The best athletes of the year were named in Vitebsk

Vitebsk City Executive Committee held a ceremony to honor athletes who distinguished themselves in international competitions this year.

At the World and European Championships, and World Cups, among the winners and prize-winners were Alexander Makarenko (weightlifting), Viktor Zuev (boxing), Yana Maksimova (athletics), Svetlana Makshtareva (trampoline gymnastics), and thirteen other athletes. Among the recognized masters, young athletes also received certificates of honor and monetary rewards. Trampoline gymnasts Matvey Orlov, Nikita Fomchenko, and Anton Shayko successfully performed at the Junior World Championships.

Welcoming the athletes and their coaches, Igor Kiryutenko, Head of the Department of Education, Sports, and Tourism of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, noted that 28 summer and 7 winter Olympic sports are developing in the regional center. In the past year, 332 first-category athletes, 24 masters of sports, and 100 candidates for master of sports have been trained. The material and technical base is systematically updated and expanded. In particular, in April, the mini-pool of Children's and Youth Sports School No. 8 was put into operation, and in November, the swimming pool of Children's and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve No. 4 reopened after renovation. Igor Kiryutenko paid tribute to the coaching staff, whose work leads athletes to medals in international competitions and enhances our country's image on the world stage.

Despite the pre-New Year days, athletes continue to train intensively for future starts. For example, Yana Maksimova will perform at the World Athletics Championships in Sopot, Poland, in two months.

Sergey Lyashuk, "Vitebskiye vesti"