How did Belarus' Paralympics swimming star spend his $280K?

Weight-lifter Iryna Kulesha (75 kg) got $50.000 for the London Olympics bronze.

"She planned to use it for construction. She will add it up to a low-rate mortgage loan in order to build a house. Lukashenka has just recently endorsed the documents," says Yauhenia Piatrouna, athlete's mother. "She is sort of not eligible, because she has an apartment. But Lukashenka has signed the documents."

Euroradio: Her husband is a sportsman as well?

Yauhenia Piatrouna: "No, the husband is a builder. He lays tiles and does priming."

Iryna Kulesha

In order to buy a two-room apartment in Brest, Iryna took a bank loan. She refused from vacations in a foreign land after the Olympics in order to move close to achieving her real life plans, so she spent some free time in the Brest region. 

Paralymipcs great swimmer Ihar Bokiy of Belarus is also using the prize money to meet his housing needs. He collected $280.000 for FIVE golds and one silver medal in the swimming championships.

Ihar Bokiy: "I will buy an apartment in Minsk when I find a good one. That's it. The [Mahilyou] region authorities gave me a one-bedroom apartment in Babruisk."

Swimmer Aliaksandra Herasimenia who won two silver Olympic medals in London was to receive $150.000. Euroradio asked the athlete if she got the money indeed.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia: "Absolutely yes. Just as promised."

Euroradio: How have you made use of it?

Aliaksandra Herasimenia: "I have deposited with a bank. No need to rush.."

Gymnast Aliaksandra Narkevich did the same: she deposited her bronze medal prize cash with a bank. Well, she spent some time on vacations in Greece.

For Max Mirnyi, it was a matter of patriotism - not money - to win the gold medal in tennis mixed tournament with Victoria Azarenka!

"They gave him $150.000, says athlete's father and coach Mikalai Mirnyi. "I also got as much as $37.500 as his personal coach."