Russia is Miles Ahead in Vancouver

Russia is in first position after three days of events in the Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver, with 15 medals (6 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze). In second place is Ukraine, with seven medals and in third, the hosts (Canada, 6).

Eight medals came Russia’s way on the first day of the competition, Saturday March 13: Three Golds, three Silvers and two Bronze medals. Irek Zapirov got the first Gold medal of the championship in the Biathlon – Men’s 2.4 km pursuit, Sitting, while the other two Gold medals were won by Kirill Mikhailov (Biathlon – Men’s 3 Km pursuit, Standing) and Anna Burmistrova (Biathlon – Women’s 3 km pursuit, Standing) getting the first Gold for the ladies.

The Silver medals were won by Maria Iovleva (Biathlon – Women’s 2.4 km pursuit, Sitting); Nikolai Polukhin (Biathlon – Men’s 3 km pursuit, Visually impaired) and Liubov Vasileva (Biathlon – Women’s 3 km pursuit, Visually impaired).

Alena Gorbunova (Biathlon – Women’s 3 km pursuit, Standing) and Mikhailina Lysova (Biathlon – Women’s 3 km pursuit, Visually impaired) got the Bronze medals on day 1.

On Day Two, one Gold and one Silver medal, the Gold for Irek Zaripov (Cross-country skiing – Men’s 15 km, Sitting) and the Silver for Roman Petushkov (Cross-country skiing – Men’s 15 km, Sitting).

On Day Three, five more medals, two Gold, two Silver and a Bronze. The Gold medals this Monday March 15 went to Kirill Mikhailov (his second) in the Men’s Cross-country skiing – 20 km free and to Anna Burmistrova (her second) in the Women’s Cross-country skiing – 15 km free.

The Silvers were won by Nikolai Polukhin (Men’s Cross-country skiing – 20 km free, Visually impaired, his second) and Liubov Vasileva (Women’s Cross-country skiing – 15 km free, Visually impaired, her second).

Vladimir Kononov got the day’s Bronze medal for Russia in the Men’s Cross-country skiing – 20 km free.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY