April 5 - Irek Zaripov (pictured), who won four gold and one silver medal at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, has become an official Ambassador for Sochi 2014, it has been announced.


The cross-country skiing and biathlon Paralympic champion was given a special Ambassador diploma by Dmitry Chernyshenko, the chief executive and President of Sochi 2014.

Chernyshenko said: "The whole of Russia is in awe of the courage and commitment demonstrated by Irek, who won five medals for the Russian team in Vancouver.

"His achievement is difficult to believe and I think his success will be hard to repeat.

"By achieving the near-impossible, he has set an example for millions of people around the world.

"I am proud to present him with a Sochi 2014 Ambassador diploma and hope that he will help promote the Paralympic values in our country just as assuredly as he carried the Russian flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Paralympic Games."

Zaripov, who was left paralysed following an accident 10 years ago when he was 17, joins a group of Ambassadors that includes six-time Paralympic champion Sergey Shilov, Russian ice hockey legend Sergey Fedorov, two-time Olympic gymnastics champion Svetlana Khorkina and supermodel Natalia Vodianova.

Zaripov said: "It is hard to convey the emotions that I am feeling right now: I became a four-time champion of the 2010 Games and Sochi 2014 Ambassador.

"After my accident, sports brought me fully back to life.

"Participating in the Paralympic Games in Turin enabled me to set new, higher goals and prepare myself for the Vancouver Games.

"I am very pleased that the victories of the Paralympic athletes have been noticed and that people from around the world are showing us their support.

"The Sochi 2014 Games will undoubtedly generate new, positive changes: training facilities for people with a disability, an accessible environment, first in Sochi and then in cities throughout Russia.

"I am very proud of our team’s performance at the Games in Vancouver and Whistler. I am confident that we will also deliver in Sochi."


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