Sports Heroes
The Republic of Belarus develops more than 130 sports. Each of them has fans, momentous victories, and prominent names.
Belarusian athletes have taken part in the Olympic Games since 1952. Many Belarusian athletes went into the history of the Olympic Games, including three-time Olympic champion, wrestler Aleksandr Medved, four-time Olympic champion, gymnast Olga Korbut, five-time Olympic champion, gymnast Nellie Kim, six-time Olympic champion, gymnast Vitaly Scherbo, and many other renowned athletes.
Belarus started competing in the Olympic Games as a separate team in 1994. Since then, Belarusian athletes have won 105 Olympic medals: 21 golds, 37 silvers, and 47 bronzes.
Belarus’ Olympic Games gold medalists:
Ekaterina Karsten
Ellina Zvereva
Yanina Karolchyk
Ihar Makarau
Yulia Nestsiarenka
Aliaksei Abalmasau, Artur Litvinchuk, Vadzim Makhneu, and Raman Piatrushenka
Andrei Aramnau
Aliaksandr and Andrei Bahdanovich
Aleksei Grishin
Victoria Azarenka and Maxim Mirny
Sergei Martynov
Darya Domracheva
Alla Tsuper
Anton Kushnir
Uladzislau Hancharou
Hanna Huskova
Nadezhda Skardino, Iryna Kryuko, Dzinara Alimbekava, and Darya Domracheva
Ivan Litvinovich
The biggest milestone events in the history of Belarusian sport include the first gold medal won by Ekaterina Karsten for independent Belarus, the country’ first winter Olympic gold medal of Aleksei Grishin, Yulia Nestsiarenka’s sensational win in the 100m event, and Sergei Martynov’s success who broke a world record at the Olympic Games.
The 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi were the most successful games in the history of Belarusian sport. Belarusian athletes clinched five gold medals (Darya Domracheva – three, Alla Tsuper – one, Anton Kushnir - one) and one bronze medal (Nadezhda Skardino). Three-time Olympic champion Darya Domracheva is the first and only woman in Belarus to be awarded the Hero of Belarus title.
At the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Belarusian athletes won nine medals: one gold medal (Uladzislau Hancharou), four silver medals (Darya Naumava, Vadzim Straltsou, Maryia Mamashuk, Ivan Tsikhan), four bronze medals (Aliaksandra Herasimenia, Ibrahim Saidau, Javid Hamzatau, the women’s rowing team featuring Marharyta Makhneva, Nadzeya Liapeshka, Volha Khudzenka, and Maryna Litvinchuk).
At the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang Belarus was represented in six sports. Belarusian athletes claimed two gold medals and one silver medal. Belarus’ Hanna Huskova was victorious in freestyle skiing, and biathletes Nadezhda Skardino, Iryna Kryuko, Dzinara Alimbekava and Darya Domracheva captured women’s relay gold medals. Darya Domracheva also won a silver medal in women’s mass start.
At the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, which took place from 23 July to 8 August 2021, Belarus was represented by 107 athletes in 20 sports. Belarusian athletes won seven medals: one gold (Ivan Litvinovich in trampoling), three silvers (Iryna Kurachkina and Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau in freestyle wrestling) and three bronzes (the women’s rowing team featuring Volha Khudzenka, Maryna Litvinchuk, Marharyta Makhneva, Nadzeya Papok; Maksim Nedasekau in high jump; Vanesa Kaladzinskaya in freestyle wrestling; Alina Harnasko in rhythmic gymnastics).
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games which took on 4-20 February Belarus was represented by 29 athletes in six sports. Biathlete Anton Smolski (Men’s Individual race) and freestyle skier Hanna Huskova (Women's Aerials) won two silver medals.
Belarus also has a strong Paralympic team. At the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver Belarusian athletes won nine medals (two gold, seven bronze medals). At the 2012 Paralympic Games in London Belarus scored ten medals (five gold, two silver, three bronze medals). The team landed 25th in the overall medal tally. Belarusian swimmer Ihar Boki became a five-time Paralympic champion. He won the 200m individual medley with a new world record.
At the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi the Belarusian team captured three bronze medals. Vasili Shaptsiaboi became a two-time bronze medalist in biathlon, Yadviha Skarabahataya clinched a bronze medal in Nordic skiing.
At the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Team Belarus won ten medals: eight gold (Ihar Boki - six, Andrei Pranevich - one, Uladzimir Izotau - one), two bronze medals (Aliaksandr Tryputs, Ihar Boki).
At the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang Belarusians clinched four gold (Sviatlana Sakhanenka – three, Yury Holub -one), four silver (Dzmitry Loban – two, Yury Holub – two), and four bronze medals (Lidziya Hrafeyeva – two, Sviatlana Sakhanenka – one, Yury Holub - one).