Published on 10 Aug 2008
Georgian Bronze medallist dedicate victory to her country
Marco Dalla Dea
The Bronze winner of the 10m Air Pistol Women competition Nino SALUKVADZE of Georgia dedicated her medal to her people, while the country is experiencing tragic events. In spite of the war tension dividing their country, SALUKVADZE and the Russian PADERINA shared the podium kissing each other, reminding to the world that sport friendship can win any barrier.
Nino SALUKVADZE of Georgia, winner of the Olympic Bronze medal at today’s 10m Air Pistol Women Event, dedicated her medal to her country, which is currently experiencing tragic events “This is a small victory, but it is for my people. It is not easy to celebrate. I am very nervous: this is a difficult moment for my country.”
The Georgian athlete, 39-year old, stepped upon the Olympic Podium twenty years after her first Olympic medal, a Silver reached in this event at the Games of Seoul 1988. She finished on the third step of today’s podium near by the Silver medallist Natalia PADERINA of Russia. The two athletes kissed each other, sharing the podium’s step for the time of an hug after the medals awarding “Sport has nothing to do with politics – said Salukvadze at the press conference – our countries may be divided in this moment, but we are athletes, and our friendships goes over these barriers”. The current World Champion Natalia PADERINA, 32, confirmed the words of SALUKVADZE “We are friends. We have been shooting together in the URS team in the past days. And in this moment we are together again.”
“Last night the Georgian President called and told us we had better stay in Beijing. We could not sleep all the night. All we could think about was Georgia - concluded Salukvadze – If the world were to draw any lesson from what athletes do, there wouldn’t be any war. We live in the 21st century, after all, and we shouldn’t stoop so low as to rage war.”
The Georgian athlete, 39-year old, stepped upon the Olympic Podium twenty years after her first Olympic medal, a Silver reached in this event at the Games of Seoul 1988. She finished on the third step of today’s podium near by the Silver medallist Natalia PADERINA of Russia. The two athletes kissed each other, sharing the podium’s step for the time of an hug after the medals awarding “Sport has nothing to do with politics – said Salukvadze at the press conference – our countries may be divided in this moment, but we are athletes, and our friendships goes over these barriers”. The current World Champion Natalia PADERINA, 32, confirmed the words of SALUKVADZE “We are friends. We have been shooting together in the URS team in the past days. And in this moment we are together again.”
“Last night the Georgian President called and told us we had better stay in Beijing. We could not sleep all the night. All we could think about was Georgia - concluded Salukvadze – If the world were to draw any lesson from what athletes do, there wouldn’t be any war. We live in the 21st century, after all, and we shouldn’t stoop so low as to rage war.”