MIKHAIL LITVIN The 26-year-old Kazakh sprinter, specialized in the 400m didn’t see it coming, the double Asian Games medalist and FISU World University Games Silver medalist was thrilled and in tears when he crossed the finish line, his 44.94s score in Konya beats his last 400m race result in Eugene, Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championships held on July 20, 2022, where he clocked 45.63s making Konya his all-time personal best and the first gold medal in wide international championships.
Mikhail was feeling proud and happy saying: “All my training and preparation was poured into my performance in this race, this feels like a dream to me… But I am not done yet, I hope to perform well in the next Asian Games and hopefully Worlds ” during an interview with AIPS as he was wiping tears off his face with the flag of Kazakhstan decorating his shoulders.
Right after he finished the race, he was hugging his teammates on track while looking at the scoreboard, as soon as he saw the official score he launched in celebration around the track with his coach in front of the fans.
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YOUSEF MASRAHI The 34-year-old Saudi 400m silver medalist in Konya was very emotional after his race after suspension for over 4-years, the Asian record holder, 43.93 in Beijing 2015 World Championships, and the first Saudi gold medalist in the Diamond League is one of the best mid-distance sprinters in Saudi Arabia, as soon as Yousef passed the finished line he was already in tears, hugging his coach saying thank you multiple times. It was an emotional moment showing great sportsmanship and coach appreciation.
Masrahi was cheering “The king is back!” in the mixed zone in celebration of his strong comeback from suspension, in June 15, 2016, he was suspended after testing positive for doping, according to the Saudi Anti-Doping Control Committee announcement, his first and second testing sample were positive in Salt Lake City as he was preparing to win a medal in Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
Masrahi scored a great 400m gold at the 2014 Asian Games setting an Asian record, and personal best unbeaten until today, he won gold at the 2015 World Military Athletics Championships in South Korea, and won first place in the 400m at the 2015 Jamaica International Championships, he also won bronze in the 400m relay at the 2014 Asian Games, and snatched the gold medal in the 400m race in Oslo 2013 World Athletics Diamond League, and finished second in the 400-meter race in Rome 2013 World Diamond League.
He also grabbed the 400m gold at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships, the 400m relay silver at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships, and won the 400m gold in the athletics competitions at the 12th Arab Games in 2011, and 400m relay gold at the 2010 Asian Games, bronze 400m at the 2010 Asian Games.
MAZEN AL-YASEEN The 26-year-old Saudi 400m sprinter clocked third in Konya’s 400m race clocking 45.80, Mazen worked very hard on preparation for the Islamic Solidarity Games, he had a period of drought in achievements since early 2019, winning this bronze medal meant a lot him, he started catching tears after he crossed the finish line hugging his teammate Yousef, and after his coach, he was feeling very thankful for his coach, even kissed his hand soon before he collapsed on the floor from too many emotions.
This is not the first Islamic Solidarity Games medal for Mazen, he won gold in the 4 × 400m relay in ISG Indonesia 2013, he is Asian Championships silver medalist, and Arab Championships double bronze and one silver medalist.
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