Rio 2016. Ivan Tikhan won silver Olympic medal

Today on August 19 Belarusian athlete Ivan Tsikhan managed to win a silver medal in the final shot put event of the Rio 2016, according to the NOC Belarus press center.

At the first attempt Ivan set a pace – he threw the shot at 76.13m. Ivan’s principle opponents Tajik champion of Asia Dilshod Nazarov and Hungarian winner of the Olympiad 2012 Krisztian Pars provided him keen and tough competition. Pole Wojciech Nowicki, the World Championship 2015 medalist, was also engaged in this shot-put derby. Nazarov clinched a victory after his third try (78.07m) and later fortified his position (78.68m). Ivan Tsikhan secured the second place, when he sent the shot at 77.79m at his fifth attempt.

“I’m really happy, but that’s a little bitter happiness. I carried out all possible to show my worth; however, I won a silver medal. Everyone could demonstrate his best result”, - said Ivan afterwards.

Then he made his Olympic choice – the Slonim regional Children and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve. The President’s Sports Club will transfer 10000 Br to the very institution, where Tsikhan started his career. 

According to the terms of the project “Olympic choice”, the President’s sports club will entitle every Olympian in Rio to opt for a specialized children and youth sports school to provide it with financial voluntary sponsorship aid. Then the President’s sports club will transfer a certain sum of money to the account of the school (the sum depends on the athlete or team’s achievements).

The correlation between achievements and sponsorship is as following:

1st place – 15.000 Br

2nd place – 10.000 Br

3rd place – 7.500 Br

According to sources from the President’s sports club, the amount of financial sponsorship aid is increased by 50%. The sports schools will be able to modernize their equipment or encourage more athletes to participation in competitions. “Olympic choice” will be launched under the aegis of the NOC of Belarus and Ministry of Sport and Tourism.

The President's Sports Club press center

Now the National Team counts 6 awards: a gold medal (U. Hancharou, Trampoline), three silver (D. Naumava and V. Straltsou, Weightlifting; Maryia Mamashuk, Freestyle Wrestling) and two bronze ones (A. Herasimenia, Swimming; Javid Hamzatau, Wrestling Greco-Roman).