Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index List of famous Latvians Rainis (real name: Janis Plieksans, 1865-1929), the most distinguished Latvian writer of all time who is the author of a number of poetry collections. Rainis is also acknowledged as the "Man of the 20th Century of Latvia". Imants Zemzaris (1951) - contemporary composer Peteris Vasks - contemporary composer Lucija Garuta (1902-1977) - composer Raimonds Pauls - popular composer, best known in Russia Jukums Vacietis - the first commander of Soviet Army Mikhail Tal (1936-1992) - the 8th World Chess Champion Uljana Semjonova (1952), tallest female basketball player in the Olympic history, 3-time World Champion Janis Lusis (1939), the only athlete (javelin) in Latvia to have a complete Olympic medal set (gold, silver, bronze). Sandis Ozolinsh - ice hockey player (NHL), defense Arturs Irbe - ice hockey player (NHL), goalkeeper Arvids Blumentals - the prototype for the Paul Hogan film Crocodile Dundee Gunars Birkerts - one of the most famous architects in the World Mariss Jansons - conductor Baiba Skride - a starlet violinist numerous opera soloists, such as Inese Galante (soprano) and Egils Silins (bass) Mark Rothko - a famous painter, expressionist See also: List of people by nationality This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.