Sigulda (pps). Great honour for Vera Zozula: At the VIESSMANN Luge World Cup in Sigulda (Latvia, 17th und 18th February 2007) the latvian-born Luge-Olympic.Champion of 1980 became the sixth member of the „Hall of fame“ of the International Luge Federation FIL.
Vera Zozula was born at 15th January 1956 in Talsi (Latvia), which was at that time part of the Union of Socialistic Sowjet Republics. The gold medals at the Olympic Games in Lake Placid (USA) 1980, at the World Championships 1978 in Imst (Austria) and at the European Championships 1976 in Hammarstrand (Sweden) were the highlights of the athletes career of Vera Zozula.
After finishing her active sports career, the Vice World Champion of 1977 trained young luge athletes in the USSR, in Poland and in Latvia and is luge-trainer until now. Vice president of the FIL Einars Fogelis congratulated Vera Zozula for being now member of the „Hall of Fame“ and presented her a certificate and an oil painting, showing the athlete in her race dress.
At the little ceremony at the VIESSMANN Luge World Cup in Sigulda, also luge-judge Andris Svalbe from Latvia as well as the trainer of the Latvian Junior-team and member of the FIL-Youth Commission Aivars Kalnins were honoured for long years of work with the bronze medal of honour.