Zaripov Dedicates Gold Medal to his Family

Russian athletes dominated the second day of the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Biathlon & Cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Khanty Mansiysk by adding eight medals to the ten medals won on day one of the Championships. After the Biathlon pursuit on 2 April, Cross-Country Skiing middle distance races were on the schedule for Sunday, 3 April.

In the Men’s Sitting category, Paralympic Champion Irek Zaripov impressed his home crowd by finishing first 12 seconds ahead of Enzo Masiello of Italy. At the press conference following the race Zaripov dedicated his victory to his family. Trygve Larsen of Norway came in third.

Brian McKeever got a confident victory in the Men’s Visually Impaired category. The Canadian left his competitors far behind. The silver medalist Nikolay Polukhin of Russia crossed the finish line 46 seconds later and Vasily Shaptsiaboi of Belarus finished third. After the race, McKeever thanked the Championships organizers for creating good conditions for trainings, competitions and accommodation.

Multiple Paralympic gold medalist Katarzyna Rogowiec (POL) became the World Champion in Women’s Standing category in a close race, finishing only two seconds ahead of Oleksandra Kononova (UKR). Her compatriot Iuliia Batenkova finished 1:16.2 behind Rogowiec and won bronze.

In the Women’s Sitting category Russian fans put hopes on Maria Iovleva, but being tired after Saturday’s Biathlon pursuit, she only finished fourth. The gold went to Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus, ahead of Francesca Porcellato of Italy. Mariann Marthinsen of Norway took bronze.

Russian women dominated the Visually Impaired category by winning gold, silver and bronze. Elena Remizova, Mikhalina Lysova and Tatyana Iljuchenko took all podium places.

Russian men managed to achieve the same in the Men’s Standing category. Vladimir Kononov won gold followed by Kirill Mikhaylov and Azat Karachurin.

Taking place from 31 March to 10 April, the World Championships continue with the Cross-Country Skiing long distance races on Monday, 4 April.