Reactions to Kuzmina’s historical success

Fantastic, extraordinary, phenomenal, unbelievable - these are some of the adjectives which were heard in reaction to Anastasia Kuzmina's gold in Saturday's 12.5 kilometre Olympic race. As well as top politicians, Olympic medallists and leading personalities in Slovak sport congratulated the Russian-born Slovak biathlete on her third medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and her sixth altogether. Excluding Kuzmina's successes, Slovakia as an independent country has only earned 2 medals in all Winter Olympics. The 33-year-old has been representing Slovakia since 2008, when she obtained Slovak citizenship. It has proven to be the right choice. "Who knows, maybe in Russia she would not have earned these results," said Kuzmina's father Vladimir Shipulin, adding that in contrast to Russia where there is big pressure, competition and tough trainings, Nastja enjoys a calmer atmosphere in the Slovak biathlon.