For Latvian fans watching the Winter Olympics tally, the steady rise of Mārtiņš Rubenis in the men’s individual luge event rankings was a joy to behold, capped only by seeing the 27-year-old claim the bronze medal on Feb. 12.

The 27-year-old from Rīga finished fifth in the first run Feb. 11 with a time of 51.913 seconds, or 0.195 behind the leader, Italy’s Armin Zoeggler. Rubenis’ second run was clocked at 51.497 seconds, giving him a combined time of 1 minute, 43.410 seconds—good enough to move him into fourth place overall, according to the official Web site of the games, www.torino2006.org.

The luge competition is based on the combined time of four runs. The Olympic event took place at Cesana Pariol, Italy.

During the third run Feb. 12, Rubenis slowed down a bit, finishing in 51.561 seconds, but his overall time of 2:34.971 moved him up a notch to third place, bumping Tony Benshoof of the United States into fourth place. Zoeggler kept hold of first place. Russia’s Albert Demtschenko, who set a track record in the third run with a time of 51.396, moved into second.

Those contending for medals were scheduled at the end of the fourth run, adding to the suspense over who would win.

Rubenis finished in 51.438 for a combined time of 3:26.445, leaving him third place and earning the bronze medal.

The silver went to Demtschenko, who had a combined time of 3:26.198. The gold went to Zoeggler, who won with a combined time of 3:26.088.

Benshoof, viewed by several observers as America’s best hope to finally win a medal in the event, clocked in at 51.559, for a combined time of 3:26.598, landing him in fourth place overall.

This was the third time Rubenis competed in the Winter Olympics. During the 1998 games in Nagano, Rubenis finished 14th overall. Then, in the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, Rubenis was injured during his second run and did not continue in the contest.

Also in the men’s individual luge event in Torino, Latvia’s Kaspars Dumpis finished 17th overall with a combined time of 3:29.288 and Guntis Rēķis was 21st with 3:30.156.

Latvian hockey player Sandis Ozoliņš, who has been in a substance abuse and behavioral program since Dec. 29, was expected to be released from the program and could play for his homeland team in the Winter Olympics, the Los Angeles Times reported Feb. 12.

Ozoliņš, a defenseman for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League, might be able to return to the California-based team after playing in the Olympics, General Manager Brian Burke told the newspaper.

Ozoliņš, who has been battling injuries, has only played in 13 games this season, the newspaper reported. The NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced Dec. 29 that Ozoliņš voluntarily entered the substance abuse and behavioral program. Ozoliņš has a 2005-2006 contract with the Mighty Ducks valued at USD 2.75 million, according to the NHLPA.

Ozoliņš also played for Latvia during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The Latvian hockey team’s first appearance in 2006 games is Feb. 15 when it goes up against the United States.

Ilmārs Bricis of Latvia took 19th place in the men’s 20-kilometer individual biathlon event as the first day of competition began Feb. 11 at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Bricis finished the course in a time of 57 minutes, 19.2 seconds, according to the official Web site of the games, www.torino2006.org. In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Bricis finished 39th, but with a faster time of 56:24.4.

The gold medal in this year’s event went to Germany’s Michael Greis, who finished the course in a time of 54:23.0. Norway’s Ole Einar Bjørndalen, a five-time Olympic champion favored by some observes to repeat a gold medal performance this time, took the silver. His teammate, Halvard Hanevold, won the bronze medal.

The biathlon event took place at Cesana San Sicario.

Latvia’s Jānis Bērziņš took 37th place with a time of 59:24.3, Kristaps Lībietis finished 69th with a time of 1:03:13.4, and Edgars Piksons finished in 80th place with a time of 1:06:12.5.