skating in 2009 in Calgary, AB, Canada.  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesCycling, speciality coffee, reading, drawing, cooking, socialising. (Athlete, 16 Jan 2021)  
Famous relativesHis mother Signe was a figure skater and his father Edvins represented the Soviet Union in track cycling. (haraldssilovs.com, 04 Feb 2014)  
Memorable sporting achievementFinishing fourth in the 1500m at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"My older brother Helmuts started and I followed his footsteps. Then it snowballed from there."  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesHarry, Harris (kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 15 Jan 2012)  
Most influential person in careerHis brother Helmuts, his father Edvins, and Dutch short track coach Jeroen Otter. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019, 17 Nov 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Hard work will pay off. Persistence is key." (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)  
Other informationRETIREMENT
He retired from competitive skating in mid-2022. (ISU, 22 Jul 2022)

TRAINING
He began training with the Norwegian national speed skating team during his preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. In the lead-up to the 2020/21 season, he decided to end the arrangement and moved to train in Inzell, Germany, where he also prepared for the 2021/22 season with the Swiss national team. "Norway doesn't really suit me. I wanted to go another way because the last two years failed. I tried to train with the new programme, but with all the travel it didn't work. It was my decision. I tried the new training plan for two years and realised there would be no result." (delfi.lv, 08 Oct 2021; sportacentrs.com, 06 Oct 2020)

DUAL SPORT OLYMPIAN
At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver he competed in the 5000m speed skating event at the Richmond Oval in Vancouver, before crossing the city to compete in the 1500m short track event at the Pacific Coliseum later the same day. "For me, switching is not the hardest part. It's just the physical and mental preparation that's important." (haraldssilovs.com, 04 Feb 2014; morethanthegames.co.uk, 14 Feb 2010)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2021, he completed a sports studies course with the Sports Education Agency in Latvia. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2021)
 
Other sportsHe competed in both short track and speed skating at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (morethanthegames.co.uk, 14 Feb 2010)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/haralds86/  
twitter.com/SilovsH  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesHe sustained a cut to his left foot following contact with another skater during the mass start event at the 2021 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. As a result he underwent surgery, which required several months of recovery. (lsm.lv, 07 Oct 2021; jauns.lv, 16 Feb 2021)

He broke his hand at the 2019 World Cup event in Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)

He broke his ankle in 2005 and was out of action for six weeks. (Athlete, 26 Jan 2017)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2007/2008 European Championships Overall1  
    2010/2011 European Championships Overall1  
    2008/2009 European Championships Overall2  
    2009/2010 World Championships 500m6  
    2009/2010 World Championships 1500m9  
    2009/2010 World Championships 1000m10  
    2009/2010 World Championships Overall10  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m10  
    2006/2007 European Championships Overall11  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1500m11  
    2004/2005 World Championships 1500m11  
    2005/2006 World Championships 1000m12  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1000m12  
    2010 Olympic Games 500m12  
    2006/2007 World Championships Overall13  
    2006/2007 World Championships 500m14  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1000m14  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1500m14  
    2010 Olympic Games 1000m14  
    2008/2009 World Championships Overall17  
    2004/2005 European Championships Overall18  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1500m18  
    2004/2005 World Championships 1000m19  
    2005/2006 World Championships 500m21  
    2005/2006 World Championships Overall22  
    2004/2005 World Championships Overall22  
    2007/2008 World Championships Overall22  
    2008/2009 World Championships 500m22  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1000m24  
    2005/2006 European Championships Overall25  
    2003/2004 World Championships 1500m30  
    2007/2008 World Championships 500m31  
    2005/2006 World Championships 1500m34  
    2003/2004 World Championships 500m34  
    2003/2004 World Championships 1000m37  
    2004/2005 World Championships 500m38  
    2002/2003 European Championships Overall40  
    2002/2003 World Championships 500m40  
    2003/2004 World Championships Overall41  
    2002/2003 World Championships 1500m42  
    2002/2003 World Championships 1000m43  
    2002/2003 World Championships Overall49  
    2002/2003 World Junior Championships Overall53  
    2001/2002 World Junior Championships Overall57  
    2000/2001 World Junior Championships Overall57  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2006/2007 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m13  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification Overall14  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m15  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1500m17  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1500m18  
    2010/2011 Dresden 500m18  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1500m19  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m20  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 500m21  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1000m23  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification Overall24  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 500m24  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 500m28  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1500m29  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1500m29  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m30  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m31  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1000m42  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m45  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1000m48