Press releases

MINSK, 31 August (BelTA) – I will start training for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in October, the 2015 women's 800m world champion Marina Arzamasova told reporters at Minsk National Airport as she returned from Beijing on 31 August, BelTA has learned.

“I am so happy to have won this medal for our country, my family and fans. Alina Talay and I were pleased to receive congratulations from the head of state. Even though my result in the final race was not very fast, technically I managed to do everything right and did not lose to the main rivals. My coach and I have set much higher goals for 2016. This season, I will take part in the IAAF Diamond League and the Military World Games in South Korea. After that I will take a short break, and then will start training for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics in October 2015,” Marina Arzamasova explained.

Marina Arzamasova is the first Belarusian to win a world championship gold medal in running since Belarus became a sovereign state.

Belarus’ team at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing won two medals, Marina Arzamasova’s gold in the women's 800 meters and Alina Talay’s bronze in the women's 100 meters hurdles. The national team placed 14th in the overall medal standings.