At the end of the second day of the competition, Jānis Deivs Dzirkalis, member of the Latvian national team and representative of the swimming club “Ogre”, broke the Latvian record in the 50 m freestyle for men. The 19-year-old Olympian Uvja Kalniņa beat the record set in the Ķipsala swimming pool in May 2014 by 0.23 seconds.
“This is my first record! The feelings are fantastic, hard to describe. In the morning session, I covered the distance in 22.91 seconds, which was an exact repetition of the Latvian record. With coach Sergej Kurmelev, we found something to improve and everything worked out in the evening! For this achievement, I would like to thank, especially, my parents and also my first coach at the swimming club “Ogre”, Galina Shikina,” said Jānis Dzirkalis after the finish.
In the ranking of the best athletes of the competition, the highest results were for swimmers from the Lithuanian club “Klaipeda Gintaro Sports Center”. In the first place – Edvina Cesnakas, who won 795 WA points in the 100 m freestyle, in the second place – 795 points for Evaldas Babakin. Among the domestic athletes, the best performance of PK “Ogre” representative Jānis Deivas Dzirkalis - 783 points. In fourth place is Nikolas Deichmans, a student of the Jelgava Specialized Sports School (779 points). TOP 6 with 766 WA points and shared fifth place are completed by Kristaps Chilipāns from Ādaži Children and Youth Sports School and Dmitrijs Tolstihs from Jūrmala Sports School.
“This year we hosted athletes from 45 swimming clubs from five countries, which is more than last year. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the organization of the competition – the judges. coaches and athletes. The positive atmosphere is also appreciated by foreign guests. In the future, we need to work so that not only the best domestic sprinters will meet in the ”Riga Sprint”, but an even wider range of athletes from other countries,” says Aļona Fokina, president of the Latvian Swimming Federation.
The 12th international swimming sprint festival “Rīgas Sprints 2024” took place on November 1 and 2 in the Ķipsala swimming pool (50m). The competition is included in the “European Aquatics” and “World Aquatics” recognized qualification competition calendars. More than 400 athletes from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway and Malta participated in the swimming festival.
During two days, 26 sets of medals were distributed in individual disciplines and the strongest teams were determined in six relay swims. Competition start protocols and results
The competition was organized with the financial support of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports of Riga City Council, as well as from the state budget funds allocated by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Time.news Interview: The Future of Swimming in Latvia
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Good afternoon, everyone! Today, we have an inspiring guest joining us—Jānis Deivs Dzirkalis, a rising star in Latvian swimming who recently made headlines by breaking the national record in the 50 m freestyle. Jānis, congratulations on this monumental achievement! How are you feeling just a couple of days after setting the record?
Jānis Dzirkalis: Thank you! I’m still riding the wave of excitement. Setting my first national record feels absolutely fantastic, and honestly, it’s a bit surreal. I’ve had a lot of support along the way, and it’s truly rewarding to see all the hard work pay off.
Interviewer: You mentioned that your performance in the morning session mirrored the previous record exactly. Can you tell us a bit about your mindset going into the final race?
Jānis: Yes, I swam the morning session in 22.91 seconds, which was the same as the previous record. It was quite nerve-wracking knowing that I had to replicate that performance to have a shot at breaking it. But with the encouragement of my coach Sergej Kurmelev, we identified a few areas to improve on, and I felt much more confident going into the evening session.
Interviewer: It must have been tremendous pressure, especially as a young athlete. What was going through your mind as you approached the finish line in that final race?
Jānis: Honestly, I was just focused on my technique and maintaining my speed. As I approached the wall, I knew I had pushed hard. When I saw the time on the scoreboard, I could hardly believe it—breaking the record by 0.23 seconds! It was an incredible moment, and I couldn’t help but smile and think of everyone who supported me, especially my parents and my first coach, Galina Shikina.
Interviewer: That’s wonderful to hear! Shifting gears a bit, the competition this year had participation from 45 clubs across five countries. How do you feel about international competitions, and what does this mean for Latvian swimming?
Jānis: Having a larger pool of clubs and athletes at the competition is great for exposure and motivation. It allows us to see where we stand on an international level and learn from other swimmers. It pushes us to improve. I think these experiences are crucial for our development as athletes and for the future of swimming in Latvia.
Interviewer: Absolutely, and speaking of future, what are your aspirations moving forward? Do you have any particular goals for the upcoming competitions?
Jānis: My immediate goal is to continue improving my times and competing at higher levels, aspiring to make a significant impact at major events like the European Championships and, eventually, the Olympics. I want to build on this momentum! With each race, I learn more and get one step closer to those dreams.
Interviewer: It sounds like you have an exciting journey ahead, Jānis! Before we wrap up, do you have any advice for young swimmers who look up to you?
Jānis: Absolutely! My biggest advice is to stay dedicated and enjoy the journey. Set your goals, work hard, and remember to celebrate your successes—big or small. Every achievement counts. Surround yourself with supportive coaches and teammates, just as I have, and you can go far.
Interviewer: Wise words indeed! Thank you for joining us today, Jānis, and once again, congratulations on your incredible accomplishment! We look forward to seeing what you achieve next!
Jānis: Thank you so much for having me! It’s been a pleasure to share my story.
Interviewer: And thank you to our readers for tuning in! Stay connected for more inspiring stories in the world of sports.