Hello reader. Behind the festive closure XXXI summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Russian athletes returned home. The Games of 2016 will be remembered by all of us not only for the desperate struggle for the right to participate in competitions, but also for the dizzying dashes to the finish line, tears of happiness from unexpected and long-desired victories: 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals were brought by our athletes. Despite all the difficulties, our athletes showed what a great power is capable of. Congratulations!!!

Kuban was represented by 20 athletes at the Olympics, adding to Russian team piggy bank four gold, one silver and two bronze medals(medal score). These are the athletes who caused a storm of joy, delight and pride for the Krasnodar Territory, for Russia.

In the very first days of the Olympics, the award the highest standard conquered Beslan Mudranov from Armavir, who won the judo competition in the category up to 60 kg. It was his confidence and calmness that were transferred to other representatives of the Krasnodar Territory in Brazil.

Sochi tennis player Elena Vesnina Together with Muscovite Ekaterina Makarova, she became the winner of the doubles women's tennis tournament at the 2016 Olympics. In the decisive match, the Russian duet confidently outplayed the representatives of Switzerland, one of the strongest couples in the world - Timea Bachinsky and Martina Hingis. Yes, Sochi residents have something to be proud of: what tennis traditions are here, what names - Kafelnikov, Sharapova! Now Vesnina has rightfully taken her place in this row.This is the first Olympic medal in the history of Russian women doubles tennis. And immediately - the highest standard!

Also the first for Russia Olympic award in women's sailing won very young Stefania Elfutina from Yeysk. The 19-year-old yachtswoman became a bronze medalist in windsurfing. To take a place on the podium, Stephanie had to overcome not only her rivals, but also herself. During the start, she was too worried and almost turned her board with a sail. Only with an incredible effort of will, Stephanie was able to cope with nerves, ride the wind and catch up with rivals who had gone far ahead. At the finish line, she lost only to two much more experienced rivals - Frenchwoman Charlene Picon and Chinese Chen Peine.

Unforgettable emotions Kuban at the Olympics gave boxer Yevgeny Tishchenko, a native of the village of Kanevskaya, speaking in the category up to 91 kg. In the final duel, our countryman in beautiful style defeated Vasily Levit from Kazakhstan.

Another representative of the region, freestyle wrestler Aniuar Geduev, immediately declared that he had come to Rio for gold. After all, these Games are most likely the last in the career of our athlete - next year he will turn 30 years old. In the decisive battle in the category up to 74 kg, Geduev was opposed by Hassan Yazdani. Aniuar immediately took a serious lead in the score, but the Iranian, not without the help of referees, snatched victory in the very end. What is there to say?! This is a sport! And silver is also a precious metal.

Bronze award Kuban wrestler Sergey Semenov, representing the Greco-Roman style and performing in the most prestigious category - up to 130 kg, a good application for the future. In the midst of the Olympics, Sergei turned 21 years old. Given his youth and talent, many experts today compare Semenov with the legendary Karelin and expect him to continue the glorious traditions. Russian school heavyweight classics.

With a big exclamation mark, the performance of our athletes in Brazil was completed by the pupils of the Kuban handball school - Marina Sudakova, Ekaterina Marennikova, Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Anna Sen and Irina Bliznova. As part of the Russian women's team, which outright defeated the French in the decisive match, they won gold medals at the Olympics. supervised Russian team coach of the Krasnodar "Kuban" Evgeny Trefilov. After the Beijing-2008 silver, this is the second Olympic medal in women's handball for Russia. By the way, at the Olympics in China, the team was also led by Trefilov, and it included Bliznova and Marennikova.

- Despite the huge pressure, our Olympians showed that Russia is a great country. It is gratifying that the Kuban athletes adequately represented the region, having won a fifth of all awards for the country. I hope that by the next Olympiad, new sports stars will grow up in our sports schools, who will join the national Olympic team and show the whole world the sports power of our country. We will make every effort for this. I congratulate our Olympians on a worthy victory and wish them further success, - commented the head of the region Veniamin Kondratyev to regional journalists.

The post-Olympic sports season did not make us bored, and the Kuban people, we are already used to it, pleased us with their achievements at major competitions not only Russian, but also international.

Not only bobsledders shone. Olympic champion in tennis in doubles, Elena Vesnina from Sochi, together with Ekaterina Makarova, triumphed at the legendary Wimbledon, at the end of the season this outstanding duet is second in the world ranking. Phenomenal hurdler Sergei Shubenkov is the silver medalist of the World Championships in athletics.

The fighters just went crazy. Stepan Maryanyan from Dinskaya - bronze medalist of the World Championship, winner of the European Nations Cup in the Russian team, national champion. And how do you like the performance of Lyubov Ovcharova from Belorechensk? She is European Champion! The first in the history of wrestling in the Kuban. And how good was Ksenia Nezgovorova from Gulkevichi! Ksyusha brilliantly won the junior world and European championships. Ekaterina Poleshchuk, another athlete from Gulkevichi, is the winner of the European Nations Cup and the prize-winner of the national championship. Daria Leksina - champion of Russia.

Trampolines confirmed their high class. Dmitry Ushakov is the silver medalist of the World Championship in individual jumps, Yana Pavlova from Krasnodar performed excellently at the World Cup stages. The famous oar master from Krasnodar Viktor Melantiev brilliantly proved himself at the World and European Championships in kayaking and canoeing.

Another canoeist, Alexander Kovalenko from Dinskaya, also became world champion. Olesya Romasenko, the best Russian canoeist from Krasnodar, won two silver medals at the world championship. Alexander Bogdashin excelled at the World Rowing Championships in the USA - he has a silver medal. Bronze medals for Elena Oryabinskaya, Anastasia Tikhanova, Ekaterina Potapova.

At the Sochi World SAMBO Championships, Tatyana Kazenyuk from Armavir demonstrated the highest class. Aslan Mudranov and Bayzet Hatkhohu are silver medalists.

One of the strongest masters on the planet trap shooting Alexander Zemlin from Krasnodar returned from the European Championship with a gold medal, from the World Championship - with a bronze medal. Daria Chebulanka, Polina Plastinina and Ksenia Zagoskina are the winners World Games and European champion sports acrobatics. An amazing yachtswoman from Yeysk Stefania Elfutina, bronze medalist of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, gathered a rich harvest of awards. She won gold medals at the junior world and European championships, won a silver medal at the adult European championship and was third in the World Cup.

Honored Master of Sports in small towns Vasily Dukhanin won two medals at the World Championships - gold and silver. Ruslan Murashov, bronze medalist of the World speed skating in the 500 meters, showed at this distance the third result in history.

Sergei Semenov, Olympic bronze medalist, and Alexander Golovin won the youth championship world by Greco-Roman wrestling. A group of climbers led by Ivan Aristov climbed the summit of Manaslu (Himalayas). "Ekaterinodar" is the strongest club in Europe in beach handball, "Kuban" is the owner of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

What a palette of colors, what geography - sports stars Kuban applauded on all continents ...

As you can see, we were faced with a difficult task: all the candidates are painfully good ... Sin removes one thing from the soul - the conditionality of dozens. The best athletes Elena Vesnina, and Viktor Melantyev, and Tatyana Kazenyuk, and Lyubov Ovcharova, and Stefania Elfutina, and Stepan Maryanyan could become the year - everyone has their own trump cards ... We opted for the four bobsledders.

Alexander Kasyanov (Sochi regional center Olympic training in winter sports), Alexei Pushkarev, Alexei Zaitsev, Vasily Kondratenko (all from Krasnodar) - bobsleigh.
Elena Vesnina (Sochi) - tennis.
Viktor Melantiev (Krasnodar) - rowing and canoeing.
Dmitry Ushakov (Yeisk) - trampolining.
Sergey Shubenkov (Krasnodar) - athletics.
Stefania Elfutina (Yeisk) - sailing.
Stepan Maryanyan (Dinskaya) - Greco-Roman wrestling.
Alexander Kovalenko (Dinskaya) - rowing and canoeing.
Olesya Romasenko (Krasnodar) - rowing and canoeing.
Lyubov Ovcharova (Belorechensk) - women's wrestling.
Tatyana Kazenyuk (Armavir) - sambo, judo.

Now about the athletes themselves

Alexey ZAYTSEV, Alexey PUSHKAREV, Vasily KONDRATENKO, Alexander KASYANOV

These are amazing guys. Courageous, desperately brave - you simply cannot be different in bobsleigh. And, of course, purposeful, persistent, unusually stubborn. These guys know what they want and are determined to achieve their dreams. By the way, it is Kasyanov's crew that owns the record of the Olympic track in Pyeongchang... The World Cup is the most difficult competition. They are held in several stages, in different countries, which completely excludes any kind of accident. And in this incredible competition, our guys left behind the famous quartets from Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the USA, Latvia ... They solved the problem of extreme complexity, putting a spectacular end to the final stage.

Elena VESNINA

Her appearance on the court is always a joy for the audience, who simply adore her, the beautiful Elena. For the beauty of the game, for the never-ending excitement and inspiration, for the irrepressible thirst for victory.

As a doubles player, Vesnina is simply irreplaceable. On account of duets with her participation, there are many impressive victories. A pair of Elena Vesnina - Ekaterina Makarova is a terrible force in world tennis. Lena and Katya are the Olympic champions of Rio 2016, in the past year, charming Russians, in addition to the legendary Wimbledon, also won the prestigious tournament in Indian Wells. Vesnina and Makarova are second in the world ranking according to the results of the 2017 season.

Viktor MELANTIEV

Rare talent and hard worker. One of the brightest diamonds discovered by the Bryukhovets kayaking and canoeing school. Thanks to the multifaceted talent of the outstanding specialist, Honored Coach of Russia Pavel Petrov, a rowing boom began in the village. Recently, Viktor, who moved to Krasnodar, has been training with the honored coach Vitaly Mikhailovsky.

We admire the stability of Melantiev, who returns with medals from all major regattas. 2017 was no exception. The Kuban canoeist won two awards each at the World (gold and bronze) and European (gold and silver) championships. Here is the class!

Dmitry USHAKOV

The silver medalist of the 2012 London Olympics is one of the few in the world who can fight with the Chinese jewelry and even beat them. At the current World Championship in Bulgaria, Dmitry overtook the famous Don Don and slightly lost to Gao Lei. Ushakov has two more medals of the Sofia championship: silver for the team tournament and bronze in synchronized jumps, which he won together with Andrei Yudin.

Sergey SHUBENKOV

Outstanding hurdler. The ex-world champion, multiple European champion in the 110 meters, has phenomenal results at this distance - he is one of those who managed to run out of 13 seconds! Sergey has had a brilliant season, demonstrating the world level in many major competitions. At the 2017 World Championships in London, Shubenkov lost only to Omar McLeod, leaving behind a whole galaxy of celebrities. Keep it up, Sergei!

Stefania ELFUTINA

The pride of domestic sailing and just a beauty. The Kuban athlete burst into the world elite like a whirlwind. She is the owner of the Rio Olympic bronze medal. IN this season Stefania confirmed the pattern of her Olympic success. Elfutina was third in the World Cup and in the European Championship, won the junior championships of the world and Europe, became the champion of Russia in the RS: X class. She is the winner of the national award "Yachtwoman of the Year". Elfutina is the main Olympic hope of Russia in sailing.

Stepan MARYANYAN

Russian national team leader weight class up to 59 kg. Swift, tenacious, quick-witted, he knows how to create problems for his opponents on the mat. Winner of the First European Games. It was Maryanyan who was supposed to perform at the Olympics in Rio, but behind-the-scenes games left him behind the Olympic team. Cruel injustice hurt the soul of a talented athlete. However, Stepan is strong not only in technique, but also in spirit.

This year, he convincingly proved to everyone who is the first number of the team. Stepan became the champion of the country, and won a bronze medal at the world championship in Paris. The Russian national team, which, of course, included Stepan Maryanyan, won the European Nations Cup.

Olesya ROMASENKO

She fell in love with the canoe, which was not in the women's Olympic program, but you can't tell what to do with your heart. Olesya worked hard, enjoying doing what she loved, and with her talent and perseverance she managed to achieve international recognition.

She is a two-time European champion, a multiple winner of world championships. At the 2017 World Championships, Olesya won two silver medals - in a single canoe and a pair. And there was no more pleasant news for Olesya than the message that the women's canoe had become olympic view. Go ahead, Olesya!

Alexander KOVALENKO

He is a born sprinter. Alexander won all the awards at international regattas at short distances- both singles and doubles. He won his first silver medal at the World Championships in Duisburg four years ago, then there was the gold of the Portuguese European Championship and the bronze of the Moscow Championship of the Continent. In the outgoing year, Alexander Kovalenko became the world champion in canoe-deuce at a distance of 200 meters.

Lyubov OVCHAROVA

She first announced herself in earnest at the 2013 Russian Cup. And since then, all the time in the minds of experts. An athlete from Belorechensk, a multiple winner of the junior world and European championships, was third at the Grand Prix tournament in Germany, played for the national team in the European Nations Cup victorious for Russia ... This year, finally, lightning flashed and thunder struck. She won the championship of Russia for the first time and became the champion of the continent.

Tatiana KAZENIUK

Pupil of the famous Armavir wrestling school. Strong-willed, highly technical athlete. He has a rich arsenal of tricks. Feels equally confident on the carpet and on the tatami. Tatyana is the winner of the World Military Games in judo, the silver medalist of the European Championship in team competition, winner of the silver and bronze medals of the championship of Russia.

The outgoing year was the year of sambo for her - a gold medal in the national championship and a triumph at the Sochi world championship. Our

Tanya is the best!

KUBAN OLYMPIANS Our region fought for the right to host the 2014 Olympics on its land and won! During the period from 1952 to 2010, 95 Kuban athletes took part in 14 summer and 4 athletes in 3 winter ones. 44 athletes became champions and prize-winners of 13 Olympic Games - 11 summer and 2 winter ones. 44 Kuban sportsmen won 53 medals 18 gold medals 11 silver medals 24 bronze medals XV Olympic Games in Helsinki Athletes of our country, having joined the Olympic movement in 1951, began to regularly participate in the Olympic Games. For the first time, athletes of the USSR took part in the Games of the XV Olympiad in Helsinki in 1952. Among them were representatives of the Kuban. Raznochintsev Anatoly Ivanovich (1927-1994) Master of Sports of the USSR in swimming, Honored Coach. The first Kuban participant of the Olympic Games in Helsinki. At a distance of 400 m freestyle took 28th place. XVI Olympiad 1956 Melbourne (Australia) Yunichev Haris brilliantly swam breaststroke in the Final, taking 3rd place with a score of 2:36.8. Lagetko Anatoly Nikolaevich Bronze medalist in boxing in the weight up to 60 kg. Champion of the RSFSR. Spent 286 fights, won 265. XVII Olympiad in 1960. Rome (Italy) Radonyak Yuri Mikhailovich silver medalist in boxing. Champion of the USSR. Spent 328 fights, won 290 victories. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in boxing. XVIII Olympiad 1964 Tokyo (Japan) Purtov Alexander represented the Kuban in the equestrian team of the USSR. With a score of 68.75 points, he took 36th place in the XIX Olympiad in 1968. Mexico City (Mexico) Kondrashov Gennady played in the athletics team of the Soviet Union. Multiple national champion. One of the strongest hammer throwers in the world. In this Olympiad, he took 6th place with a score of 69 m. 0.8 cm. XX Olympiad 1972 Munich (Germany) Bragina Lyudmila Ivanovna Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in athletics, Olympic champion in the 1500 m race. Hero of the Kuban. 7-time world record holder in the 1500 and 3000 meters. XXI Olympiad 1976 Montreal (Canada) Rusanova Lyubov Petrovna was born on February 2, 1954 in Krasnodar. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in swimming. Silver and bronze medalist of the Olympic Games. XXII Olympiad 1980 Moscow (USSR) Chernova Lyudmila Aleksandrovna At the age of 24 she won her first Olympic gold. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in athletics. Winner of the European Cup (1982) XXIV Olympiad 1988 Seoul (South Korea) Lavrov Andrey Ivanovich Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, three-time Olympic champion in handball. Born March 26, 1962 in Krasnodar. Olympic champion in 1988 (Seoul), 1992 (Barcelona), 2000 (Sydney), bronze medalist of the 2004 Games (Athens) Listed in the Guinness Book of Records. XXV Olympiad 1992 Barcelona (Spain) Filippov Dmitry Winner of the Cup of Games of the Handball Federation (1991), two-time champion of the country, winner of the Goodwill Games (1990). Won at the Olympics gold medal in the CIS national handball team. XXVI Olympiad 1996. Atlanta (USA) Chermashentsev Anton bronze medalist in rowing as part of the eight crew. The brightest representative of the young athletes of the Kuban - A. Chermashentsev managed to become the world champion among juniors before the Olympics in Atlanta. XXVII Olympiad 2000 Sydney (Australia) Kafelnikov Evgeny Alexandrovich Born in Sochi. The most titled tennis player in the history of Russian tennis, winner of 26 tournaments. Olympic champion, winner of the Davis Cup in 2002. In total, Kafelnikov has 26 victories in singles and 25 in doubles. XXVIII Olympiad 2004 Athens (Greece) Moskalenko Alexander silver medalist in trampolining. Honored Master of Sports of Russia, five-time world champion in individual jumps, multiple champion of Europe and Russia, six-time winner of the World Cup. The owner of every conceivable title on the planet. Prize-winners of the last Olympiads Evgeny Lukyanenko - pole vaulter, silver medalist of the Olympic Games in Beijing Bronze medalist in athletics of the Olympic Games in Beijing Tatyana Chernova Marina Shainova - silver medalist of the Olympic Games in Beijing in weightlifting Maria Abakumova - silver medalist of the Olympic Games in Beijing in javelin throw Besik Kudukhov - bronze medalist of the Beijing Olympics and winner of the World Cup in freestyle wrestling Winners of the last Olympics Sochi bobsledder Alexei Voevoda, bronze medalist of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, silver medalist of the 2006 Olympic Games - When I was asked to whom you dedicate this victory, I said : "Beloved city of Sochi!" Alexey Voevoda. The all-Kuban action marches across the Kuban in support of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and the XI Winter Paralympic Games in 2014 in Sochi "Towards the Olympic Games!". Olympic flag in the hands of Alexei Voevoda, bronze medalist of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. See you in Sochi 2014!

Athletes from the Krasnodar Territory brought 4 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals to the Russian national team

All Kuban medalists of the 2016 Olympic Games, permanently residing and training in the region, will receive payments from the regional budget. For a gold medal - two million rubles, for a silver - one and a half million, for a bronze - one million. Athletes who took 4th to 8th places at the Olympics in Rio will be transferred half a million rubles each

Russian women's handball team. Photo: cdn1.rsport.ru

In the very first days of the Olympics, Beslan Mudranov from Kuban won the judo competition in the 60 kg category.
- I was not nervous at all, I just went out and fought, - Beslan emphasized immediately after the final fight with an opponent from Kazakhstan.

Apparently, his confidence and calmness were transferred to other representatives of the Krasnodar Territory in Brazil.

Beslan Mudranov. Photo: static.life.ru

The initiative of the Armavir judoist a few days later was supported by Sochi tennis player Elena Vesnina. Together with Muscovite Ekaterina Makarova, she won the women's doubles tennis tournament at the 2016 Olympics. In the decisive match, the Russian duet confidently outplayed the representatives of Switzerland, one of the strongest couples in the world - Timea Bachinski and Martina Hingis.

After the final, happy Elena could hardly restrain her emotions:
- Still a girl, when I looked Olympic Games, always dreamed of performing at them and winning a medal for her country, for her parents. We have come a long way to achieve this. And they just couldn't lose! Today's victory is the greatest reward in life...
Yes, Sochi residents have something to be proud of: what tennis traditions are here, what names - Kafelnikov, Sharapova! Now Vesnina has rightfully taken her place in this row.
This is the first Olympic medal in the history of Russian women's doubles tennis. And immediately - the highest standard!

Elena Vesnina. Photo: photo.championat.ru

Also, the very young Stefania Elfutina from Yeysk won the first Olympic award for Russia in women's sailing. The 19-year-old yachtswoman became a bronze medalist in windsurfing.
To take a place on the podium, Stephanie had to overcome not only her rivals, but also herself. During the start, she was too worried and almost turned her board with a sail. Only with an incredible effort of will, Stephanie was able to cope with nerves, ride the wind and catch up with rivals who had gone far ahead. At the finish line, the “white shark” (as Elfutina is called for the talisman in the form of a marine predator that she always wears around her neck) lost only to two much more experienced rivals - Frenchwoman Charlene Picon and Chinesewoman Chen Peyne.
Elena and Stefania, who have written new pages in the development of their sports in our country, are united by one significant circumstance. Both are pupils of children's sports schools in Sochi. From Russian Olympic capital they began their ascent to the Olympic heights in Rio.
Vesnina and Elfutina plan to come to the resort town in September. There they are waiting for a solemn meeting, communication with schoolchildren Olympic reserve and two organized in their honor large sports events. It's childish tennis tournament named after Elena Vesnina and the Black Sea regatta of large sailboats in honor of Stefania Elfutina.

Stefania Elfutina. Photo: national team.rf

* * *
Unforgettable emotions for the Kuban at the Olympics were presented by a native of the village of Kanevskaya boxer Yevgeny Tishchenko, who competed in the category up to 91 kg. In the final match, our fellow countryman defeated Vasily Levit from Kazakhstan in a beautiful style.
There was a provocation at the awards ceremony (unfortunately, not the only one at these Games in relation to Russian athletes): our champion was booed by Kazakh fans. It was evident how much Eugene worries about this. And in vain! All leading boxing experts agreed that his victory is absolutely deserved. Moreover, unlike his opponent, who used dirty fighting techniques, Tishchenko boxed cleanly.

The mother of the champion, commenting on his performance at the Olympics, noted that in her son's life there was already a case when an opponent violated the rules. Soon they met again in the ring. And Zhenya laid him down with one blow!
This time, justice triumphed immediately: in the main fight of the Olympic tournament, the judges gave the victory to Tishchenko by unanimous decision!

Evgeny Tishchenko. Photo: belpressa.ru

Another representative of the region, freestyle wrestler Aniuar Geduev, immediately stated that he had come to Rio for gold. After all, these Games are most likely the last in the career of our sport
change - next year he will be 30 years old.

In the decisive battle in the category up to 74 kg, Geduev was opposed by Hassan Yazdani. Aniuar immediately took a serious lead in the score, but the Iranian, not without the help of referees, snatched victory in the very end.
Three-time Olympic champion Buvaisar Saitiev, after the defeat of the Russian, complained about the ambiguous refereeing and noted Geduev's inflexible character.

Aniuar Geduev. Photo: s.cdn.sportbox.ru

- Why did Yazdani get decisive points?! Unclear. For Aniuar, this is a great tragedy… But also a victory! Every fight he fought like a lion. Have you seen his bandaged head?! If I were him, I wouldn't even step on the carpet. And he came out! Here is the will!
- What is there to say? This is a sport! And silver is also a precious metal. I have nothing to complain about. By the next milestone in my life, I have achieved almost everything that I dreamed of, - said the silver Olympic champion.
If Aniuar Geduev has this medal - a worthy finale of his wrestling career, then another Kuban wrestler Sergey Semenov, representing the Greco-Roman style and performing in the most prestigious category - up to 130 kg, has a bronze award - only a good application for the future.
In the midst of the Olympics, Sergei turned 21 years old. Given his youth and talent, many experts today compare Semenov with the legendary Karelin and expect him to continue the glorious traditions of the Russian school of heavyweight classics.

Sergei Semyonov. Photo: rsport.ru

In general, the Kuban wrestlers in Rio won three types of medals in all three types Olympic program. Their success so inspired the Minister of Sports of the Territory, Lyudmila Chernova, that she turned to the governor with the initiative to introduce additional hours of physical education in the secondary schools of the Kuban - wrestling lessons.
Olympic champion Chernova is convinced that in order for a child to achieve success in life, he must be taught from childhood to resist difficulties. And for this, wrestling fits perfectly - it trains the spirit, strength, patience, endurance, concentration ...

* * *
With a big exclamation point, the performance of our athletes in Brazil was completed by the pupils of the Kuban handball school - Marina Sudakova, Ekaterina Marennikova, Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Anna Sen and Irina Bliznova. As part of the Russian women's team, which outright defeated the French in the decisive match, they won gold medals at the Olympics.
The coach of the Krasnodar "Kuban" Evgeny Trefilov led the Russian team. Summing up the brilliant game of his wards, the charismatic mentor was laconic:
- I look around and understand: my team is the best! The most beautiful. The smallest. The strongest…
- We were just insane. We wanted to win the most. And we won! - said in turn the captain of the team Irina Bliznova.
After the Beijing 2008 silver, this is the second Olympic medal in women's handball for Russia.
By the way, at the Olympics in China, the team was also led by Trefilov, and it included Bliznova and Marennikova.
The final match of the national team live on Saturday, almost the whole country and personally the president of Russia watched.
- And what else to watch the president?! We have great women and a great coach,” the President said without undue modesty. Russian Federation handball Sergei Shishkarev.

* * *
All Kuban medalists of the 2016 Olympic Games, permanently residing and training in the region, will receive payments from the regional budget. For a gold medal - two million rubles, for a silver - one and a half million, for a bronze - one million. Athletes who take 4th to 8th places at the Rio Olympics will receive half a million rubles each.
The money, of course, is not the most outstanding - they clearly do not reach the astronomical fees that football players are paid for defeats in Russia. And you can’t buy half a restaurant in Nice with them! But it is unlikely that the life values ​​of Geduev or Elfutina suggest the presence of the same desires and interests as, for example, Kokorin and Mamaev ...
So money does not bring happiness! The positive emotions that our Olympians gave us once again remind us of this...