Gift!

RSB “Latvello” has received as a donation the photographic archive of sports journalist Gatis Ķīsis, which contains not only photographs taken by him personally, but also images primarily published in the periodical “Sports” (from 2006 to 2021 – a magazine). The authors include well-known Latvian photographers such as M. Millers, J. Eiduks, O. Lūsis, J. Kalniņš, E. Šveheimers and others.

The photographs were donated to us by Zigrīda Ķīse (his wife), and the total number of images is just under 700. They depict athletes representing a wide range of sports – cycling, sailing, triathlon, chess, draughts, bodybuilding, judo, boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, rugby, shooting, biathlon, weightlifting and speed skating.

Gatis Ķīsis (08.10.1942–08.05.2022) was actively involved in Latvian sports journalism, providing historical and analytical overviews of numerous sports disciplines.

In January 1974, he began his professional career at the newspaper “Sports”. Each journalist was responsible for specific sports, and Gatis covered an exceptionally wide range – from cycling to bobsleigh – although cycling remained his greatest passion.

As a press representative, he accompanied Latvian cyclists to Spain, France, Italy, Russia and other countries. Even after working hours, especially in the evenings, he regularly received phone calls from athletes and coaches reporting competition results, as well as from colleagues in television and radio who needed up-to-date statistics or outcomes. As recalled by his former colleagues, he was a walking sports encyclopedia.

Gatis Ķīsis is the author of the book “The King of the Mountains from Sarkandaugava”, dedicated to cyclist Pēteris Ugrjumovs, and he also contributed to the creation of the book “Cycling in Latvia Across Three Centuries”.

The photographs shown below feature athletes such as Jānis Pipars, Arnolds Ūdris, Ingus Eisaks, Viesturs Bērziņš, Laura Telle-Freimane, Ainars Kiksis, A. Bērziņš, Aldis Cīrulis, Arkādijs Svece, Ernests Pūce, Ivanda Eiduka, Viesturs Bērziņš and others.

📸 Photo gallery

Please note: copying, reproduction or any other use of the published photographs without the written permission of the Cycling Sports Association “Latvello” is prohibited.

Comments, memories and viewer discussions about these photographs can be viewed on the association’s official Facebook page under the respective post.