Gazprom sponsoring International Biathlon Competition
Russia cherishes deep-rooted traditions in biathlon and Gazprom actively assists this sport development: since 2007 the Company has been arranging and sponsoring the International Biathlon Competition for the Prize in memory of the Russian Honored Coach Vitaly Fatyanov.
Participants of Competition for Vitaly Fatianov Prize, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 2010
Vitaly Fatianov brought up our best biathlon racers, the winners of the world competition and the Olympic Games: Alexander Tropnikov, Anatoly Zhdanovich, Galina Kukleva, Olga Pyleva, Albina Akhatova, Olga Medvedtseva and Svetlana Ishmuratova.
The Competition for Vitaly Fatianov Prize is traditionally visited by biathlon world stars and, according to Norwegian biathlon racer Halvard Hanevold, the level of the competition currently corresponds to the world championship.
Participant of Competition for Vitaly Fatianov Prize, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 2010
Participant of Competition for Vitaly Fatianov Prize, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 2010
The first Competition for the Prize in memory of Vitaly Fatianov was held in 2007 in Novosibirsk. The Competition winners were Dmitry Yaroshenko (Russia) and Katya Wilhelm (Germany). In 2008, in Uvata (Tyumen Oblast), the winners were Andrey Makoveev and Natalia Sokolova.
Winner of 2007 Competition – Katya Wilhelm (Germany)
Since 2009 the Competition has been held on Kamchatka that is an essential stage in obtaining the right to host the Biathlon World Championship 2016. The winners of the 2009 Competition were Simon Fourkad and Eva Tofalvi. In 2010 Katya Wilhelm confirmed her title, among the men Ivan Cheresov took the gold.
In 2011 the competition winners were Vita Semerenko (Ukraine) and Simon Fourkad (France).