Rolands Upatnieks
Rolands Upatnieks is a notable Latvian engineer and former coach in the sport of luge, recognized for his pivotal role in establishing the first bobsleigh team for the Soviet Union in the 1980s, which was primarily composed of Latvian athletes. His innovative contributions to the sport include the design of the legendary bobsleigh known as the 'Latvian Rockets,' which revolutionized bobsleighing. Upatnieks' story is central to the theatrical production 'Latviešu raķetes,' which will be showcased at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad, symbolizing Latvia's rich bobsleigh heritage.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Rolands Upatnieks is a bobsleigh coach whose achievements are highlighted in the context of the play.
Latvieši var, varēja un varēs! / Diena
Latvia· 2026-02-07
Rolands Upatnieks is the engineer and coach whose story inspired the play 'Latviešu raķetes', which tells about the history of Latvian bobsleigh.
LOK pirmo reizi uz Olimpiskajām spēlēm ved arī kultūras pasākumu / DienaLatvia· 2025-10-30