Exploring Estonia’s Olympic Heritage: Tracing Medalists with Estonian Roots and Connections

The Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, in collaboration with the Cultural Diversity Year team, investigated the backgrounds of the athletes who have brought medals to Estonia from the Olympic Games over the years, and which athletes with Estonian roots and connections have been successful in representing another country.  

Ernst Brasche 

Baltic German Ernst Brasche, born in Tallinn, won a bronze medal in the 10-meter mixed yacht class on the yacht Gallia II at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. 

Kalevi Kotkas 

Kalevi Kotkas, an athlete of Estonian origin, represented Finland in the high jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. A gifted athlete, Kotkas came from a family with a sports tradition—his brother, Kallio (Kalju) Kotkas, was also a notable athlete and referee. Their father, Juhan Kotkas, was a respected violin teacher and composer from Tartu, known for authoring the first violin textbook in Estonian. 

Igor Netto 

Igor Netto, a footballer of Estonian descent, represented the Soviet Union at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. His parents were Estonians, and he played a key role in leading the Soviet team to victory, earning a gold medal in football. Netto was considered one of the country's greatest players ever. 

Edvin Vesterby 

The Estonian Swede Edvin Vesterby won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, representing Sweden. Vesterby was born on October 23, 1927, in the village of Riguldi in Lääne-Nigula Parish, into an Estonian Swedish family, and emigrated to Sweden in 1944. He began his sporting career in 1946 in Stockholm under the guidance of Robert Oksa. 

Pavel Senitšev 

Pavel Senitšev, a Soviet Union marksman specializing in trap shooting, competed at both the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He lived much of his life in Estonia, where he also passed away, and was a champion in both shooting and decathlon. 

Svetlana Tširkova 

Svetlana Chirkova, a fencer born in Chuvashia and a resident of Estonia since 1950, won gold medals at both the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics as part of the Soviet Union’s women’s "team foil". 

Larissa Tsarjova 

Larissa Tsarjova, a swimmer born in Tallinn, competed for the Soviet Union in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Throughout her career, Tsarjova set several records and was known for her prowess in various swimming disciplines, particularly in freestyle and medley events.  

Tiina Lillak 

Tiina Lillak, an accomplished javelin thrower, represented Finland at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Her father, Ivar, was born in Estonia, and her athletic roots run deep. Her grandfather, Verner Lillak, was a motorsport competitor, while her grandmother, Ilse Lauba, was one of Estonia’s top swimmers in the 1920s. 

Valentina Tšerkassova-Makarova 

Valentina Tšerkassova-Makarova, born in Jõhvi, was a Soviet marksman who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in the small-bore rifle event. A three-time Estonian champion, she has made significant contributions to the sport. 

Vladimir Reznitšenko 

Vladimir Reznitšenko, an epee fencer, competed for Germany at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Originally from Kazakstan, Reznichenko moved to Estonia from 1984 to 1990, where he became the champion of the Estonian SSR in both individual and team epee. 

Håkan Loob 

Håkan Loob, an ice hockey player with Estonian heritage through his father, represented Sweden at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Considered one of Sweden's best hockey players of all time, Loob's exceptional performance helped Sweden secure a gold medal in ice hockey. 

Oksana Jermakova 

Oksana Jermakova, born in Tallinn, is a celebrated fencer who holds the distinction of being the first Estonian athlete to become a world champion under the blue-black-white flag in 1993. As one of Estonia's most accomplished athletes, Jermakova later represented Russia in team epee events, securing gold medals at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.  

Adam Kreek 

Adam Kreek, a Canadian rower with Estonian heritage, won gold in the men's eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Adam is connected to Estonia by his father, whose parents Aleksander Kreek and Helmi Truupõld left Estonia for Sweden before the Second World War. His grandfather Aleksander was a prominent Estonian athlete (champion shot-putter and discus thrower), whose legacy Adam continues. 

Kevin Richard Light 

Kevin Richard Light, another member of Canada’s gold-winning men's eight rowing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, traces his roots back to Estonia through his grandparents. After fleeing Estonia in 1949, they made the journey to Sweden, and later crossed the ocean to Canada on a fishing boat with 50 others. Though Kevin’s connection to Estonia is generations deep, he still knows the words "vanaisa" and "vanaema" and can sing "Ta elagu!" in Estonian. 

Leo Komarov 

Leo Komarov, an ice hockey player of Ingrian and Russian descent born in Narva, won a bronze medal with the Finnish national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. In 2012, Komarov also became the first National Hockey League (North America) player who was born in Estonia. 

Ilona Korstin 

Ilona Korstin, whose father Kalju comes from Ida-Virumaa, represented Russia in basketball at the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympics. Having been called one of the best female basketball players in Europe, Korstin's legacy in the sport is well-established. 

Mellisa Hollingsworth 

Mellisa Hollingsworth, a skeleton racer from Canada, competed at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Born in the small town of Eckville, the so-called "Estonian capital," Mellisa’s Estonian roots trace back to two pioneering migrants, Hendrik Kingsep and Gustav Mõttus, who journeyed to Canada in the early 20th century.  

Natalja Zabijako 

Natalja Zabijako, a figure skater born in Tallinn, represented Estonia from 2009 to 2014 before competing for Russia at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in the mixed team event, where she earned a gold medal. Still connected to her roots, Zabijako remains close to her homeland, visiting family in Tallinn whenever possible. 

Aivi Luik 

Aivi Luik, an Australian footballer with Estonian maternal grandparents, represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Luik made her debut for the Australian national team in 2010 and has since earned over 30 caps, participating in major tournaments such as the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Throughout her career, she has played for clubs in nine different countries. Reflecting on her heritage, Aivi says, "Estonian blood has helped me reach where I am now in my career." 

Erika Kirpu 

Fencer Erika Kirpu, of Estonian and Ingrian-Finnish descent, was born in Moscow. In 2021, she became an Olympic champion at the Tokyo Olympics as part of Estonia’s “Golden Women’s Team.” Since 2016, she has been living and training in Milan, Italy. 

River Radamus 

River Radamus, a U.S. alpine skier, competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics in both mixed team events and giant slalom. Radamus, grandson of Vaike Laine and Vaido Radamus—who ended up in Argentina through a lottery from a refugee camp in the 1940s—spoke about his heritage in an interview, saying, “It's a big part of who I am, and I'd love to get to know the place and the people there more. I don't want to show off my origin if I don't feel I've earned it".