Soviet sports legend Yelena Belova awarded Belarus NOC medal

Four-time Olympic champion in fencing, honorary citizen of Minsk Yelena Belova was awarded the medal of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus “For Outstanding Service”, BelTA has learned.

A ceremony to celebrate the athlete was held in the Upper Town Concert Hall. The award was presented by First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Astashevich. Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Nikolai Snopkov read out a message of greetings from the President. “Your entire career was connected with the elite sport. Your name has been forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of the world and national sports. Throughout your career you have shared your knowledge and experience with the younger generation,” the president said in his message.

Head of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijančič awarded Yelena Belova a commemorative EOC medal. “I am absolutely sure that the country that had such achievements in the past is destined to have huge successes in the future. Having retired from sport, you engaged in scientific work where you reached enormous heights as well. You are an example in sport and life for young generations,” he said.

The event was attended by Minsk Mayor Andrei Shorets, representatives of the Sport and Tourism Ministry, the Ministry of International Affairs, the Russian Olympic Committee, the Belarusian Fencing Federation, famous athletes, colleagues and friends.

Yelena Belova is the four-time Olympic champion in fencing, the winner of the silver and bronze medals of the Olympic Games, the only Olympic champion (among women) in the individual event in the history of the Soviet fencing, the eight-time world champion. She holds the title of Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the BSSR, Honored Coach of the Republic of Belarus , the Honorary Member of the National Olympic Committee, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of Psychology and Pedagogy.

In 1997 she was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver, and in 2007 the Pierre de Coubertin Medal.