Fans are greeting and taking autographs of Olimpyc champion Alexandre Vinokourov. ©Tengrinews.kz
Kazakhstan’s cyclist and 2012 Olympic champion Alexandre Vinokourov was honored in Petropavlovsk, Tengrinews.kz reports. About 500 people were welcoming Vinokourov at the airport of Petropavlovsk. The athlete was born in North Kazakhstan oblast. He has passed through a 'live corridor' of Sports Schools’ students and fans from the airstair to the cars. Later on Akim (Governor) of North Kazakhstan Oblast Serik Bilyalov took part in the awarding ceremony that was held at the Central Square of the city. “I am congratulating all Kazakhstan national team athletes on their successful performance at the XXX Summer London Olympic Games. This is one of the main and the most grandiose event of the quadrennium,” Bilyalov said. The Akim of the oblast awarded Alexandre Vinokourov with a Diploma for Merit and a Toyota Land Cruiser-200 car. Vinokourov thanked his countrymen for their support. “It is always great to come back to your native town and particularly with such a medal. Thanks to everybody for the support. Cycling is a very interesting sport. A cyclist can be stronger than other cyclists but he won't necessarily win. For example, a bicycle might break down. That’s why we hoped to win when we departed for London. I was 150% fit and my experience and good luck did not fail me,” the athlete said. Vinokourov won the 2012 Summer London Olympic men’s road race gold. After that the Kazakhstan cyclist announced his retirement.
Kazakhstan’s cyclist and 2012 Olympic champion Alexandre Vinokourov was honored in Petropavlovsk, Tengrinews.kz reports.
About 500 people were welcoming Vinokourov at the airport of Petropavlovsk. The athlete was born in North Kazakhstan oblast. He has passed through a 'live corridor' of Sports Schools’ students and fans from the airstair to the cars. Later on Akim (Governor) of North Kazakhstan Oblast Serik Bilyalov took part in the awarding ceremony that was held at the Central Square of the city.
“I am congratulating all Kazakhstan national team athletes on their successful performance at the XXX Summer London Olympic Games. This is one of the main and the most grandiose event of the quadrennium,” Bilyalov said. The Akim of the oblast awarded Alexandre Vinokourov with a Diploma for Merit and a Toyota Land Cruiser-200 car.
Vinokourov thanked his countrymen for their support. “It is always great to come back to your native town and particularly with such a medal. Thanks to everybody for the support. Cycling is a very interesting sport. A cyclist can be stronger than other cyclists but he won't necessarily win. For example, a bicycle might break down. That’s why we hoped to win when we departed for London. I was 150% fit and my experience and good luck did not fail me,” the athlete said.
Vinokourov won the 2012 Summer London Olympic men’s road race gold. After that the Kazakhstan cyclist announced his retirement.