Photo credit: bookmakers24.ru
The Russian athletes have won 17 medals of the European Championship in speed skating, which was held in Heerenveen (the Netherlands). The team took second place in the medal standings, losing only to the hosts of the championship. There are five gold medals on the account of the Russians, TASS reports.
The European Championship is held in the so-called Olympic format for the second year. The previous competition in the new system took place two years ago in Kolomna, Moscow Region. Back then the Russian team also won five gold medals but the achievement of 2018 in the total number of awards was surpassed in the Netherlands.
The gold medals were won by Pavel Kulizhnikov (at 500 m and 1000 m distances), Olga Fatkulina (500 m), as well as men's and women's sprint teams.
The executive director of the Russian Skating Union Varvara Barysheva called the achievements of Russian athletes “fantastic”. According to her, the result showed the team’s readiness for the World Championship at individual distances, which will be held in February in Calgary (Canada).
Russkiy Mir
