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At the annual gala known as Latvian Three Star Awards, Beach Volleyball sensation Kristians Fokerots received the Rising Star of the Year award, and together with his experienced partner Mārtiņš Pļaviņš, the reigning European Beach Volleyball champions were recognised as the country’s Small Sports Team of the Year.
On January 15, the Three Star Awards ceremony organised annually by the Latvian Olympic Committee took place in Riga, Latvia. It is the most prestigious such ceremony specifically designed for sports in Latvia, where athletes of the year are recognised across a variety of categories. This year, Latvian Volleyball players managed to claim as many as two of such accolades.
This year, Latvia had many notable nominees for the Rising Star Award. However, following his impressive achievements, Latvian Beach Volleyball player Kristians Fokerots was recognised as the Baltic country’s Rising Star. After crowning himself U20 European champion earlier in the summer, he surprised everyone by claiming the EuroBeachVolley title and achieved third place in a Beach Pro Tour stage at the young age of 19, doing so together with 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Mārtiņš Pļaviņš.
Tina Graudina/Anastasija Samoilova and the Pļaviņš/Fokerots duo were nominated for the award for the so-called Small Sports Team of the Year. The jury decided that this prize would go to Pļaviņš and Fokerots. Their unique combination of experience and youthful enthusiasm ensured unprecedented achievements for the Latvian team.