KAZAN, July 15 (R-Sport) - The 10th day of the 2013 World University Games drew to a close Monday with President Vladimir Putin praising the Russia's staggeringly high medal tally as the result of the host nation's exceptional preparation and not the athletic weaknesses of other countries.
Russia, which sent 673 athletes to the Kazan Universiade, has won 249 medals including 126 gold, 66 silver and 18 bronze, giving them 179 more than the next closest country Japan, which has 70.
"All the athletes are very good," Putin said while traveling on Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland. "They are world champions, Olympic champions from Europe and other continents."
The president credited Russia's lopsided success to the years-long preparation of the country's sporting establishment and its athletes.
"We're seeing the results," he said.
Russia won 14 medals in canoe and kayak events on Monday and grabbed gold in men's field hockey with a 2-1 win over France. Germany took bronze after a 4-3 squeaker over Malaysia.
Russia's women's volleyball team beat Brazil 3-2 for the gold medal and Thailand dropped Poland 3-1 for the bronze.
It was a strong day in the pool for the United States, which won five medals. John Conger clocked 1:55.47 in the men's 200m backstroke, topping Japan's Yuki Shirai by 1.48 seconds. Conger's countryman, Jacob Pebley, swam to bronze.
Stephanie Peacock took silver and Ashley Steenvoorden bronze in the women's 800m freestyle. Each won their second medal of the student games. The U.S. also claimed silver in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay, sandwiched between the gold medal-winning Russians and Australia.
Anastasia Zuyeva, a London 2012 silver medalist in the 200m backstroke, set a Universiade record in the women's 50m breaststroke with a time of 27.89, .03 seconds faster than American Jennifer Connolly's 2011 mark. Belarus' Aliaksandra Herasimenia was 0.12 seconds back for silver while Madison Wilson earned bronze for Australia.
Elsewhere, Britain's women's football team won gold, crushing Mexico 6-2 with a strong second half. Bronze went to Brazil following a 2-1 win over South Africa.
In basketball, the U.S. women's team hammered Russia 88-67 in the gold medal game. Australia trumped Taipei 99-58 for bronze.
On the men's side, Russia beat Canada and Australia put away Serbia late to advance to the men's final on Tuesday. Canada and Australia will meet for bronze.
The Universiade wraps up July 17.
