Barteková handed over medals to Slovak kayakers instead of Samaranch. Originally, the son of the former IOC President was appointed to the medal ceremony, but Bartek asked him for an exchange so that she could present the medals to our athletes.
Barteková watched the race from the stands as a member of the IOC, in which she will finish after eight years after the Olympics. Samarancha asked for an exchange before the final race. “I had to trade it with him. Mr. Samaranch has acknowledged that this is one of my last medal ceremonies. And since I knew and hoped the boys could do it, I didn’t even have to beg him for long. But I am very grateful to him, “Barteková explained.
As a member of the IOC Sports Commission, the Slovak sportswoman also presented silver to the Slovak four-seater at the previous Olympics in Rio. “It’s a great experience to do it again. I followed them on the road to success both before Rio and before Tokyo. The guys are friends, for me it was all the more emotional and the more I appreciate it. “
Bartek was pleased that the Slovaks followed the protocol, which was the only one to hand over the medals correctly, as the medal ceremony does not take place as usual due to measures against the spread of coronavirus. “They were the only ones who hung the medals correctly, so the first gave it to the second, the second to the third and the third to the fourth. So I told them that they are very handy and that we are looking forward to the whole of Slovakia. Erik Vlček told me that I bring them happiness, “Barteková added and paused at Vlček’s:” Erik is one of the best athletes in Slovakia for me. I believe that we will brag about him for a long time. He is a role model for us top athletes, but also for young people. It is not common to sacrifice the life of a sport as he did. ”(Tasr)
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