Latvia's Jeļena Rubļevska has won the silver medal in the women's modern pentathalon during the Summer Olympics in Athens

Latvia's Jeļena Rubļevska has won the silver medal in the women's modern pentathalon during the Summer Olympics in Athens. Her Aug. 27 victory brings to three the number of silver medals the nation has won. Athletes in the modern pentathalon compete in shooting, fencing, riding, swimming and running events. Rubļevska’s best performance came in fencing, where she registered 23 victories and eight defeats, earning her first place. “After fencing, I tried to do my best,” Rubļevska told the Olympic News Service after earning her medal. “I think I performed as well as I could.” A day earlier in the men’s modern pentathalon, Deniss Čerkovskis took fourth place overall. The other two silver medals were earned Aug. 23 by gymnast Jevgeņijs Saproņenko in the vault and Aug. 27 by weightlifter Viktors Ščerbatihs +105-kilogram group. Athletes from Latvia who earn medals in the Olympics may expect premiums from the government: up to LVL 100,000 for a gold, up to LVL 50,000 for a silver and up to LVL 30,000 for a bronze.