Latvian racewalking athlete Aigars Fadejevs passes away

RIGA - Aigars Fadejevs, a Latvian racewalking athlete who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, has passed away at age 48.

Fadejevs, born on December 27, 1975 in Valka, competed in three Olympic Games during his career. At the 1996 Summer Olympic in Atlanta, he finished sixth in the men's 20 km walk, won silver in the 50 walk and finished 14th in the 20 km walk at the Sydney Olympics. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, he took 11th and 9th place in these disciplines, respectively.

In 1998, Fadejevs won silver at the European Championships in the 20 km walk, and the year before he won the European U-23 title. His best result at the world championships was fourth place in the 50-kilometre walk at the 2001 World Championships.

Fadejevs holds several Latvian racewalking records.

After his athletic career, Fadejevs worked as a physiotherapist, including with world-class stars such as the late NBA player Kobe Bryant.