Press releases

MINSK, 20 March (BelTA) – The Belarusian Paralympians are back home from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. The athletes and coaches were greeted by their friends and loved ones, representatives of the Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Belarusian Paralympics Committee at Minsk National Airport, BelTA has learned.

“There were six debutants among our 15 Paralympic athletes. The result has surpassed all our expectations. The plans were for five medals, taking into account the performance of our athletes at the tournaments during the season. However, we made it to the top ten countries and placed eighth in the medal count. I am very happy with the result,” Chairman of the Belarusian Paralympics Committee Oleg Shepel said. “The government helps us develop the paralympic sports in the country, encourage people with disabilities to take up physical activity. We respond with such a successful performance as in PyeongChang,” he added.

Paralympic champion and three-time medalist Yuri Golub confessed that his mother was his major fan during the games. “The Paralympics were both successful and difficult for me. I won four medals, with every race being more difficult than the previous one. I am grateful to the coaching staff, my fans, my mum, and my hometown Glusk,” Yuri Golub said.

The 12^th Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang became the most successful games for the Belarusian Paralympics sport. Belarus clinched 12 medals in biathlon and cross-country skiing: four gold, four silver and four bronze medals. Svetlana Sakhonenko became a three-time Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing. Yuri Golub won gold in biathlon.

The 13^th Winter Paralympics will take place in Beijing on 4-13 March 2022.