Jānis Lūsis facts for kids
Lūsis in 2011
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 19 May 1939 Jelgava, Latvia |
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| Died | 29 April 2020 (aged 80) Riga, Latvia |
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| Height | 180 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Soviet Union |
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| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Javelin throw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 93.80 m (1969) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 1 June 2015. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jānis Lūsis (born May 19, 1939 – died April 29, 2020) was a famous Latvian track and field athlete. He was best known for his incredible skill in the javelin throw.
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A Champion Javelin Thrower
Jānis Lūsis trained at different sports clubs in the Soviet Union. He competed for the USSR team in four Summer Olympic Games. He won a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
He then won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Later, he earned a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
The Closest Olympic Javelin Throw
The javelin competition at the 1972 Munich Olympics was one of the closest ever. A German athlete, Klaus Wolfermann, took the lead from Lūsis in the fifth round. He threw the javelin 90.48 meters, setting a new Olympic record.
In the very last round, Lūsis made his final throw. It was an amazing effort that measured 90.46 meters. This meant Wolfermann won by only two centimeters! This was the smallest difference in a javelin competition at the time.
World Records and Awards
Jānis Lūsis is the only athlete from Latvia to have won all three types of Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze. He also set two new world records in the javelin throw. He threw 91.68 meters in 1968 and 93.80 meters in 1972.
He was also a four-time European champion. In 1987, a major sports organization called IAAF named him the greatest javelin thrower in history. In 2014, he was added to the IAAF Hall of Fame, which honors the best athletes ever.
Family and Coaching
After he stopped competing, Lūsis became an athletics coach. He helped other athletes improve their skills. His wife, Elvīra Ozoliņa, was also a javelin thrower. She won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics.
Their son, Voldemārs Lūsis, followed in his parents' footsteps. He also became a javelin thrower and competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics.
In 2009, Jānis Lūsis received a special award in Latvia. It was called the "Lifetime Contribution to Sport" award. This award recognized his amazing work and dedication to sports throughout his life.
See also
In Spanish: Janis Lusis para niños
