Medal for the capture of Paris

Ivan Litvinovich, Yauheni Zalaty and Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya are Belarusian Olympic heroes  

   

The end of the first week of the Paris 2024 Olympics turned out to be surprisingly eventful and pleasant for all of us: Belarusian athletes won three medals in Paris — gold and two silver. Ivan Litvinovich, who performed his trampoline jumping programme in a scintillating manner, became a two-time Olympic champion. Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya sensationally jumped onto the second step of the podium in the women’s trampoline competition. In an amazing and dramatic rowing race, Yauheni Zalaty fell just a little short of an award that would fully correspond to his surname [‘zalaty’ means ‘gold’ in Belarusian]. However, the silver of the Belarusian athlete is quite comparable to gold. President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated our medallists on their success.

Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya is only 19, and she is a new star that was lit on the Olympic firmament by Olga Vlasova’s coaching staff. Viyaleta is a trainee of the Mogilev trampoline school, which is rich in traditions. Viyaleta performed the qualification above all praise, and despite feeling nervous in the final, she managed to pull herself together and complete her programme almost perfectly. Great job! She might have won gold — and some experts expressed the opinion that British Bryony Page, who became the champion, was clearly overestimated — but silver for someone who made debut is a clear success. 

Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, Belarusian athlete, Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist in trampoline jumping    BELTA 

The circumstances in which this medal was won, and the difficulties that had to be overcome on the way to the podium undoubtedly attach special significance to this award. In an atmosphere of total political lawlessness and discrimination, the Belarusian trampolinists managed to show their best qualities and prove that nothing can break people having moral power.

After his first victory in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ivan Litvinovich returned home a hero. Yet, the fame and success that suddenly fell on the young man’s head neither spoilt nor changed him at all. Being an Olympic champion, he continued to work in the gym harder than anyone else and regularly went on an ordinary route taxi or a train from Vitebsk to Minsk and back to attend sessions and pass exams at the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture, spending seven hours on the road. Ivan has never demanded a special approach or business class, and has remained the same humble guy from Vileika. Now Ivan is a two-time Olympic champion, but you can be sure that this status will not change him, either.

Ivan Litvinovich, Belarusian athlete, two-time Olympic champion in trampoline jumping 

The competitions in Paris have clearly demonstrated that modern trampolining has two leagues — the one of Ivan Litvinovich, where he is alone and inaccessible, and the other of the rest, who are trying to keep up with him, but so far their efforts are comparable to the attempts of a sparrow to fly like a swift. Litvinovich’s Paris gold is the case when one does not need to be an excellent specialist to appreciate all the shapes, twists and somersaults in the athlete’s magic flight. It was pretty clear even to a layman that Ivan’s programme was so packed with complex technical elements, and executed with such amazing precision, grace and ease that there is no doubt — this guy was born to fly, not to crawl. It is impossible not to admire Olga Vlasova’s coaching talent and skills, as well as all other specialists who have put their hearts and knowledge in this triumph of Belarusian sports.
After the gold medal performance in Tokyo, Ivan Litvinovich admitted that he felt emptiness — he was holding the gold medal in his hands and, having realised his dream, did not know what to do next. What dream would be the next one? So he decided to strive to become as titled as Chinese Dong Dong, who is a six-time world champion and a participant in four Olympic Games, where he won gold, two silver and a bronze. Ivan has two gold medals now, and the same number of Olympics. And he is only 23 years old…

Yauheni Zalaty, Belarusian athlete, Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist in rowing      BELTA 

Yauheni Zalaty is a new name in Belarusian rowing. This sport is strongly associated with Yekaterina Karsten, who was named Great for a reason — two gold, two bronze and a silver at the Olympics speak for themselves. There were other successful performances in women’s rowing, but men so far stood modestly on the sidelines. Now this gestalt in Belarusian sovereign sports is closed thanks to Yauheni Zalaty. 
It seemed that everything was against our athlete, but he managed to cope. He won a ticket to the Olympics, despite all the obstacles and discrimination. In Paris, he had to get used to a new rental boat since the Belarusian equipment was not allowed through the border due to sanctions. That is not all. On the way to the water area from the Olympic village for the final race, the bus broke down. The future silver medallist could not arrive in time for the start, but fortunately he managed to contact a representative of the International Olympic Committee and the time was shifted. Then it was a matter of technique, iron nerves and skill. Yauheni Zalaty trailed along at the back for one third of the distance, making everyone think that the steep Olympic rides got the best of him. Yet, it turned out to be tactics — to row according to your power, not paying attention to the rivals, and to spurt at the finish line. The water was boiling under the oars and it seemed that a motor was attached to the Belarusian’s boat — it was moving forward like a cruiser, with his rivals falling off one by one. Zalaty’s silver finish was indescribable, as well as the delight of the whole country. Well done!     
We are waiting for successful performances by other Belarusian Olympians. 

By Sergei Kanashits