A Huge Win By Any Measure

Having heard about some of the experiences that Team Manitoba's parahockey players have endured in trying to practice and play here in Manitoba, I have a better understanding about why accessibility matters. Manitoba's sledge hockey players are begging for resources and ice time so they can play more often, but those pleas often finds silence when it comes time to hitting the ice. I can't imagine what it was like for the two para athletes above when it came to mastering their chosen sport as Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans did something that no other Latvian has ever done: win a medal at the Paralympic Games!

That's not to say that Rozkova and Lasmans aren't great curlers. They won a 2023 World Paracurling Championship gold medal and have participated in every World Championship that has taken place since the last Paralympic Games in Beijing. They're recognized as one of the best mixed doubles curling pairs on the planet, and they brought that skill and tenacity to Milano-Cortina where they captured the bronze medal over the USA duo of Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer with an 11-10 score in an extra end. As stated, the Latvians are good!

This win should be celebrated back in Latvia as if it were the biggest victory in the country's history in any activity. I say that because Latvia, in 2013, had just a single curling rink in the entire country, and that number has grown to two rinks in the last 13 years. Imagine wanting to curl in Latvia as an able-bodied person only to find out one has to travel to Riga or Ventspils to do so. Now add in those who have a disability who want to curl, and you can see why this bronze medal is the most significant medal ever won in Latvia's history.

The commitment shown by Rozkova and Lasmans to improve in their sport will never be questioned as they've overcome some significant hurdles to earn a bronze medal against the best paracurlers in the world, but consider that USA has 185 curling clubs, China has built some 500 ice rinks in the last four years, and Canada has nearly 1000 curling clubs. Having just two rinks in a country of 1.86 million people already puts them at a disadvantage, so seeing Rozkova and Lasmans on the podium is nothing short of incredible!

Rozkova and Lasmans will likely return to their homes in Latvia following the Paralympics, but they should be greeted with all the fanfare that celebrities get. They have a significant chance to be leaders not only for paracurling, but for all para athletes across Latvia thanks to to their win. Winning a medal despite Latvia's lack of rinks should put Rozkova and Lasmans alongside the likes of ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and NBA star Kristaps Porziņģis.

I don't know enough about Latvian culture to know if their Paralympians are held in high regard, but Rozkova and Lasmans have a chance to change that perception if that's how it is. Making history for one's country should always keep someone in regard, and Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans have proven they are among the best paracurlers on the planet, and they have the hardware to show for it.

Perhaps them being recognized by the country will lead to more opportunities at curling rinks for disabled folks who want to try the sport. Perhaps them being recognized by the country will lead to more fully-accessible curling rinks being built in Latvia. Perhaps them being celebrated will lead to better opportunities for all disabled people in Latvia. That's why this medal is a huge win: it could change a lot when it comes to accessibility for people of all abilities.

Congratulations to Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans, Latvia's first-ever medallists at any Paralympic Games, and let's hope this is the catalyst for seeing Latvia be a bigger player on the parasports world!