Nizhny Novgorod Governor Valery Shantsev met with Svetlana Mironova, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod, who became the first Russian female to have won the World Orienteering Championships.
"This year, the world championship was held in Italy. A record number of countries took part in the event - more than 50, almost from all continents. The competitions were held in four categories: sprint, middle distance, long distance and relay. The track was technically difficult - mountainous terrain, almost 1,500 meters above the sea level. As a result, I won on the long distance (12 km), having run it in 1 hour 19 minutes," said Svetlana Mironova.
Valery Shantsev congratulated Svetlana and her coach and presented them with commemorative souvenirs - a hand-made tea set and a shawl. Th athlete gave the governor a compass and the map of the Kremlin and Green City.
"I was very pleased to meet Svetlana! - the governor shared his impressions after the meeting. - This is the first time, when a Russian athlete wins a gold medal at the World Orienteering Championships, beating more famous athletes from Sweden. One of the Swedes, Svetlana said, "had a handful of silver medals and was hoping for gold, and the other one was already a champion."
As Valery Shantsev noted, sports movement has been gaining momentum in the Nizhny Novgorod region. In 2013, the region's athletes won a total of 177 medals, including 68 gold ones. As many as 128 Nizhny Novgorod residents defend the honor of the country competing for national teams.