First gold for Belarus at Minsk 2019
June 22 2019

Belarus' Veronika Nabokina, Julia Ivonchyk and Karina Sandovich won the gold medal in the balance exercises at the 2nd European Games in Minsk.

The trio received 29.520 points from the referees as well as a note from Belarus president Aleksandr Lukashenko.

"We didn't know right away that we won the first gold," said Veranika Nabokina of checking on her social media feed between the balance and dynamic routines and learning about their milestone accomplishment from a presidential post. "When we found out about this, it was very nice and unexpected. It is such a proud moment for us.

"It is so cool. It is just so, so cool when you see all the people and they're all waving at you and congratulating you. It's just 'wow'," she added about hearing the national anthem from the podium of Minsk Arena, which was filled to capacity on the first day of competition.

Second place went to the representatives of Belgium and defending champions Thalia de Troyer, Britt Vanderdonkt and Charlotte van Royen, who earned 29.320 points.

Athletes from Portugal wrapped up the podium.

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