Putin gives Vladimir Nikitin a car for ‘beating’ Mick Conlan

Vladimir Nikitin’s ‘win’ in the Olympic quarter final against Mick Conlan has seen him rewarded with a brand new car worth around €46,000/£39,000

It has been reported today by Russian state news agency TASS that bronze medalists will be given an BMW X3. Silver medalists will drive home an BMW X5, while gold medalists will be rewarded with an a BMW X6

After London, Russian bronze medalists pocketed 1.7 million roubles (approximately €23,000/£19,900) from the government, while silver medalists took home 2.5 million roubles and 4 million roubles was given the gold medalists.

Cash prizes for Rio medal winners are currently unconfirmed.

The Russian athletes arrived back in Moscow today where they had a reception with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Nikitin controversially defeated the Belfast bantamweight, along with Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee in the Last 16, despite seeming to come off second best in both bouts – especially against the Irishman.

His cuts sustained against Butdee, and substantially worsened by Conlan, saw Nikitin withdraw from his Olympic semi final with Shakur Stevenson.