Visvaldis Melderis, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Visvaldis Melderis

Latvian basketball player (1915-1944)

Date of Birth: 19-Jan-1915

Place of Birth: Jelgava, Latvia

Date of Death: 14-Jul-1944

Profession: basketball player

Nationality: Latvia

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About Visvaldis Melderis

  • Visvaldis Melderis (19 January 1915 – 14 July 1944) was a Latvian basketball player.
  • Melderis won a gold medal at the 1935 EuroBasket competition, becoming the first European champion.
  • He participated also at the 1936 Summer Olympics and at the 1937 EuroBasket and EuroBasket 1939. Visvaldis Melderis was born in 19 January, 1915 in Jelgava.
  • He graduated Jelgava 2nd.
  • gymnasium and was drafted into Latvian Army.
  • While in army he started to play basketball for army team Rigas ASK.
  • He became two time latvian champion with Rigas ASK (1939, 1940).
  • He was a captain of Latvian national basketball team from 1938 until 1940.
  • He continued to play basketball during period of Nazi occupation and became latvian champion for the third time in 1942 playing for RDKA team.
  • Overall he has played 40 games in latvian national basketball team.
  • He has also tried other sports like football and track and field.
  • In Latvian track and field championship in 1934 he won bronze medal in Shot put. As a former corporal of Latvian Army Melderis was conscripted into Latvian Legion in 1943 and deployed to Eastern front as a part of the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian).
  • He took part in many battles and was killed in action during defensive battles near Latvian border around Opochka, Pskov Oblast.

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