Iluta Gaile (born 10 December 1968)[1] is a Latvian businesswoman, politician and former luger, who competed at four Winter Olympic Games. She is a former deputy for Riga City Council.

Iluta Gaile
Born (1968-12-10) 10 December 1968 (age 55)
NationalityLatvian
Years active1988 – 2002 (luger)
2002 – (businesswomen)
Known forLuger
Businesswomen and politician
Political partyPeople's Party
Sports career
CountryLatvia
SportLuge
Retired2002
Sports achievements and titles
Olympic finals1992, 1994, 1998, 2002
Regional finals1988, 1989, 1990 (USSR)
National finals1988, 1994, 1998, 2000
Medal record
Luge
USSR National Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Luge
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Luge
Silver medal – second place 1990 Luge
Latvia SSR National Championship
Gold medal – first place 1988 Luge
Latvian National Championship
Gold medal – first place 1994 Luge
Gold medal – first place 1998 Luge
Gold medal – first place 2000 Luge

Personal life

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Gaile was born in Cēsis, Latvia SSR (now Latvia), and grew up in Stalbe.[2] As of 2017, Gaile lived in Sigulda.[2] As a teenager, Gaile trained on the Cēsis track.[2]

Sporting career

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Gaile competed in the luge event at four Winter Olympic Games. She finished 10th in 1992, 17th in 1994, 14th in 1998, and 10th in 2002.[1][3][4]

In 1988 and 1989, she came third in the USSR national championships, and in 1990, she came second in the event.[1] In 1988, she won the Latvia SSR national championships, and in 1994, 1998, and 2000, she won the Latvian national championships.[1] She was part of the Latvian team that won the 1991 Luge World Cup event in Germany.[2] Her best individual result at the FIL World Luge Championships was 8th in 2001.[5]

Political career

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After retiring from luge, Gaile undertook a master's degree in entrepreneurship.[2] She later set up a recruitment company, IG Konsultācijas.[2][5] In 2005, she stood for the People's Party as a deputy for Riga City Council. She was not initially selected, but was given the seat after Jānis Freimanis [lv] died in 2006.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Iluta Gaile". Latvian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Dzintare, Marta (22 December 2017). "Iluta Gaile: "Mēs nekad neesam dzīvojuši tik labi kā tagad"" [Iluta Gaile: "We have never lived as good as we are now"] (in Latvian). Aprinkis. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. ^ Latvijas enciklopēdija [Latvian Encyclopedia] (in Latvian). Vol. 2. Valērija Belokoņa Publishing House. 2003. p. 546.
  4. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Iluta Gaile". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b Grīnberga, Arita; Upīte, Ieva (12 December 2017). "Uzņēmēja, bijusī kamaniņu braucēja Iluta Gaile" [Former businessman, former luge driver, Iluta Gaile]. Public Broadcasting of Latvia (in Latvian). Retrieved 10 February 2020.
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