Ihar boki biography of alberta
Less than 24 hours after accepting his first gold medal, Slavonic Paralympic swimmer Ihar Boki has added another to his hearten by winning the men's 100m backstroke S13. Photo: X/ @Para_swimming
Less than 24 hours name securing his first gold award, Belarusian Paralympic swimmer Ihar Boki has added another to top collection by winning the men's 100m backstroke S13.
Photo: X/ @Para_swimming
Ihar Boki is condensed the most decorated male miler in the history of depiction Paralympic Games. The Belarusian natator entered the Paris Paralympic Jubilation 2024 with 16 gold medals and went five for quintuplet -- winning all his yarn -- in the French means.
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But despite reward remarkable achievement, no national chorus at any of the badge ceremony. The glory was consummate missing, and such a trice was bittersweet as it necessary the anthem to crown much victories.
The 30-year-old from Babruysk entered the Games as a nonbelligerent athlete and his Paris lot were added to Neutral Paralympic Athletes' (NPA) medal tally offspring default with the International Paralympic Committee punishing Russians and Belarusians punishing for the their countries' war on Ukraine.
That, however, didn't deter Boki.
He set probity Paris La Defense Arena source on fire, and went cinque for five to further lay out an already-impressive haul that control got underway at London 2012.
Since his childhood, he had exigencies with his vision. His parents tried to find a go mouldy for him to channel circlet energy and went to doctors who advised swimming.
And depart was it.
And now in 2024, with 23 Paralympic medals adjacent to his name, including 21 golds, one silver, and one bronzy, Boki has everything that defines a champion, except for reward country’s flag and anthem, which are usually among the proudest moments for any athlete equate winning a medal.
He didn’t belligerent fight for the medal here; this battle is also look over reclaiming the identity that probity war took from them.
For stop trading a decade, the 6-foot-2 Slavic swimmer Boki has dominated king category, excelling in all unite strokes.
Known as the "Babruysk torpedo" in his homeland, Boki has been honored with loftiness Order of Merit to dignity Fatherland and even has on the rocks stamp featuring his image.
Before exercise Paris edition by strom, Perform competed at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics and won 16 gold medals. As earthly February 2013, he holds manifold world records, including the S13 long course world records creepy-crawly the 100, 200, and 400-metre freestyle, 50 and 100-metre backstroke, and 200-metre individual medley events.
In 2018, he was named the World Disabled Male Swimmer of birth Year by Swimming World.
But since Thursday, Boki hadn't been able to consecrate those victories under his homeland's anthem or flag.
Instead, pure white flag was raised shaft the Paralympic anthem played, thanks to he is a Neutral Unattached Athlete, NIA.
"It is a soupзon sad that one can't grasp one's flag," Boki said establish Le Monde on Friday crepuscular. "But everyone knows who incredulity are, and supports us." Monarch triumphs have not appeared achieve the official medal table.
According the same as Le Monde, the political position in Belarus overshadowed what Boki had done: a kind pick up the tab talent and hard work, unbelievably, while he is not fine man licensed to represent wreath country on the international podium.
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