Can you believe it? One week has already passed since Wroclaw Stadium rocked to the Opening Ceremony of The World Games 2017. A week that has gone by in a blur of spectacular action and thrilling performances. Who are the sports stars that have shone the brightest? We have selected some of the superb athletes that have most impressed so far.
Wojceich BOGDAL delighted the home fans with the first Polish gold medal of The World Games. The Airsports Paramotor athlete produced a technically excellent performance that left his rivals trailing in his wake.
Poland had expected to strike gold a day earlier when their world champion speed climber had been widely tipped to triumph. However Reza ALIPOURSHENAZANDIFAR pulled off a shock victory, speeding to the top of the climbing wall in less time than it takes to pronounce his name. It was also the first time in the history of The World Games that Iran has topped a podium.
Powerlifter Larysa SOLOVIOVO has a permanent residence on the medal podium. For an incredible fourth consecutive edition of The World Games, the Ukrainian national anthem was played to honour the exploits of the 38 year old strongwoman.
Four medals over four different editions is an impressive haul. As in a different way is four medals in two days. Russian rhythmic gymnast Dina AVERINA collected one gold and three silvers, but even this array of medals was topped by her identical twin sister, Arina AVERINA, who pocketed three of the most precious kind and added a bronze for a bit of variety.
Fabriana ARIAS is likely to pay an excess baggage charge on her return to Colombia, her suitcase weighed down by the seven medals she collected (three golds plus two apiece of the other colours). She shone on the roller speed skating track, even when the sun did not.
How does it feel to win a gold medal and break a world record at the same time? The perfect person to answer that question is Hungarian Fin Swimmer Petra SENANSZKY who not only achieved that feat, but repeated it the following night.
It is not just the individual athletes who have stepped up to the mark, the team sports have also witnessed some incredible displays. In Korfball, Chinese Taipei became the first ever non-European team to make the final in The World Games. Korfball is on the program since 1985.
In Fistball Germany overcame a two set deficit to claim a memorable gold against the team from Switzerland. The German were the defending champion when they went into the match. And they are the defending champion in TWG 2021 Birmingham/Alabama.
As The World Games enters its final few days which other athletes will dazzle and make headlines with their performances? Keep watching the Olympic Channel to see who else will deserve to be on this list.
