The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that it will formally honour all medallists from Paralympic Games for the first time, by awarding them with dedicated, unique pins.
The pins, which are coloured gold, silver and bronze, will be given to winners of medals according to their results from Sochi 2014 onwards, including the guides of visually impaired athletes.
Paralympians will receive one pin for each medal they have won.
Sir Philip Craven, IPC President said: "As a former athlete myself, I know that winning a medal at a Paralympic Games is one of the greatest achievements that a Paralympian aspires to in his or her career.
"The effort, hard work and training that goes in to getting to a Games is incredible. If you then go on to the win a medal against the very best competitors in your field, with all the pressure and attention that a Games brings, that deserves extra recognition.
"It is important for Paralympians, and where relevant their guides, to be able to show off that accolade to everyone they meet. This is the perfect way to do that."
A total of 182 athletes and guides from Sochi 2014 will receive 363 of the first edition pins, which are made distinctive by the use of the official typeface of the Games. They have been designed in consultation with the IPC Athletes' Council.
From now on all medallists from future Summer and Winter Games will be awarded the pins which will be unique to each edition, as denoted by the year.
Russia's Roman Petushkov, the most decorated single athlete of Sochi 2014, will receive six gold pins after his stunning performances in cross-country skiing and biathlon.
Petushkov and his teammates will be awarded the most pins following their incredible Sochi 2014 medals table-topping performance of 30 gold, 28 silver and 22 bronze gongs.
Germany's sit-skier Anna Schaffelhuber won five gold medals during Sochi to be the most successful female athlete.
The next Summer Games in Rio 2016 will see athletes across 526 medal events receive the honour, which was proposed and ratified by the IPC Membership at the General Assembly in Athens, Greece, in November 2013.
For further information:
Craig Spence
IPC Director of Media and Communications
e-mail: craig.spence@paralympic.org
call +49-228-2097-230.
Alternatively, please visit www.paralympic.org.
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