The Hague, the Netherlands, June 24, 2014 – Martins Plavins has stepped in to replace the injured Janis Smedins as partner to Aleksandrs Samoilovs for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, Netherlands 2015.
Samoilovs and Smedins won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in 2013 and 2014, but Smedins has been forced to withdraw to recover from surgery from a meniscus tear. Smedins’ aim is to return for the FIVB Major Series Gstaad event that takes place the week following the World Championships, from July 7-12.
“Today, after a meeting with our coaches and physiotherapists we have decided it would be best if Janis fully recovers and begins to play 100% on the Swiss leg,” the pair tweeted.
Plavins has previously played with both Smedins and Samoilovs. Alongside Smedins the pair won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games and a week later won their first World Tour event at the Stare Jablonki Grand Slam. However, they split at the season’s end when Smedins teamed up with Samoilovs.
Plavins also enjoyed success with Samoilovs over a seven-year partnership. They won gold at the 2005 FIVB U21 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro and competed in 35 World Tour events together. Their best moment came at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when they defeated the then world champions and eventual Olympic champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser in their opening match.
Most recently Plavins won gold at the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan along with Haralds Regza.