They shine with a thousand lights. At the Paralympic Games in Beijing (China), the Ukrainians won 16 of their 17 medals in biathlon, including five titles out of six. This is thanks in particular to two new gold medals in the 12.5 km (men) and 10 km (women) events.
Vitalii Lukanienko, 43, won his second title in Beijing ahead of his compatriots Anatolii Kovalevskyi and Dmytro Suiarko (visually impaired category), while the sprint had already offered a 100% Ukrainian podium three days earlier.
Among the women, in the standing category, the trio Iryna Bui, Oleksandra Kononova and Liudmyla Liashenko won the three metals. The German Leonie Maria Walter wins in the visually impaired category while the American Kendall Gretsch is crowned in the sitting category.
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China remains first in the medal table, with eight titles (27 in total) including that of Liu Mengtao (seated). Ukraine now has 17 medals, six of which are gold.
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Irina Bui won gold in the women’s 10 km standing ahead of her compatriots Oleksandra Kononova and Liudmyla Liashenko. © Photo: EPA/MAXPPP
France did not pick up any charms on Tuesday after the disappointing 6th and 9th places of Benjamin Daviet (standing) and Anthony Chalençon (visually impaired).
Rankings:
12.5 km visually impaired men
Or: Vitalii Lukianenko (UKR)
Argent : Anatolii Kovalevskyi (UKR)
Bronze : Dmytro Suiarko (UKR)
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9th: Anthony Chalençon (FRA)
12.5 km men standing
Or : Mark Arendz (CAN)
Argent: Grygorii Vovchynskyi (UKR)
Bronze : Alexandr Gerlits (KAZ)
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6th: Benjamin Daviet (FRA)
12.5 km men sitting
Or : Liu Mengtao (CHN)
Argent: Martin Fleig (GER)
Bronze: Taras Rad (UKR)
10 km visually impaired women
Or : Leonie Maria Walter (GER)
Argent : Oksana Shyshkova (UKR)
Bronze : Wang Yue (CHN)
10 km women standing
Or : Iryna Bui (UKR)
Argent : Oleksandra Kononova (UKR)
Bronze : Liudmyla Liashenko (UKR)
10 km seated women
Or : Kendall Gretsch (USA)
Argent : Oksana Masters (USA)
Bronze : Anja Wicker (GER)
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