Difficult to decide: who was the first World Games Champion? The one who won the first final or the one who was awarded with first gold medal? Please let us explain.
Shortly after 4:30 pm on Friday Geiny Carmela Pajaro from Columbia came in first in the Women’s Time Trial 300m Final at the venue Roller Speed track Milllennium Park. It was the first final on the first competition day of The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw. But: Ye Sol Jang from the Republic of Korea was awarded with the first Gold Medal at the 10th edition of the multi-sport event.
The 28 years old athlete won the Finswimming Women's Apnoea 50m final at the sold out Orbita Indoor Swimming Pool. It took her 16.02 seconds to beat Gain Kim, also from South Korea, who won Silver and Kateryna Dyelova (Ukraine) who won the bronze. Of course, José Perurena, President of the IWGA and the mayor of Wroclaw Rafał Dutkiewicz did not want to miss the chance to award the first champion of the 222 medal events at TWG 2017. About 20 minutes later Geiny Carmela Pajaro received her medal at the Roller Speed track.
There is no doubt who set the first World Record at the TWG 2017. Petra Senanszky from Hungary broke her own World Record, completing the Women's Bi Fins 50m Final in 20:52 sec. The first man to be awarded a gold medal was Dimitrii Zhurman from Russia, who set a new World Games Record in the Fin Swimming Men's Surface 100m Final (34.70).
But there were more champions to celebrate during the afternoon of the first competition day. In a thrilling final of the bouldering event at the Nowy Targ Square in the city center of Wroclaw, Yoshiyuki Ogata achieved the first gold medal having completed all four climbs for Japan, beating Jan Hoyer from Germany who won silver. Alexey Rubtsov (Russia) achieved the bronze medal.
IOC President Thomas Bach visited the competition in the morning, praising the high standard of the venue and stated: “With climbing you can address the challenges of modern sports.” The stirring final in the afternoon impressed the spectators not only at the venue but also those watched it on the Olympic Channel. This proved it: Thomas Bach was right.
On Friday morning the IOC President went to the Speed Skating as well. Being so early at the new built venue meant that he had to miss the first gold medal for an athlete from his home country Germany. Simon Albrecht was crowned as the new World Games Champion in the Men's Time Trial 300m Final.
Overall, there are 24 medal events scheduled for the first completion day. The last gold medal of the day will be awarded at the Centennial Hall where the gymnasts compete. At 9:05 pm The World Games Champions in the Women’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual Ball will listen to her national anthem.
Check out all resuls of The World Game.
