The first days of March were the days of honoring Russian Olympians at the highest level of government. After a meeting with Vladimir Putin, the athletes scattered across the regions: first in Kazan returned skiers Andrey Larkov and Anna Nechayev, then flew snowboarder Milena Bykova and skaters Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov. Gifts, kind words, meetings and receptions were waiting for them in Kazan.
Congratulatory meetings in the native land were crowned with honoring in the Kremlin, in apartments of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The first awards in the history of winter Olympians of Tatarstan — two silver medals won in figure skating and men's ski relay, and two bronze medals, gained in the women's relay ski and "fifty dollars". Minnikhanov during the opening speech was just as bright as these awards.
"Your diligence, talent and perseverance gave us the results we hoped for," the head of RT said with a smile. — I have to say that what happened is a great victory for our country. We sincerely empathized because of the events that took place before the Olympics, in the process of it, and therefore any victory of our athletes was very important. And you're done! We are proud of you!»
Andrei Larkov, who thanked the leadership of the Republic, coaches and fans for their work and support of Olympic athletes, spoke on behalf of the athletes. "Without you, we couldn't have done it," admitted the Stalls, to the words which joined in Pyeongchang silver medalist in figure skating Evgeny Tarasov.
WHO GOES TO VISIT IN THE MORNING... THE UPDATES "INSTAGRAM»
Monday morning Olympians started with a visit to the Volga region Academy of sports. The logic in choosing the location was simple. For someone that was acquainted with the most modern sports University of the country, its capabilities, particularly for the figure skating coach Nina Mozer, in the group which are prepared Tarasova and Morozov. Just in this academic year, the Academy of sports has opened within its walls a Department of figure skating, which is planned to" grow " to the Department, and to multiply the coaching shop figure skating graduates of another profile University would be logical. In the heart of a graduate of the University Larkova visit to the Academy of sports caused a slight sadness: he recalled how he began his studies in Chelny, where the Academy was located, and finished in Kazan, closer to his native Zelenodolsk. In honor of Larkov in his Alma mater hung a panel. This honor is given only to students and graduates, who became Olympic medal winners, among whom Andrew was the third after champion Gulnara Galkina-Samitova and silver medallist Svetlana Demina. The opening ceremony of this panel was touching. Larkov noticeably confused surrounded by current students who made a joint photo with him and updated the pages in social networks, their parents, teachers from the Department of skiing, which could be more, if not for one happy circumstance: these days the ski Academy team took first place in Tyumen at the end of the all-Russian Universiade.
"Andrei's victory should serve as an example for the future success of our current students, — predicted the rector of the Academy of sports Yusup Yakubov. - For us it is very important that Andrei came to us, met with our students, shared the secrets of his success. We train 103 skiers, including two masters of sports of international class, 17 masters of sports. They need an example to achieve further victories." This led to the idea that the" wall of honor " of the Academy is not so great, and Olympic athletes are ready to please at the summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, the same skiers will be ready in four years to storm the OI-2022 in Beijing. You see, soon there won't be enough room for new panels...
Vladimir Leonov, Minister of sport, took over the reins of the Board of the meeting with participation of representatives of the Olympic team of Tatarstan, which also included coaches of athletes, heads of sports federations and even the head of RT administration. He looked even more happy than one pair of skiers — Anna Nechayev and her fiancé Nikita Surkov, who unwittingly attracted additional interest because of the Olympic "bronze" they will soon add marital "gold": Nikita in Moscow airport made his beloved proposal of marriage.
"Bride" — he described a pretty skier Leonov, who on this day gave short reviews to address almost all of the victors. Larkova he called Andrey Vitalievich, so having allocated it among all Olympians — by name and patronymic — and for Olympic merits in the form of two medals, and for a joint photo with Vladimir Putin where Andrey also was in the society of the girl. "Good name and patronymic: Vladimir Alexandrovich," Leonov responded to the presentation of personal coach Larkov — Vladimir Makhalov, his full namesake. The head of Zelenodolsk Alexander Tygin Leonov called "the whole head" of the area, which is gradually becoming the capital of skiing. Tygin, by the way, did not shun to act as a photographer, depicting in his gadget footage of awarding Zelenodolsk athletes and coaches, and next Sunday promised to run the full distance of the Kazan ski marathon, thus turning from the "whole head" in the "whole marathon".
ELENA VYALBE: "TODAY'S AWARDS ARE PROOF THAT OUR WORK WAS NOT IN VAIN»
It was particularly heartening to see among the guests of honor of the President of Federation of ski races of Russia Elena Vjalbe. After her team had made a major contribution to the Treasury of the Russian Olympic team in Pyeongchang, winning 8 awards out of 17 overall, Elena in Russia in great demand. One cannot but rejoice that in the first post-Olympic days Vyalbe, which Leonov described as our very big friend, flew to Tatarstan, in the development of skiing which she made and continues to make a very big contribution. Sometimes she did not even know what she would have to ask the leadership of the Republic, but somehow the fruits of the joint work of the ski federations of Russia and Tatarstan are obvious. It is not only the Olympic medals and the award of last year's world Cup, but also new ski sports complexes, modular bases, the lit routes, the new ski starts passing in the Republic practically in the non-stop mode.
"We have been working closely with Tatarstan for the last 6 years," vialbe recalled, " and the first fruits of this cooperation really began to appear following the results of last year's world Cup in Lahti, when Larkov became the second in the relay race. Today's awards are further proof that our joint work was carried out not in vain. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who at least helped athletes win these Olympic awards a little bit. And athletes I want to warn you for a long time do not rest on our laurels, in a year we have the world Cup, which will open a new Olympic cycle. The party, and then get back to work.»
The President of Federation of ski races and biathlon of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilshat Fardiev tied victory last, which reached Elena Valeryevna, with its current charges.
"In the year when Vyalbe won its first" gold " world Championships Lahti-1989, was born Larkov — remembered Fardiev.  When she became a heroine of the world championship in Val di Fiemme in 1991, Nechaev was born. This is a good statistic. Now thanks to you we are opening new pages of success of our, Tatarstan, skis, thank you!»
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