Weightlifter Viktors Ščerbatihs has earned Latvia’s second silver medal of the Summer Olympics in Athens. Competing in the +105-kilogram group, the 135-kilogram athlete from Dobele on Aug. 25 lifted a combined total of 455 kilograms.

Ščerbatihs lifted 205 kilograms in the snatch and 250 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for a total of 455 kilograms. The gold medal went to Hossein Reza Zadeh of Iran and the bronze to Velichko Cholakov of Bulgaria.

“I never expected to win the gold medal,” Ščerbatihs told Olympic News Service. “Reza Zadeh is unbeatable at present. Maybe someone will break his records in the future.”

Gymnast Jevgeņijs Saproņenko won Latvia’s first medal of these OIympics, a silver in the men’s vault competition, on Aug. 23.

For a compilation of Latvia’s performance in the Summer Olympics, visit the special section of Latvians Online found here.