Best performers of Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica receive awards for 2018

Today (15 November), best performers of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica received awards in 8 categories for their 2018 sporting successes during an awards ceremony in Banská Bystrica. Also in attendance at the gala evening were Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš and General Secretary of the MOD Service Office Ján Hoľko. Biathlete Anastasiya Kuzmina was recognised with the Sportsperson of the Year Award.

 
In his speech at the gala evening, Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I am very pleased that this evening we can award all those who thanks to their efforts and endurance have achieved international sporting successes at the highest level.”
 
In his speech in front of the audience, Director of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica Lt Col Roman Benčík spoke of 2018 as a successful year for the Centre, summarised the greatest successes of the year, and thanked all those who contributed to them. "I am proud to announce that we are really good! I also want to say a big thank you to the Ministry of Defence for its support. This year we have managed to fulfil our main goal – to win 27 medals, whereas today we have 29 medals, and I wish you would win at least 30 medals next year,” he said.
 
The 2018 Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica Sportsperson of the Year Award was presented to Anastasiya Kuzmina. Also awarded in this category were Alexander Slafkovský, Matej Tóth, Dorota Balciarová, Petra Vlhová, Paulína Fialková, Miroslava Kopúňová, Monika Škáchová, Karol Samko and Peter Gelle.
 
The Best Collective Performance Award went to Anastasiya Kuzmina, Ivona Fialková, Paulína Fialková, Terézia Poliaková for biathlon and relay. Paulína Fialková picked up the Non-Olympic Sportsperson of the Year Award, Lucia Valová took the Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award, and Milan Fraňa, champion of the 2018 European Junior Canoe Sprint Championships, scooped the Discovery of the Year Award.
 
On this occasion, Head of the MOD presented the SVK Armed Forces 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal to 7 sportsmen and women of the Centre in Banská Bystrica.
 
This year sportsmen and women of the Centre have gained 29 medals, including 3 Olympic medals, at top European and world sporting events.