Lusis is considered one of the greatest spear history. He took three Olympic medals, won four European golds and set two world records during a career spanning 15 years. He was born in the Latvian city of Jelgava, which was then part of the Soviet Union.

He started his career as a ten-time champion and was fifth in the world in 1962 with 7764 points and then of course had spear as the best branch. He made his Olympic debut in 1964, which ended with a bronze. The highlight was the Olympic gold in Mexico in 1968 where he took over the lead in the sixth and final round with a throw of 90.10, which was Olympic record.

Missed the gold in 1972 by two centimeters

In the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Lusis had a violent duel with the home pitcher Klaus Wolfermann who threw the spear 90.48 away in the fifth round. Lusis got spit out 90.46 in the final round and was two inches from the gold. During the summer, Lusis had set a world record with 93.80 (different emphasis on the spear of that time) and was a big favorite for the gold.

The 1976 Montreal Olympics, Lusis, then 37, became the last Olympic Games. He finished eight and then finished his career and became a coach. In 1987, he was named the best spear thrower of all time by the International Athletics Association.

His son Voldemars also became a javelin thrower and participated in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. In 1969, Lusis married Elvira Ozolina, who won Olympic gold for the Soviet in javelin in Rome in 1960.

Lusis turned 80 and passed away on Wednesday in cancer.