2023 CIS Games: Victory in pentathlon and a legend in Brest

The 2nd CIS Games that are currently underway in Belarus have already reached their midpoint. On 10 August new heroes of the Games were named.

On Thursday, the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture hosted two medal events in quadrathlon among female athletes.

Maria Gnedchik of Belarus won the individual event. In addition to that, she topped the podium in the team event alongside her teammates Mira Bura and Anastasia Malashenoka.

“I did not believe that I would win till the last moment. I realized that I was going to win only when I was 50 meters before the finish line and my coach Yelena Nyrtsova handed me the flag. I was running all the way with a thought that I was competing against a very strong field and the victory was just a matter of luck. I had been missing such competitions, I did not expect to see so many girls and boys of my age from different countries here.

Competitions in one of the most medal-rich sports – swimming - started at the Water Sports Palace in Brest. In the morning four-time Olympic champion Vladimir Salnikov visited the competitions. He was flanked by Chair of the Belarusian Swimming Federation Ella Selitskaya and Vice President of the NOC of Belarus Dmitry Dovgalyonok. The three discussed cooperation prospects. The first medal events began the same evening.

Belarusian swimmers won nine medals on the first day of the 2nd CIS Games.

Yelizaveta Akshayeva (100m butterfly), Danila Bokhurov (200m medley) and the women’s relay team (4x100m freestyle) won silver medals. Bronze went to Maria Puchenkova (400m freestyle), Anastasia Podlobnikova (100m butterfly), Sofia Semenkova (200m breaststroke), Vladislav Zadorozhny (100m freestyle), Yegor Rogatko (200m medley) and the men's relay team (4x100m freestyle).

Gold medals in all the swimming events on that day were won by Russian swimmers. Athletes from Kazakhstan clinched three medals.

The president of the NOC of Belarus had a busy day packed with meetings. Viktor Lukashenko visited two tournaments: a boxing tournament in Orsha and Muay Thai competitions in Vitebsk.

The first bronze medalists were determined in the Ice Palace of Orsha, and two Belarusian boxers made it to the final that is scheduled for 11 August. Muay Thai boxers were off to a good start and showed world-class performance. They stand a very good chance of winning the competitions.

Shooting finals completed at the Timoshenko Shooting Center. Belarusians once again graced the podium and showed that they were a class act.

The volleyball teams are confidently moving towards the podium delighting their fans with excellent performance.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photos by the NOC of Belarus