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Olympic star Hryshyn says that he was confident of podium finish in Vancouver

Olympic hero Alyaksey Hryshyn on Friday revealed that he had been confident of a podium finish ahead of the Vancouver Games as quoted by BelaPAN.

"The coach and I had done much work, invested much effort. And this was not in vain," the 30-year-old, who won the men's Olympic freestyle aerials event, told reporters in Minsk.

Speaking at the news conference, Assol Slivets, who finished fourth in the women's freestyle aerials, said that the Olympics had left "pleasant memories." "For instance, after Alyaksey Hryshyn won the gold, people rushed to hug us even in the subway, shouted 'Belarus, you've got the gold!,' congratulated us. It was pleasant," she said.

Freestyle aerialist Tsimafey Slivets said that the Belarusian team had received a warm welcome in Vancouver. "We felt at home. When the athletes were coming back to the Olympic village, they smiled and told them 'Welcome home!'"

Biathlete Syarhey Novikaw, who won a silver medal, said that he had disliked food in the Olympic village, while Ms. Slivets noted that the walls in Olympic village rooms had not been soundproof enough. "If someone went to the lavatory, the entire house could hear this," she said.

Two-time Olympic freestyle medalist Dzmitry Dashchynski would not confirm rumors of his plans to call it a career. "Time will show," he said. "After several years in sport it 's hard to find the motivation to continue jumping. The Olympics take place once in four years and you have to train, compete and stay fit between them," Mr. Dashchynski said.