Latvian short track leader Roberts Kruzbergs has had the most successful season in his career. At the moment, Roberts has returned to Ventspils for some time to meet his family, rest and after a short break, get back to work, conducting not only ice, but also physical training.
Roberts Krūzbergs is the first Latvian short track athlete to win the World Cup stage – in the first stage held in Montreal (Canada) in October last year, he triumphed in the 1000 meters and brought Latvia the first gold medal at this level. Roberts, met last week at the Olympic Center in Ventspils, says that the season started very well, but this is not always the determining factor for its further successful development as a whole. “Going to Montreal, I was in the mood to start as well as possible, but I had no idea that I would win the gold. In short track, it is important to make as few mistakes as possible. I felt very good on the start day, technically I did everything correctly, without making any mistakes in any run. By combining all these conditions, I won the gold medal, which I am very happy about,” says Roberts, adding that this victory opened the door to new awards.
In the past season, cooperation with the Polish national team began, where Roberts honed the endurance he had already acquired in Germany and significantly improved his speed. “Cooperation with the Polish national team has given obvious results. Poles are more sprinters, they help develop top speed, the so-called high speed. In turn, the Poles learn endurance training from us. We can be useful to each other. Most likely, I will also train in Poland next season,” continues Kruzberg. Despite the brilliant season, in the world and European championships, Robert did not have the way he wanted: “Luck turned out – fall in the world championship, disqualification, while in the European championship I got sick shortly before the start – runny nose, temperature, so I had to skip two preparatory trainings.” When asked about the preparation for the new season, Roberts says that he will train here in Ventspils until the active training camps in Poland, because the Olympic center has everything necessary to successfully prepare for the summer season. “On the other hand, in Poland, training camps will be held in several ice rinks, thus also learning different ices. The main condition for successful starts is not only good skates, ice and luck, but also persistent work of training and coaches,” Roberts is confident. Thanks to the financial support of the Latvian Skating Association and Ventspils municipality, athletes can achieve successful results and growth by implementing a high-class athlete training program. With the support of the program, sports facilities are provided and other necessary financial and organizational support is provided. Roberts Krūzbergs is also included in the winter composition of the Latvian Olympic team.
It should be noted that Roberts started practicing short track in 2006, when he was only five years old. The player from Ventspils made his debut at the World Cup in February 2017 in Dresden. In 2019, he also participated in the World Championship for the first time. “I got into short track quite by accident – my older brother from school attended public skating and I, a five-year-old boy, just went along with him. I didn’t know anything about short track back then, I just really liked skating. While I was skating in my section, I was noticed by coach Māris Birzulis, who approached me and offered to train in short track. With the support of my parents, my passion for this sport began. At first I skated with ice hockey skates, and only after about three years of training, I was given short track skates for the first time. Then it all went away, the first medals appeared at the age of 11-12,” recalls Roberts. If it weren’t for such great family support, “donating both their time and finances, as well as the support of the city and the Olympic center, I would hardly have gotten this far,” says Roberts.
– Robert Kruseberg is 21 years old,
– Has Beijing Olympic Games experience,
– Moved from Ventspils to Germany in the pre-Olympic season,
– After the games, cooperation with the Polish short track team was started,
– The first Latvian who won the World Cup stage.