Representatives of the Vitebsk region won a number of awards at the World Fire and Rescue Sports Championship

The number 13 became symbolic for seven athletes from the Vitebsk region who were included in the national teams of the Republic of Belarus. They brought 13 gold medals, one silver, and two bronzes from the World Championship among youth and juniors in fire and rescue sports. On August 13, they were honored at the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The city on the Neman River gathered over 300 participants from 13 countries of Europe and Asia. The championship included four world championships at once: the IV World Championship among national male youth teams, the II World Championship among national female youth teams, as well as the VI World Championship among boys and juniors and the II World Championship among girls and junior women in fire and rescue sports.

Athletes competed in the assault ladder climb, the 100-meter obstacle course, the combat deployment, and the 4x100m fire relay race.

The national teams of the Republic of Belarus, which included students of the Vitebsk Fire and Rescue Sports School, demonstrated good physical fitness and sportsmanship. They are coached by an employee of PASO "Vityaz", Captain Sergey Martinkevich.

A bronze medalist of the IV World Championship among national male youth teams in two disciplines: the 100-meter obstacle course and the 4x100m fire relay race – was an employee of PASO "Vityaz" Vladimir Daderkin, and his team took 1st place.

Student of Secondary School No. 28 Nikita Vasilenko is still gaining experience, while his colleague Ilya Babydov won silver in the 100-meter obstacle course. The team's coach Sergey Martinkevich noted that Ilya has all the qualities to become a great athlete.

Vitebsk resident Viktoria Osipova added two medals to the overall medal tally for 1st place in the 4x100m fire relay race and combat deployment, and the team she led was the leader in the women's championship.

14-year-old Polotsk resident Ekaterina Semenova helped her team win 1st place in the junior age category of the II World Championship among girls and junior athletes in fire and rescue sports.

In the same championship, in the middle age group, Polina Arshavskaya from Vitebsk won three gold medals: two medals in individual events in combat deployment and the 4x100m fire relay, and 1st place in the team event.

Vitebsk resident Ekaterina Bogdanova, who participated in the World Championship for the first time, returned as the absolute champion. She competed in the senior age group at the II World Championship among girls and junior athletes. Katya took first place in all four exercises, and her team won 1st place. The media have already nicknamed the athlete "Ekaterina the Invincible."

According to coach Sergey Martinkevich, the most difficult part of the preparation was finding a convenient time for everyone to train.

– The team consists mainly of schoolchildren, so their studies come first. Moreover, many attend other sports clubs, – shared Sergey Martinkevich.

Polina and Ekaterina, in addition to studying in the sports class at Secondary School No. 10 in Vitebsk, also train in athletics together at the regional Children and Youth Sports School under coach Sergey Kokhnenko, who has contributed significantly to their success, including in fire and rescue sports. Next year, the girls intend to enroll in the Belarusian State University of Physical Education.

– In 2013, there was only one representative from the Vitebsk region in the Belarusian national team at the championship; in 2014, there were 4, and this year, there are already 7 athletes, – noted Sergey Martinkevich, highlighting a positive trend. – We hope that in 2016, there will be even more of them.

Elena Alimova, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photos by Anton Stepanishchev, "Vitebskiye Vesti" and BELTA.