Russian Prime Minister rewards each Olympic medallist with Mercedes-Benz

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In this photo taken Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses with Russian Olympic medal winners after Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. From left, figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova, cross-country sprinter Nikita Kruikov, back, figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia, and at right, figure skater Adelina Sotnikova. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti Kremlin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)

MOSCOW – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has given a Mercedes-Benz to each Olympic medallist from the host country of the 2014 Sochi Games.

Medvedev reportedly gave away dozens of white Mercedes-Benz cars, decorated with the Russian Olympic team logo. While some of Russia’s star athletes, like 15-year-old figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia or 17-year-old teammate Adelina Sotnikova, don’t even have their licenses yet, Medvedev found a way around that problem by providing a driver — all services paid.

After an embarrassing sixth-place finish in the medals table at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Russia finished at the top in Sochi.

Medvedev says that it is important for the government to continue supporting athletes financially.

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