“I walked like a little child being let out on the ice for the first time with a penguin.” Kostomarov – about the first time on the ice after illness

Olympic ice dancing champion Roman Kostomarov told what emotions he experienced after his first appearance on the ice after illness.

In January 2023, Kostomarov was hospitalized with pneumonia. Due to complications, both feet and both hands were amputated. The figure skater has returned to the ice, performing in shows using prosthetics.

— At first, I stood to the side. Then he slowly tried to walk on the ice, just moving his feet. Like a little child being let out on the ice for the first time with a penguin. Max Stavisky and Ilya Averbukh held me on both sides, trying to suggest something: like trying to feel how muscles work. I was almost offended, like, why are you talking to me like I’ve never skated in my life? What am I, a show business star on ice or something?

I was very afraid of falling, because without arms you have nothing to fall on except your elbows. That is, there is nothing to insure yourself with, even one way or another. It was at that moment that I suddenly truly understood the wild fear felt by those who came to our project without knowing how to skate at all. I even felt sorry for them.

Everything that is formed develops. It is clear that nothing can be done right away. But I quickly began to feel the mechanics of the movements. Already in the second training session I pushed to the side and tried to imitate a “snake” on two legs. It’s like skiing, transferring weight from one leg to the other. And only in the seventh or eighth training session Oksana and I started trying to slide while holding hands,” Kostomarov said, as quoted by RT.

Kostomarov, together with Tatyana Navka, won gold at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, also became world champion twice and won the European Championships three times.

RT

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