Two-time Olympic champion Larisa Petrik was awarded the NOC of Belarus medal "For Outstanding Merit"

December 3, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Two-time Olympic champion Larisa Petrik has been awarded the medal of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus "For Outstanding Services". The award was presented today by the Director General of the NOC, Yaroslav Barichko, at the solemn ceremony of opening the Vitebsk Region Sports Glory Hall in the regional center, BELTA correspondent reports. The awarding of the prize is a recognition of the merits of the outstanding gymnast in the development of Belarusian sports and the entire Olympic movement, noted Yaroslav Barichko. "We hope that the traditions you have laid will contribute to the emergence of new sports stars on the Vitebsk land, and will be continued by new generations of Vitebsk athletes," he said. Larisa Petrik thanked the NOC for the award and emphasized the importance of the efforts being made in Vitebsk to preserve the memory of athletes and develop sports in the city. The great gymnast came to the regional center from Germany, where she currently lives, and immediately noticed how much the city had changed for the better, and how much was being done to develop its sports infrastructure. "I am very grateful to all the people who help preserve the memory of athletes. This is very important both for us and for aspiring athletes who are just paving their way to future great achievements," said Larisa Petrik. A graduate of Vitebsk Children's Sports School No. 1 (coach Vikenty Dmitriev), Larisa Petrik had a triumphant performance at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where she won two gold medals in team and floor exercises, as well as a bronze medal in the balance beam event. World champion in 1979, absolute winner of the USSR Championship in 1964. She currently lives in Germany, where she works as a coach at a gymnastics club. -0-