Aigars Apinis

Aigars Apinis
Apinis in 2015
Personal information
NationalityLatvian
Born (1973-06-09) 9 June 1973 (age 51)
Aizkraukle, Latvia
Sport
CountryLatvia
SportAthletics
Event(s)Shot put
Discus throw
Coached byAldi Supulnieks
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 2020
Medal record
Men's para-athletics
Representing  Latvia
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Discus throw F52
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Discus throw F33–34/52
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Shot put F52/53
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Discus throw F51/52
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Shot put F33–34/52
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Discus throw F51–F53
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Discus throw F52
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Discus throw F52
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Shot put F52
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Discus throw F52
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Lille Discus – F52
Gold medal – first place 2006 Assen Discus – F52
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch Discus – F52/53/54
Gold medal – first place 2011 Christchurch Shot put – F52/53
Gold medal – first place 2013 Lyons Shot put – F52/53
Gold medal – first place 2015 Doha Discus – F52
Gold medal – first place 2019 Dubai Discus – F52
Silver medal – second place 2017 London Discus throw – F52
Silver medal – second place 2023 Paris Discus – F52
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Assen Shot put – F52
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Lyons Discus – F52
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Swansea Discus throw – F52

Aigars Apinis (born 9 June 1973, in Aizkraukle) is a Latvian athlete. He participates in F52 class which means he has limited finger movement and no trunk or leg function.

On July 3, 1992, he suffered a severe cervical vertebrae injury while jumping into the water.[1]

He started to practice in 1998, but already at the 2000 Summer Paralympics he won two bronze medals – in discus throw and shot put. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics he became the Olympic champion in discus throw and was 4th in shot put. Apinis won the gold medal in discus throw at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[2] At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, he won a bronze medal in Men's discus throw F52.[3]

Career

In the fall of 2010 Apinis created resonance in the society, by stating that he is ready to sell his 2000 Sydney Paralympics bronze medal (first paralympic medal in the history of Latvia) in an auction, in order to provide Latvian Paralympic Committee with funds, which would allow Latvian delegation to participate in the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships.[4]

At the 2011 IPC (International Paralympic Committee) World Championships in New Zealand, Apinis won the gold medal in the shot put F52/53 category,[5] also setting a new world record[6] for his category.

References

  1. ^ "Invalīdu sporta celmlauzis" [A pioneer of disabled sports]. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ Ludmila Glazunova (8 September 2016). "Aigars Apinis Riodežaneiro izcīna paralimpisko zeltu" (in Latvian). LSM.lv. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Athletics - APINIS Aigars". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  4. ^ LETA (21 November 2010). "Lai piedalītos PČ vieglatlētikā, sportists gatavs pārdot Paralimpisko spēļu medaļu". tvnet.lv. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  5. ^ IPC (24 January 2011). "IPC Athletics World Championships Results, Shot Put F52/53" (PDF). ipcathleticsworldchamps.com. Retrieved 24 January 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ ir (24 January 2011). "Apinis kļūst par pasaules čempionu lodes grūšanā". ir.lv. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
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