Aigars Fadejevs

Aigars Fadejevs was one of the best racewalkers in Latvia, winning several national titles, setting multiple records, and capturing silver at the Olympics. In 1994 Fadejevs competed in the 10,000 metres at the World Junior Championships but was disqualified during the race. He continued to train hard, becoming the national indoor champion in the 5,000 metres in 1995 and 1996. These results earned him a place on the Latvian Olympic team for the 1996 Atlanta Games where he finished sixth in the 20 km event. The following year he became the European U23 champion when he won at the same distance at the championships in Finland. In 1998 Fadejevs continued to have impressive results including becoming the Latvian champion in the 50 km and winning silver in the 20 km at the European Championships.

In 2000 Fadejevs competed at his second Olympic Games, winning silver in the 50 km and finishing 14th in the 20 km. For winning an Olympic medal he was named the Latvian Sportsperson of the Year. Four years later he made his third and final appearance at the Olympics, once again competing in the 20 km and 50 km events, finishing ninth and eleventh, respectively. Shortly afterwards he quit race walking and turned to long distance running instead. In 2008 he won the Valmiera Marathon in Latvia and set a personal best time at a marathon in Wien. Fadejevs had set his sights on a return to the Olympics for the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Games but just missed out on the qualification standard needed to compete. He later worked as a sports therapist in Los Angeles, with Walter Dix and Kobe Bryant being some of his many clients.

Personal Bests: 20kmW – 1-19:25 (2002); 50kmW – 3-43:18 (1998).