Press releases

MINSK, 25 August (BelTA) - Belarusian Anna Tarasiuk won gold in javelin throw at the ongoing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, BelTA has learned. This is the fifth gold Award for Team Belarus in China.

Anna Tarasiuk’s result in the final was 59m 52cm. That was her personal best and Belarus’ national record among girls. The Belarusian led from her first attempt with 55m70cm before extending her lead with her best throw in round four. On the way to the final, in the qualification, the Belarusian also was the best (55m 48cm), with the nearest opponent lagging more than 2.5m behind her. Germany's Fabienne Schonig took silver (53m 68cm). Japan's Nagisa Mori finished in third with 52m 27cm.

Anna Tarasiuk is a silver medalist of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2013, winner of the Euro-Asian Youth Games 2013and the World Gymnasiade 2013. She is coached by her mother Natalia Shikolenko, the silver medalist of the Summer Olympic Games 1992 in javelin throw,

Young Belarusian Olympians have so far clinched eight (five gold, three silver) medals. Kristina Staroselets collected gold in the 1000m Junior Women’s Single Sculls. Tennis player Irina Shimanovich bagged the gold medal together with Ukraine’s Angelina Kalinina in the women’s doubles. Belarusian judoist Dmitry Minkov and runner Elvira German (100m hurdles) claimed silver medals.

At the previous Youth Olympic Games in 2010 the Belarusian team won 6 (one gold, four silver and one bronze) medals.

At the Summer Youth Olympic Games in China Belarus filed a delegation of 34 athletes in 16 sports. The competitions will be over on 27 August.