Today Russian President Vladimir Putin presented State Awards to the winners of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Nine athletes were awarded with the Orders of Honor and 43 became knights of the Order of Friendship. Silver and bronze medalists were awarded with Medals of the Order “For Services to the Fatherland”, I and II degrees. Also, all Olympians who managed to distinguish themselves were presented with the BMW cars.
Today under Presidential Decree of August 25 the following athletes were awarded with orders and medals ‘for high sports achievements at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad held in 2016 in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the will to win, commitment and dedication and a great contribution to the development of national sport’:
Order of Honor – Anastasia Bliznyuk (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Sofia Velikaya and Jana Egoryan (Fencing), Roman Vlasov (Greco-Roman Wrestling), Natalia Ishchenko, Svetlana Romashina, Alexandra Patskevich, Alla Shishkina (Synchronized Swimming), Aliya Mustafina (Gymnastics);
Order of Friendship – Denis Ablyazin, Maria Paseka (Gymnastics), Olga Akopyan Irina Bliznova, Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Anna Vyahireva, Daria Dmitrieva, Tatiana Erokhina, Victoria Zhilinskayte, Ekaterina Ilyina, Victoria Kalinina, Polina Kuznetsova, Ekaterina Marennikova, Maya Petrova, Anna Sedoykina, Anna Sen’, Marina Sudakova (Handball), Artur Ahmathuzin, Julia Gavrilova, Inna Deriglazova Ekaterina Dyachenko, Timur Safin, Alexei Cheremisinov (Fencing) Vera Biryukova, Anastasia Maximova, Margarita Mamun, Anastasia Tatareva, Maria Tolkacheva (Gymnastics), Elena Vesnina, Ekaterina Makarova (Tennis), Yuliya Efimova (Swimming), Svetlana Kolesnichenko, Gelena Topilina, Vlada Chigiryova, Maria Shurochkina Elena Prokofieva (Synchronized Swimming), Alexander Lesun (Modern Pentathlon), Beslan Mudranov, Hassan Khalmurzaev (Judo), Soslan Ramonov, Abdulrashid Sadullayev (Wrestling), Evgeny Tishchenko (Boxing), Davit Chakvetadze (Greco-Roman Wrestling);
Medals of the Order “For Services to the Fatherland”, I degree – Misha Aloyan (Boxing), Vitalina Batsarashkina, Sergei Kamensky (Bullet Shooting), David Belyawski, Nikolai Kuksenkov, Angelina Melnikova, Nikita Nagorniy, Daria Spiridonova, Ivan Stretovych, Seda Toutkhalian (Gymnastics), Anastasia Voinova, Olga Zabelinskaya, Daria Shmeleva (Cycling), Natalia Vorobieva, Aniuar Geduev, Valeriya Koblova (Wrestling), Tuyana Dashidorzhieva, Ksenia Perova, Inna Stepanova (Archery), Alexey Denisenko (Taekwondo), Yana Kudryavtseva (Gymnastics);
Medals of the Order “For Services to the Motherland”, II degree – Roman Anoshkin (Canoe Sprint), Anastasia Belyakova, Vitaly Dunaitsev, Vladimir Nikitin (Boxing), Maria Borisova, Nadejda Glyzina, Olga Gorbunova, Anna Grinyova, Evgenia Ivanova, Elvina Karimova, Anna Karnaukh, Ekaterina Lisunova, Ekaterina Prokofieva, Anastasia Simanovich, Evgenia Soboleva, Anna Timofeeva, Anna Ustyukhina (Water Polo), Ekaterina Bukina (Wrestling), Kirill Grigoryan, Vladimir Maslennikov (Bullet Shooting), Denis Dmitriev (Cycling), Stefania Elfutina (Sailing), Violetta Kolobova, Olga Kochneva, Tatiana Logunova, Lyubov Shutova (Fencing), Natalia Kuzyutina (Judo), Eugeniy Rylov, Anton Chupkov (Swimming), Sergey Semenov (Greco-Roman Wrestling)
Solemn ceremony of awarding medals took place at the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. Silver and Bronze medalists were awarded by the Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko and Presidential Aide Igor Levitin.
In his speech, Vladimir Putin congratulated all the Olympians on the successful performance at the 2016 Games.
“I want to thank you all for having gone through severe trials with flying colors. You have shown high proficiency, strong will and proved Russia’s strong position in sport. I would like to express special gratitude to the Russian team’s mentors, coaches, doctors and other specialists. I would also like to note the significant work done by the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee.
We know how difficult it has been for our athletes in Rio. On the eve of the competition the team has been cut by almost a third. We were deprived of the opportunity to show our skills in those sports, where Russia has traditionally been a recognized favorite. But our team – you, my friends – coped with all the difficulties, you were one team, you proved that the victory depends not only on the number, though in this case the number was important, but, at least, and perhaps more importantly, the abilities . You acted like real fighters, you did not break, but fought and won,” Vladimir Putin addedproved that the victory is given not only the number, but in this case, and the number was important, but also – not least, and perhaps more importantly – the ability to . How real fighters, not floated, not broken, and fought and won.
I would like to stress that Russian athletes were supported not only by our country. You were believed in and supported by all those who share the Olympic movement’s values, for whom sport is not just a show, but a symbol of justice, equality, mutual respect and cooperation. “
In addition, the President expressed his support for the Russian Paralympians who have been banned from the Games in Rio.
“The decision on the disqualification of our Paralympians is against the law, against morality and humanity. It is cynical to take it out on those for whom sport has become the meaning of life, whose example gives hope and faith to millions of people with disabilities. You know, I even feel pity for those who make such decisions, because they cannot but understand that it is humiliating for themselves. I want to say to our Paralympians that, of course, we will support you, and we will arrange special competitions where you will show your skills. And reward for the winners will be no less than it would have been after the Paralympic Games”, said Vladimir Putin.
The Russian President also said that this year the Olympians Foundation will give special rewards to the best Russian athletes, who were deprived of participation in the 2016 Games.
At the end of the award ceremony the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev presented the keys to BMW vehicles to the Russian Olympic team members at the Ivanovskaya Square of the Moscow Kremlin. Olympic champions became the owners of the X6 model, silver medalists received X4, and bronze medalists – X3.
We will remind that at the Games in Rio, Russian athletes won 56 medals – 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze. 107 athletes returned home with awards.
