Mairis Briedis: Is There Life Beyond Big Sports?

Mairis Briedis gained worldwide fame when he became the first Latvian professional boxer to win the prestigious IBA world champion title in 2013. At that time, he became not just a celebrity but a hero and a favorite of the entire country. For his sporting achievements, he was awarded the highest state honor of the Republic of Latvia - the Order of the Three Stars. Throughout his career, Mairis achieved many victories, but this book is not about that.

- This book is not so much about Mairis's biography, but rather his reflections on life and his future plans. He writes candidly about his childhood and youth, and about his mistakes. It will be useful for the younger generation and has a confessional nature, - says Alexander Vasilyev, who collected material for the book and communicated with the friends and family of his hero.

On the pages of the book, Mairis talks about his childhood and complicated relationships with his parents. He was not an ideal child: there was his first cigarette and the "spin" he tried as a teenager. The athlete openly admits that he lost an entire year of his life due to substance abuse. And it is unknown how his fate would have unfolded if boxing had not appeared in his life.