"It's really special for me, I can see my flag (on the top of the podium), Voronchikhina said. Maybe now I can't believe it, and I don't understand what happened. Maybe I'll see my gold medal and (believe) it's so special for me. It's amazing. I have a big support of my family and friends and all the people in Russia."
"Russia's national anthem rang out at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade after Para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won gold on Monday. Russian athletes are back competing under their own flag in the Winter Paralympics at Milan Cortina, after years of having to do so as neutral athletes because of the country's doping violations and military conflicts."
Varvara Voronchikhina, a 23-year-old Russian Para alpine skier, won gold in the women's super-G standing competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, becoming the first Russian athlete to compete under the national flag at the Games in over a decade. Russian athletes previously competed as neutral athletes due to doping violations and military conflicts. During the podium ceremony, the Russian national anthem played for the first time at a major global sporting event since the 2022 Ukraine invasion and the first time at Paralympics since Sochi 2014. Voronchikhina displayed emotion during the ceremony, wiping away tears as the Russian flag was raised. She expressed gratitude for family and national support, describing the moment as special and amazing.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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