Olympic champion from Karelia Vladislav Larin, who brought the Russian team the seventh gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, dedicated his victory to his grandfather, who could not see the athlete’s triumph.
“He really wanted to see this moment … And he almost couldn’t bear it … Grandpa, you are forever in my heart,” the athlete wrote on Instagram.
Larin admitted that the taste of the medal is not so sweet. Behind the victory are pain, blood, tears, defeat, fatigue, even disappointment and despair, but the Karelian taekwondo fighter believes that it was worth it.
Larin thanked his family and friends, the president of the Russian Taekwondo Federation, the coaching staff and everyone who was somehow involved in the result, including the fans.
“Without you, this medal wouldn’t exist,” concluded Larin.
Read more about how Larin became the Olympic champion.
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