NPC Russia honours top athletes, coaches in Movement

Those in attendance for the award ceremony included: International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven; Minister of Sport, Vitaly Mutko; President of NPC Russia, Vladimir Lukin; and NPC Russia Vice President of Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014, Pavel Rozhkov.

The Russian Paralympic Committee, together with the Ministry of Sport of Russia conducted a VII Solemn Award Ceremony called “Return to Life” on 1 November to honour some of the nation’s most successful para-athletes and coaches for their achievements and contributions to the Paralympic Movement.

Those in attendance for the award ceremony included: International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven; Minister of Sport, Vitaly Mutko; President of NPC Russia, Vladimir Lukin; and NPC Russia Vice President of Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014, Pavel Rozhkov.

Awards were given out in the following categories:

"Overcoming" - Evgenii Shvetcov (St. Petersburg): Four-time gold medallist at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships and three-time Paralympic champion at London 2012.

"Twist of Fate” - Roman Petushkov (Moscow): Five-time gold medallist at 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships and a silver and bronze Paralympic medallist.

"I love you, Life" - Daria Stukalova (Voronezh region): Five time swimming world champion and a silver and triple-bronze Paralympic medallist.

"Power of the will" - Alexander Frantseva (Kamchatka): Three-time gold medallist at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

"Personal Example" - Mikhalina Lysova (Sverdlovsk region): Six-time gold medallist at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships and a two-time silver and two-time bronze Paralympic medallist.

"What is life? Fight!" - Mikhail Ivanov (Moscow): Bronze medallist at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool, where he was named Best Goaltender.

"Fulcrum" - Oleg Kostuchenko: The head coach of the Russian athletics team that won 14 gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and 19 golds at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.

"Life, Tears and Love" - Nikita Prokhorov: A two-time gold medallist at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships and a Paralympic champion; and Nicole Rodomakina: A gold and silver medallist at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships and a Paralympic champion.

"Second Wind " - Andrey Vdovin (Nizhny Novgorod Region): A triple gold medallist at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.

"Return to Life" - Alexander Shevchenko (Moscow): Part of Russia’s team that won gold at the 2012 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.