BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) For the first time in history, Russian athletes ranked first in the overall medals standings at the third Youth Olympic Games in Argentina's Buenos Aires.
The Russian team clinched the top spot in the medal table with 59 medals, including 29 golds, 18 silvers and 12 bronzes. The Chinese team finished second with 36 medals (18 golds), trailed by the Japanese with 39 medals (15 golds).
The Russian team not only ranked first but also broke its own record for the total number of medals won in individual Youth Olympics.
The opening ceremony was held outside a stadium next to the famous Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires. About 200,000 people attended the event. Long lines of sports fans queued outside the venues every day in the hope of seeing the competitions.
Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Stanislav Pozdnyakov and the ROC's Director General Vladimir Sengleev complimented the host country for its hospitality.
"We were treated very well here. There were no problems. Argentinians were very friendly too. I think this partially thanks to the World Cup we hosted. Many Argentinians went to Russia and have changed their perception of us and our country," Sengleev told Sputnik.
Russian athletes started winning early on, with Grigory Shamakov winning gold in the air rifle shooting event. The Russian team won so many awards during the first week that everyone lost hope to catch up with them in the overall medals standings.
SWIMMER TRIUMPH AND RUSSIAN FLAG
The largest contribution to the overall standings was made by swimmers who won 13 medals, with Kliment Kolesnikov and Andrei Minakov each grabbing six golds.
"Both the number of medals won by the boys and the results they showed are remarkable. Kliment Kolesnikov has set Europe and world adult records. Now Minakov has set the country's adult record. [100 meters butterfly]," head coach Lidia Kapkova said.
For the first time in a long time, a Russian athletics team competed at an international competition under the national flag, rather than having a neutral status.
"When we were told we would be able to perform under the Russian flag ... it was amazing. It was hard to believe that 'Russia' was written on our sports form. It felt really good," Maria Privalova, the triple-jump bronze winner, said.
This edition of the Youth Games was marked by many debuts and medals won by debutants. For the first time in Russia's BMX racing history its athletes won Olympic gold medals. Varvara Ovchinnikova and Ilya Beskrovny won mixed teams competition.
Russian men's team made it to mini-football finals - a fresh addition to the Olympics program - to claim silver after losing to Brazil. Two years before the adult Olympic debut, Russian athletes tried their hand at climbing, karate, 3x3 basketball, BMX Freestyle.
The breakdancing debut of the Russian team drew attention to Russia's Sergei Chernyshev who claimed golds and became the country's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.
"We are already old-school sportsmen. The younger generation is taking over with its new vision, fresh energy and ambitions," Yelena Isinbayeva, a pole vault star and twice Olympic gold winner who came to Argentina to see the games, said.
Russians also took part in mixed-team events. Medals awarded to mixed-NOCs teams, representing different National Olympic Committees, were added to the overall tally as a separate entry.
Different types of gymnastics were bundled into one competition pitting teams of international athletes each named after a star gymnast. Russia's Daria Trubnikova won a gold as part of a team named after US artistic gymnast Simone Biles, while Ksenia Klimenko won silver on the team named after UK's Max Whitlock.
"It was interesting. We did not talk much but we were supportive. We congratulated each other on the medal. I speak a little English, but I managed to congratulate them," Klimenko said.
On the penultimate day of the competition, Russia's Ruslan Ternovoy paired with Ukrainian Sofia Lyskun won diving bronze.
"We want to make a photo together with coaches and athletes to let everyone know that politics has no bearing on sports for us," Russian Olympic team's jumping coach Raisa Galperina said.
While the competition was still on, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) named Senegal as the host country of the next Summer Youth Olympic Games. IOC President Thomas Bach said Argentina was now prepared for the adult version in 2032 - which new Russian stars from this year's youth games have a chance to grace.
