Our guide to the Swatch World Tour finalists begins with the top-ranked boys from Latvia

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Samoilovs (left) and Smedins have had great success so far this season. Photocredit: Martin Steinthaler.

Team: Samoilovs/Smedins

Nation: Latvia

2015/16 FIVB World Tour ranking position: 1

2015/16 FIVB World Tour points: 5,910

2016 medals: 5 (Three gold, two bronze)

Leading the way at the top of the World Tour ranking, Latvian pair Aleksandrs Samoilovs, aka the Lion King, and Janis Smedins have enjoyed a stunning 2016.

After a slow start to the campaign the pair really found their form and lifted themselves on the podium a fantastic five times in their last nine tournaments. Included in their haul of medals were golds at the Antalya Open, the Olsztyn Grand Slam and, most recently, at the A1 Major Klagenfurt.

Despite a surprise early exit at the Rio Olympics, the duo will be a force to be reckoned with on Canadian soil.

Fun fact! The team’s coaches are their fathers, Andris Smedins and Genadijs Samoilovs.