13 March 2024
Enter, the Iron Man – Latvia’s Lasmans does the double again
One of sport’s best underdog stories went under the radar last year.
With a population of less than two million, Latvia persistently challenges larger nations on the field of play. Climbing that competitive mountain has always been an exhausting journey, but this time, success was found when the nation was holding on to a cliff edge by its fingertips.
Aleksandrs Dimbovskis and Polina Rozkova were ready to compete at the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2023, at the Richmond Curling Centre in Canada. Unfortunately, Dimbovskis suffered an injury, falling from his wheelchair and fracturing his legs, after arriving in British Columbia.
Agris Lasmans, who competed in the mixed team competition the week before, would step in right before the tournament.
“When the accident happened with Aleksandrs, the coaches of both teams contacted each other and we decided that we needed to help, because we are a small country and the opportunity to participate in both championships is a great honour,” said Lasmans.
“When I found out that I would have to play in both teams, I agreed without thinking, I was physically and mentally ready.”
The decision made the most sense – Rozkova and Lasmans played together at the inaugural World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Finland, where they finished fifth. There had even been talks of the pair playing together in 2023 earlier that season, but this idea was initially scrapped due to the heavy playing schedule that would be inflicted on him, playing in both tournaments.
Latvia achieved a much better result in the following year. They beat Pam Wilson and David Samsa from the United States by11-8 in an extra end to claim the world title.
“For once I didn’t realise what we had done, because there was a lot of fatigue from 22 games in nine days, I was drained,” added Lasmans.
“I started to understand we were champions only at the airport, when people came up to us at the Vancouver airport, greeted us and took photos and told us that they saw us and our game on TV.
“Arriving in Latvia, I received a lot of congratulations, then I slowly began to understand that we have accomplished something great. This was Latvia’s first medal in team sports in Paralympic sports.
“Also in curling, it is the first medal for Latvia in European and world championships.
“After this tournament, in Latvia, I was called the iron man in curling.”
Their achievements saw them nominated for the Trīs Zvaigžņu Balva in Latvia, otherwise known as the “Three Stars Award” in English.
The endurance of the 44-year-old is tested once again. The Latvian mixed team narrowly missed the semi-finals after a 7-6 loss to fourth-placed Sweden, and this time around, the mixed doubles team will be looking to defend their world title.
Although Lasmans says little has changed with his training – aside from specifically training separately with Rozkova – he knows recovery and resilience are key to match his performances last year.
“It was difficult to learn something from the heavy workload, because there were even two days where I spent eight hours on the ice for four games a day,” he added.
“The thought was only about endurance and regeneration.”
Beyond the tournament in Korea, the pair will be aiming to continue their partnership at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, where the mixed doubles discipline is to debut.
Regardless of Rozkova’s and Lasmans’ success in 2024, the warm smiles and hugs between the two after their last stone in 2023 will forever be etched into the annuls of history.
Written by feature writer, Michael Houston
