1. Early Life and Background
Ineta Radēviča was born on July 13, 1981, in Krāslava, which was then part of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. Standing at 5.8 ft (1.78 m) tall and weighing 123 lb (56 kg), Radēviča developed into a prominent figure in Latvian athletics.
2. Athletic Career
Ineta Radēviča's athletic journey saw her compete in various high-level events, achieving national and international recognition before her eventual retirement.
2.1. Early Career and Olympic Debut
Radēviča began her competitive career by achieving success at the collegiate level, notably winning two NCAA championships while representing the University of Nebraska. In 2003, she secured two bronze medals at the 2003 European Athletics U23 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, achieving 22 ft (6.7 m) in the long jump and 46 ft (14.04 m) in the triple jump. Her first major international appearance was at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Santiago, Chile, where she placed 14th in the long jump with a mark of 19 ft (5.93 m).
She made her Olympic debut at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, where she finished 13th in the triple jump with 46 ft (14.12 m) and 20th in the long jump with 21 ft (6.53 m). Prior to the 2004 Olympics, Radēviča gained significant media attention after posing nude for Playboy magazine. Throughout her career, she was coached by Evgeny Ter-Ovanesov.
2.2. Major International Achievements
Radēviča continued to achieve notable results on the international stage. She finished fifth at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships and eighth at the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships. She was unable to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics as she was pregnant at the time.
At the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Radēviča won the gold medal in the long jump, setting a new Latvian national record with a jump of 23 ft (6.92 m). The following year, in 2011, she competed at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea. She initially won the bronze medal in the long jump with a result of 22 ft (6.76 m), but her medal was later upgraded to silver in 2017 after reallocations due to past doping offenses by other competitors. She also participated in the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland, where she placed 20th in the long jump with 21 ft (6.34 m), and the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, where she finished fifth in the long jump with 21 ft (6.55 m).
2.3. 2012 London Olympics and Retirement
Radēviča's final Olympic appearance was at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. She initially placed fourth in the long jump, with Janay DeLoach finishing just one centimeter ahead of her. Following the competition, feeling that her dream of earning an Olympic medal was not going to materialize, she made the decision to retire from professional athletics to dedicate her time to her family.
2.4. Doping Controversy and Disqualification
In May 2019, several years after her retirement, Radēviča faced a doping controversy. A reanalysis of her samples from the 2012 London Olympics yielded a positive test for metabolites of oxandrolone, a prohibited anabolic steroid. As a result, she was officially disqualified from the 2012 Olympic Games, and her fourth-place finish (with an original mark of 23 ft (6.88 m)) was annulled.
3. Competition Records
Ineta Radēviča competed extensively at both junior and senior international levels, achieving notable results throughout her career before her disqualification from the 2012 Olympics.
3.1. Major International Competition Results
| Year | Competition | Venue | Place | Event | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | World Junior Championships | Santiago, Chile | 14th (q) | Long jump | 19 ft (5.93 m) |
| 2003 | European U23 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 3rd | Long jump | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| 3rd | Triple jump | 46 ft (14.04 m) | |||
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 13th | Long jump | 21 ft (6.53 m) |
| 20th | Triple jump | 46 ft (14.12 m) | |||
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 20th | Long jump | 21 ft (6.34 m) |
| 2010 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 1st | Long jump | 23 ft (6.92 m) |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 2nd | Long jump | 22 ft (6.76 m) |
| 2012 | European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 5th | Long jump | 21 ft (6.55 m) |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | DSQ (originally 4th) | Long jump | DSQ (originally 23 ft (6.88 m)) |
3.2. Personal Bests
4. Personal Life
Ineta Radēviča is married to Petr Schastlivy, a Russian ice hockey player. Together, they have two sons and a daughter.
5. Assessment and Legacy
Ineta Radēviča is recognized for her significant contributions to Latvian athletics, particularly in the long jump. Her gold medal at the 2010 European Championships, achieved with a new national record, and her silver medal at the 2011 World Championships represent the pinnacles of her career, solidifying her status as one of Latvia's most successful track and field athletes. These achievements led to her being named Latvian Sportsperswoman of the Year for three consecutive years, from 2010 to 2012.
However, her legacy has been significantly impacted by the doping violation stemming from the reanalysis of her 2012 Olympic samples. The disqualification from the 2012 London Games casts a shadow over her career, highlighting the persistent challenges of doping in sports and how such issues can alter public perception and historical records of athletes' achievements. Despite this, her earlier successes and the national record she set remain notable parts of her athletic history.