Silver prize-winner of Europe

Yauheni Mikhno, a tenth-grade student from Secondary School No. 3, has brought fame to the Lepel district not only at the national level but also across Europe.

Yauheni Mikhno, a tenth-grade student from Secondary School No. 3, has brought fame to the Lepel district not only at the national level but also across Europe. As part of the national team of Belarus, the young athlete delivered an outstanding performance at the European Sambo Championship among juniors, held in Limassol, Cyprus. Yauheni confidently won all preliminary bouts, reached the final, and became the silver medalist of Europe, earning the title of Master of Sport in Sambo.
A second place at the European Championship is a significant event in the life of any athlete. Yauheni shared his impressions of the championship and his challenging path to victory in his interview.
- Yauheni, is it true that you had competed at the international level before participating in the European Championship?
- Yes, I had previously performed successfully at competitions in Turkey and Ukraine.
- How many countries participated in the European Championship held on the island of Cyprus?
- Athletes from Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and other countries participated in the championship.
Before travelling to the championship, I dedicated a lot of time to training sessions held in Minsk. This was a very important stage. We trained alongside well-known athletes from our country. I particularly remember the sessions with Kurlyp, a renowned Belarusian coach, a multiple-time world champion who has long been part of the national team of the republic. The preparation lasted for 15 days.
- My first bout was against an athlete from Ukraine, and I won it. I had five minutes to prepare for the next bout. The second fight was against a sambist from Armenia. I won this one too, with a score of 3:2.
There was a four-hour break before the final bouts, and our team had an opportunity to rest. Particular tension arose before the start of the final match against a Russian sambist. The struggle was intense. Victory was very close, but in the end, the Russian opponent executed a winning move.
- What impressions did Cyprus leave you with?
- Cyprus impressed me with its unique nature, unusual vegetation, and a completely different atmosphere. The air temperature was over thirty degrees Celsius. I was captivated by the beauty of Beach Park, which is always frequented by many visitors. The hotel where we stayed was located in a very picturesque place, 50 meters from the seashore.
- It is known that to participate in the championship

Europe requires a considerable amount of financial resources. Who wished to be your sponsor?
- My coach Halina Popova and I are, of course, very grateful to the Director of OJSC "Lepel Dairy and Canning Plant" Alyaksandr Mikhailouski for the significant sponsorship provided by the enterprise – thirty million rubles.
- Zhenya, how did your sports journey begin, and do you remember your first victory?
-- I started practicing at the judo section of the Lepel Children and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve "Volat" when I was seven years old. My parents supported my choice. My father, who has dedicated his life to sports, works as a physical education teacher at Secondary School No. 3, and was once fascinated by judo techniques. My mother has always been supportive of my training.
I also remember my first victory. It was a tournament for prizes of the Chairman of the District Executive Committee Pyotr Shikshnyan. I took first place and received a medal.
I would like to continue practicing judo and sambo in the future. After graduating from school, I plan to pursue further education at the Belarusian State University of Physical Education and Sport.
Interview conducted by
Sviatlana Silvanovich.
In the photo: European Junior Sambo Champion with his well-deserved awards.
Photo by the author.