Oskars Melbārdis

Oskars Melbārdis

Personal information
Nationality	Latvian
Born	February 16, 1988 Valmiera
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Sport
Country	Latvia
Sport	Bobsleigh
Team	Latvian National Team
Turned pro	2006
Coached by	Sandis Prūsis
Medal record Olympic Games 2014 Sochi Four-man World Championships 2016 Igls Four-man 2015 Winterberg Two-man 2009 Lake Placid Four-man 2015 Winterberg Four-man World Cup Championships 2012–13 Combined 2014–15 Two-man 2014–15 Four-man 2014–15 Combined 2012–13 Two-man 2012–13 Four-man

Oskars Melbārdis (born 16 February 1988) is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 2006. He started his career as a brakeman, most notably competing along Jānis Miņins, however starting from 2010–11 season Melbārdis has been competing as a pilot.

He won a gold medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2016 in Igls, Austria with teammates Daumants Dreiškens, Arvis Vilkaste and Jānis Strenga. It was the first ever World Championships gold medal in bobsled for Latvia.

He won a silver medal in the two-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2015 in Winterberg and two bronze medals in the four-man events at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York and at the FIBT World Championships 2015.

He won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in the four-man event in Sochi and finished 5th in the two-man event.

He won Bobsleigh European Championship four-man events in 2008 and 2015 and finished 3rd in the four-man event in 2016. Melbārdis also finished 2nd in the two-man event in 2015 Bobsleigh European Championship.

Melbārdis won a combined Bobsleigh World Cup title in 2012–13 and 2014–15. He won two-man and four-man World Cup titles in 2014-15 when he had 15 (from 16) podium finishes in two-man and four-man events, including seven first places.

Career highlights

Pilot

World Championships

2013 - St. Moritz, 5th at 2-bob with Dreiškens

2013 - St. Moritz, 9th at 4-bob with Dreiškens / Vilkaste / Strenga

2012 – Lake Placid, 8th at 2-bob with Dreiškens

World Cup

2013/14 – Igls, 1st at 4-bob with Dreiškens / Vilkaste / Strenga

2013/14 – St. Moritz, 1st at 4-bob with Dreiškens / Vilkaste / Strenga

2012/13 – Sochi, 1st at 4-bob with Dreiškens / Vilkaste / Strenga

2012/13 - Sochi, 3rd at 2-bob with Dreiškens

2012/13 – Königssee, 2nd at 2-bob with Dreiškens

2012/13 – Winterberg, 3rd at 4-bob Dreiškens / Vilkaste / Strenga

2012/13 – Park City, 4th at 2-bob with Dreiškens

2011/12 – Calgary, 4th at 4-bob with Lūsis / Vilkaste / Strenga

2011-12 – Königssee, 4th at 4-bob with Lūsis / Vilkaste / Strenga

2011/12 – Winterberg, 3rd at 4-bob with Lūsis / Vilkaste / Strenga

2011/12 – Winterberg, 3rd at 2-bob with Dreiškens

2011/12 – Igls, 4th at 2-bob with Dreiškens

Junior World Championships

2012 – Igls, 1st at 2-bob with Strenga

2012 – Igls, 1st at 4-bob with Lūsis / Vilkaste / Strenga

Brakeman

World Championships

2009 – Lake Placid, 3rd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

World Cup

2009/10 – Park City, 2nd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2008/09 – Park City, 2nd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2008-09 – Park City, 2nd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2008/09 – Whistler, 1st at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2008/09 – Königssee, 3rd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2007/08 – Winterberg, 3rd at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2007/08 – St. Moritz, 1st at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

2007/08 – Cesana, 1st at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

European Championships

2008 – Cesana, 1st at 4-bob with Miņins / Dreiškens / Dambis

References

• Oskars Melbārdis at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing