Tuomas Sammelvuo was recognized for his work as the head coach of the Russian national volleyball team.
Tuomas Sammelvuo coached the Russian men’s national volleyball team to Olympic silver last summer. PDO
Vladimir Putin has admitted Toomas Sammelvuo A badge of honor for friendship, news Sport-Express.
It is the highest possible recognition that the Russian state can give to a foreigner.
– Tuomas earned this medal with his work and results at the Olympics. The association did everything for the award. Sent the application to the Ministry of Sports, the President’s Award Commission approved it. Giving the award is not difficult, because Tuomas lives most of his time in Russia, the president of the Russian Volleyball Federation Alexander Yaremenko comment for TASS.
Sammelvuo started as the head coach of the Russian men’s national volleyball team in 2019. The end of his tenure was announced in May.
Under his leadership, Russia won Olympic silver last summer in Tokyo. Russia lost the Olympic final to France.
Sammelvuo also coached two club teams in Russia. He resigned as head coach of Zenit St. Petersburg a day after Russia expanded its war of aggression in Ukraine at the end of February.