![Rise of a Cinderella: How Latvia's Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins became No. 1 in the world - YouTube Rise of a Cinderella: How Latvia's Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins became No. 1 in the world - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NGhG_Y3v4dM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Rise of a Cinderella: How Latvia's Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins became No. 1 in the world - YouTube
![Aleksandrs Samoilovs (R) of Latvia celebrates with his team mate Janis Smedins after winning their Rio Open men's beach volleyball final match against Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany on Copacabana Aleksandrs Samoilovs (R) of Latvia celebrates with his team mate Janis Smedins after winning their Rio Open men's beach volleyball final match against Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany on Copacabana](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CJ1M81/aleksandrs-samoilovs-r-of-latvia-celebrates-with-his-team-mate-janis-smedins-after-winning-their-rio-open-mens-beach-volleyball-final-match-against-markus-bockermann-and-lars-fluggen-of-germany-on-copacabana-beach-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil-september-6-2015-the-rio-open-of-beach-volleyball-is-a-test-event-for-rio-2016-olympic-games-reuterssergio-moraes-2CJ1M81.jpg)
Aleksandrs Samoilovs (R) of Latvia celebrates with his team mate Janis Smedins after winning their Rio Open men's beach volleyball final match against Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany on Copacabana
![Samoilovs Šmēdiņš on Twitter: "FIVB honors: 🏆 Aleksandrs Samoilovs: Sportsperson of the Year 🏆 Janis Smedins: Best setter (second time in career) #SAMSME #beachworldtour https://t.co/ZtR0AJ8jFZ" / Twitter Samoilovs Šmēdiņš on Twitter: "FIVB honors: 🏆 Aleksandrs Samoilovs: Sportsperson of the Year 🏆 Janis Smedins: Best setter (second time in career) #SAMSME #beachworldtour https://t.co/ZtR0AJ8jFZ" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmMRF1cX0AEE4lK.jpg)
Samoilovs Šmēdiņš on Twitter: "FIVB honors: 🏆 Aleksandrs Samoilovs: Sportsperson of the Year 🏆 Janis Smedins: Best setter (second time in career) #SAMSME #beachworldtour https://t.co/ZtR0AJ8jFZ" / Twitter
News - Lion King continues to roar as Samoilovs and Smedins lead way to Moscow final - Corrientes GRAND SLAM
![Jurmala, Latvia. 24th Aug, 2019. Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia celebrates during the men's round 2 match between Janis Smedins/Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia and Selcuk Sekerci/Safa Urlu of Turkey at FIVB Beach Volleyball Jurmala, Latvia. 24th Aug, 2019. Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia celebrates during the men's round 2 match between Janis Smedins/Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia and Selcuk Sekerci/Safa Urlu of Turkey at FIVB Beach Volleyball](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/WB79Y1/jurmala-latvia-24th-aug-2019-aleksandrs-samoilovs-of-latvia-celebrates-during-the-mens-round-2-match-between-janis-smedinsaleksandrs-samoilovs-of-latvia-and-selcuk-sekercisafa-urlu-of-turkey-at-fivb-beach-volleyball-world-tour-in-jurmala-latvia-aug-24-2019-credit-edijs-palensxinhua-credit-xinhuaalamy-live-news-WB79Y1.jpg)
Jurmala, Latvia. 24th Aug, 2019. Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia celebrates during the men's round 2 match between Janis Smedins/Aleksandrs Samoilovs of Latvia and Selcuk Sekerci/Safa Urlu of Turkey at FIVB Beach Volleyball
![Aleksandrs Samoilovs (L) of Latvia celebrates with his team mate Janis Smedins after winning their Rio Open men's beach volleyball final match against Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany on Copacabana Aleksandrs Samoilovs (L) of Latvia celebrates with his team mate Janis Smedins after winning their Rio Open men's beach volleyball final match against Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany on Copacabana](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CRJT8B/aleksandrs-samoilovs-l-of-latvia-celebrates-with-his-team-mate-janis-smedins-after-winning-their-rio-open-mens-beach-volleyball-final-match-against-markus-bockermann-and-lars-fluggen-of-germany-on-copacabana-beach-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil-september-6-2015-the-rio-open-of-beach-volleyball-is-a-test-event-for-rio-2016-olympic-games-reuterssergio-moraes-2CRJT8B.jpg)