Team Latvia - Profile

Latvia made its first appearance as an independent nation at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 but it was not until 1932 that the first Latvian medallist would emerge.

Janis Dalins won silver in the men's 50km walk on the streets of Los Angeles, finishing just over seven minutes behind the gold medallist. Dalins would go on to compete over the same distance again in 1936, but did not finish the race. His compatriot Adalberts Bubenko, however, finished the race in third, taking bronze and Latvia's second Olympic medal.

Latvia would win one more medal in 1936, a silver by Edwins Bietags in the 87kg Greco-Roman wrestling. The 1936 Games were the NOC's last appearance for 56 years and it would only return to the Olympic Games in 1992, following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Paddler Ivan Klementjev won C1 1000m gold in canoe sprint for the Soviet Union in 1988 before going on to take silver in the event for Latvia in 1992 and 1996.

Similarly, shooter Afanasijs Kuzmins won gold in the 25m rapid fire pistol event for the Soviet Union in 1988 and took silver in the same event for Latvia four years later in 1992. By the time his Olympic career ended in 2012, he had competed at nine Games leaving him equal-second to Canadian equestrian rider Ian Miller for the athlete with the most appearances in Olympic history. His six appearances for Latvia are also a record for the NOC.

Latvia's only two-time gold medallist, Maris Strombergs, won his second medal at the London 2012 Games, in the BMX event. Strombergs will go down in history for these wins, given he won the first two men's BMX gold medals in Olympic history. He failed to defend his title for a second time at the Rio 2016 Games as he was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Only one other athlete has won gold for Latvia. In 2000, Igors Vihrovs became the NOC's first Olympic champion when he won the artistic gymnastics floor event. His medal was the first of only two medals for Latvia in gymnastics.

Latvia were unable to add to their medal tally at Rio 2016, with fourth place finishes for weightlifter Rebeka Koha in the women's 53kg division and Laura Ikauniece in the women's heptathlon event the best results for the NOC at the Games.