- Title: LATVIA-DEFENCE/STRONGMAN Latvia appoints strongman as defence minister
- Date: 30th July 2015
- Summary: RIGA, LATVIA (FILE - 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BERGMANIS TAKING PART IN ANNUAL WEIGHING OF GALAPAGOS TORTOISES AT RIGA ZOO
- Embargoed: 14th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Latvia
- Country: Latvia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2J3FDEY5H77OSMG5JMVALQUC4
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Latvia's new defence minister knows a thing or two about shows of strength - as a former Olympic weightlifter and strongman competitor, Raimonds Bergmanis has been known to lift loads of 150kg.
Looking somewhat trimmer now than in his strongman heyday, the 48-year-old was appointed to the post on July 8, replacing Raimonds Vejonis, who takes over as president.
Having swapped shorts and sweatbands for suits, Bergmanis nevertheless sees parallels between the very different demands of the two jobs - which he says have more in common than you might think.
"I have to admit, it is pretty easy for me as a former athlete here in the office as sport is goal-oriented. Every athlete knows what he has to do and how much effort he has to make to reach his goals. Here it is the same," he said on Thursday (July 30).
In the past Bergmanis has lifted everything from logs to Atlas stones and even tortoises at the annual weighting of the Galapagos variety at Riga zoo.
Now he has to throw his weight behind Latvia's security challenges, and has already been to oversee military exercises in his new capacity.
He may lack political experience, but Bergmanis is at least used to long hours, traveling on the job and the pressure of representing his country - he competed for Latvia at the Olympic games in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney during his sporting career.
The ten-time Latvian weightlifting champion should also be used to the limelight, having entertained crowds at numerous strongman competitions and subsequently enjoyed a spell as a TV host. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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