Oto Jurģis

Born in Estonia in 1904 Oto Jurģis was a fine track and field athlete who represented Latvia at international competitions. Jurģis specialised in the javelin throw, becoming a ten-time national champion in the event (1927–30, 1933–38) and setting more than a dozen national records. He also won three titles in the javelin throw with both hands (1928–30) and was the Latvian pentathlon champion in 1930. At the 1934 European Championships he just missed out on a medal when he finished fourth. Two years later he competed in the javelin at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he finished 13th.

In 1949 Jurģis and his family were deported to Siberia before they returned home in the mid-1950s. Once back in Latvia he worked as an athletics coach and trained several future Olympic champions including Inese Jaunzeme and Elvīra Ozoliņa.

Personal Best: JT – 67.68 (1934).