Other events in Baltic States

Germany's Felix Loch has become Olympic men's luge champion, with Martins Rubenis the highest-placed Latvian in the event in 11th place, informs LETA.

20-year-old Loch became the youngest ever Olympic luge champion, two years after becoming the youngest-ever world champion. His fellow countryman, David Moeller, took the silver medal, with Italy's Armin Zoeggler finishing in bronze medal position.

After Rubenis, the next best-placed Latvian competitor was Inars Kivlenieks, who finished in 18th place, with Guntis Rekis finishing in 26th position overall.

Rubenis' 11th place is the second best result for a Latvian sportsman in the current Olympics; as reported earlier, in the 1,500m short-track speed skating B final Sunday, Latvian Haralds Silovs finished 10th. Also on Sunday, biathlete Ilmars Bricis finished in 14th position in the 10km sprint, with Silovs coming 20th in the 5,000m speed skating event on Saturday.

As is well-known, Rubenis took third place at the Turin Winter Olympics, giving independent Latvia its first Winter Olympic medal.

Following the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in training immediately before the games, the decision was taken to shorten the length of both the men's and women's courses.

The first women's runs will take place today, with Latvia represented by Maija Tiruma, Anna Orlova and Agnese Koklaca.