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Haralds Silovs

Latvia

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSLAT10704198601
NOCLatvia
Born07 Apr 1986 in  Riga
GenderMen
ResidenceRiga, LAT
Higher educationBusiness Management - Ventspils University College: Latvia
LanguagesEnglish, Latvian, Russian
FamilyPartner Elina Deksne
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 35.32 27 Jan 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:07.47 26 Jan 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:43.35 09 Dec 2017 Salt Lake City, UT  
    5000m 6:15.60 10 Dec 2017 Salt Lake City, UT  
    10000m 13:43.66 19 Feb 2012 Moscow  
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)
 
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/  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2017/2018 World Allround Championships 500m3  
    2017/2018 World Allround Championships 1500m3  
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships 500m3  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps4  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m4  
    2015/2016 European Championships Allround6  
    2011/2012 European Championships Allround6  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps7  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps7  
    2017/2018 World Allround Championships Allround7  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1500m7  
    2011/2012 World Allround Championships Allround7  
    2012/2013 World Allround Championships Allround7  
    2014/2015 European Championships Allround7  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1500m8  
    2018/2019 World Allround Championships Allround8  
    2015/2016 World Allround Championships Allround9  
    2018/2019 European Allround Championships Allround9  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps9  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1500m9  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1000m10  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships 1000m10  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships Allround10  
    2017/2018 European Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2016/2017 World Allround Championships Allround11  
    2013/2014 World Allround Championships Allround11  
    2012/2013 European Championships Allround12  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps13  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps13  
    2013/2014 European Championships Allround13  
    2009/2010 European Championships Allround14  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m14  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m15  
    2010/2011 European Championships Allround16  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1500m16  
    2011/2012 World Sprint Championships Overall17  
    2018 Olympic Games Mass Start 16 Laps17  
    2022 Olympic Games Mass Start17  
    2019/2020 European Single Distances Championships 1500m17  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 5000m18  
    2012/2013 World Sprint Championships Overall18  
    2010 Olympic Games 5000m20  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1500m21  
    2022 Olympic Games 1500m24  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m24  
    2010/2011 World Sprint Championships Overall35  
    2014 Olympic Games 2 x 500m37  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2012/2013 Inzell Mass Start 20 Laps2  
    2012/2013 Erfurt 1500m2  
    2014/2015 Seoul Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps5  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps9  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Mass Start 20 Laps10  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m13  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps13  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps15  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m15  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m15  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m16  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps16  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps17  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m21  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Mass Start 20 Laps23  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m25  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m25  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m27  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall27  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 5000m29  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification Mass Start29  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m29  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m31  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall31  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m31  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m33  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m35  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1500m36  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m36  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall35  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m37  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m39  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m40  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m43  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m44  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m46  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m46  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m48  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1500m48  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1500m51  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m53  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m54  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m55