Latvian Juris Silovs took up athletics in 1965 and was on the Soviet national team from 1970-78. During his career, he competed at two Olympic Games (1972, 1976) and at both the 1974 European Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Silovs went to the 1972 Olympics only as a reserve, but when Volodymyr Atamas pulled a muscle during the 100 metres, Silovs ran the third leg of the 4x100 relay and won a silver medal. At the 1976 Olympics, he won bronze with the Soviet 4x100 relay and was eliminated in the first round of the 100. At the 1974 European Championships, Silovs finished fourth in both the 100 and 4x100 relay and placed fifth at the 1974 European Indoor Championships over 60 metres. At the Universiade, Silovs won three golds (1973 in 100 m; and 1975 and 1977 in 4x100 relay) and one silver (1973 in 4x100 relay). Silovs never won a Soviet title, but won a 100 silver in 1976 and 100 bronzes in 1973-74 and 1977. He was also a 13-time Latvian SSR champion between 1968-78. Silovs worked as an athletics coach in his native Latvia after finishing his sports career. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Silovs established his own restaurant business with restaurants in Rīga and Jurmala. He also tried his hand in politics, running unsuccessfully for the 2006 Latvian Saeima (parliament) elections.
Personal Best: 100 – 10.33 (1973).
Soviet Union
Latvia