Men
LAT
Haralds Silovs
LAT- Date of birth07 Apr 1986
- Height178 CM
- ProfessionAthlete
- HometownRiga
- Place of birthRiga
- Start skating Club He began short track skating in 1996 in Riga, Latvia, and took up speed skating in 2009 in Calgary, AB, Canada. Riga: Latvia
- HobbiesCycling, speciality coffee, reading, drawing, cooking, socialising. (Athlete, 16 Jan 2021)
- LanguagesEnglish, Latvian, Russian
- Other nameHarry, Harris (kiaspeedskatingacademy.com, 15 Jan 2012)
- FamliyPartner Elina Deksne
- CoachN/A
- ChoreographerN/A
- Former CoachN/A
- Practice low seasonN/A
- Practice high seasonN/A
- General Interest
- Sport Specific Information
He was flag bearer for Latvia at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (OIS, 25 Feb 2018)
"Hard work will pay off. Persistence is key." (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)
Slovakian cyclist Peter Sagan. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019)
His brother Helmuts, his father Edvins, and Dutch short track coach Jeroen Otter. (Athlete, 14 Nov 2019, 17 Nov 2018)
He 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)
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)
Finishing fourth in the 1500m at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018)
RETIREMENT
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)
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)
He competed in both short track and speed skating at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. (morethanthegames.co.uk, 14 Feb 2010)
"My older brother Helmuts started and I followed his footsteps. Then it snowballed from there."
