Trampolinist Vladislav Goncharov brought Belarus its first-ever Olympic gold medal in trampoline gymnastics

Frankly speaking, this event has been long-awaited. For too long, some evil fate has loomed over the renowned Vitebsk trampoline school. While winning competitions at all the highest levels, our athletes lacked something at the Olympic Games. Not a single medal since 2000, when this sport was included in the Olympic Games program in Sydney. Back then, many believed that the "gold" was already in Dmitry Polyarush's pocket. Alas, our outstanding athlete was left without a podium.


It is impossible to say that Vladislav's success was accidental. It is not for nothing that the ubiquitous bookmakers predicted him second place on the eve of the competition. Our 20-year-old compatriot was, of course, flattered, but why not aim for more? And as a result, the clear favorite – the Chinese Gao Lei – faltered, and Vlad performed his program flawlessly. All that remains is to welcome our champion back home with sincere congratulations. For Vitebsk region, this is a грандиозная victory also because, prior to this, the last Olympic "gold" for our region was brought by boxer Vyacheslav Yanovsky back in 1988.

By the way. The head coach of the Belarusian national team, Olga Vlasova, also deserves great credit for this gold medal. It was she who "picked up" a 6-year-old "unpromising" boy, expelled from the gymnastics section with a harsh verdict: "Unfit for sports." Olga Anatolyevna is still leading Vladislav to the heights of world trampoline. Or rather, she has already led him. There are simply no higher sports awards than the Olympic "gold"!

By tradition, the Presidential Sports Club, within the framework of the "Olympic Choice" program, gives the medalist the right to provide financial assistance to any children's sports institution in the country. Vladislav Goncharov predictably decided to transfer 15 thousand rubles to the trampoline jumping and sports acrobatics department of Vitebsk Children's and Youth Sports School No. 1.

Another success of a representative of the Vitebsk region national team is also pleasing – weightlifter Vadim Streltsov. He won a silver medal in the up to 94 kg category with a result of 395 kg. It is worth noting that the head coach of the national team for several years now has been Viktor Shershukov from Novopolotsk.

Congratulations to the sports heroes, and we believe in the success of other representatives of the lake region!

Ales Byonkov, \"Vitebskiye vesti\".