President Putin admires courage of disabled athletes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated a team of Russian mountaneers on the conquering of Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America, reported the presidential press service.

"Your success has proved the strength of the Russian school of mountaneers and enriched its wonderful traditions," reads Putin's message to the mountaneers. "Faced by severe Northern climate, you have displayed team spirit, high skills, and well-coordinated work.

"Allow me to express my admiration for the courage of disabled athletes, who climbed the mountain along with the rest of the team. Apart from conquering a legendary mountain, you have also made a fresh advance in your personal life." The team in question is headed by the famous traveller Matvei Shparo. For the first time in the history of Mount McKinley, which is 6,194 meters high, it was conquered by a team that included two athletes with spinal injuries, both of them bound to wheelchairs.

The team returned to Moscow a few days ago.