Figure skater Roman Kostomarov is busy preparing himself to get back to his old routine. After a rough first half of the year, the figure skater recovers with motivational songs and shows the tragic changes to his body.
On June 29, the 2006 Olympic champion showed his arms for the first time and demonstrated some exercises with his prosthetic legs. The arms were tightly bandaged, but you could see the consequences of the surgeries the athlete has undergone under the bandages. Telecomasia.net provides all the details of the skater's health as of the end of June.
June 29, Kostomarov shows his recovery
In the summer, Roman Kostomarov started surprising his subscribers with new videos. In another post, he showed leg swings in prosthetics under the strict supervision of doctors, and also showed how he climbs the stairs. Besides, he showed his hands for the first time. A number of sources reported back in the winter that the athlete lost his hands. Roman isn't discouraged and encouraged himself.
Every day I try to do something new... But I feel like running and jumping already!!!
Roman Kostomarov on his social networks
This is the athlete's second video in the last few days. Judging by the identical clothes, we can assume that everything was recorded on the same day. The second recording, like the first one, was accompanied by a motivational track by MACHETE.
"Heads up fighter, this ain't over. Either way you're awesome and doing great," Kostomarov takes his first steps in the video to these lyrics. At the end of the short video after a hard climb up the stairs, he smiled for the camera and showed that he is ready to continue working on his recovery.
"Looks like you went from a boy to a warrior. Life tested you and the stakes are doubled". The video stops, but the message is clear.
Many people from the world of sports supported him immediately. "Roma!!! I'm so happy to see you with a smile. Never look back," skater Evgenia Medvedeva wrote in the comments under the video.
His former ice dancing partner Anna Semenovich was more succinct. "Never look back," the actress and singer wrote. Olympic women's singles skating champion Adelina Sotnikova called Roman the best.
June 26, Kostomarov posts the first video after his illness
These videos did not come as a shock. In late June, the athlete already surprised everyone with the changes in his body. On June 26 he demonstrated his cycling work, and then everyone saw him in prosthetics for the first time.
Roman specifically pointed out the new devices that allow him to walk.
"Oh it's not easy all of it... mentally or physically... to put it mildly!!! But moving on The hardest part is ahead, goddam life!!! Although it has never been easy," he captioned the video to the same MACHETE song.
These two posts were the first ones he had posted in summer. Before that, he had only posted a photo on May 8 in a sweatshirt with two words on it: "No comments."
What is known about Kostomarov's health condition
Judging by the videos he published, the adjustment to his new life is in full swing. The Olympic champion works hard and encourages himself in every possible way. However, the skater does not talk about his life, only showing the videos.
June 20, Tatiana Navka, with whom Roman won the Olympics in Turin, reported on the hard strain of her ex-partner. She also supports her friend.
In these hard days you are a symbol of victory over yourself and circumstances. I'm sure you'll do many more great things for yourself, family and fans. I'm proud, and I'm waiting.
Tatyana Navka on her social networks
June 22, TASS news agency reported that the figure skater is getting used to prosthetics and trying to adapt to them. Apparently, it's working out well so far. One of the athlete's closest friends Ilia Averbukh confirmed that Kostomarov's recovery is in progress.
"I am in contact with him every day, and I know that he is a real hero. It's no surprise to me that he's in such good shape," Averbukh said in an interview with Sport24.
What happened to Kostomarov?
The year 2023 was hard for Roman Kostomarov. He practiced non-stop for New Year's Eve shows, and his health deteriorated. After a long stay on the open ice on frosty days, the common cold turned into something more, and on January 10 he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia.
When it became clear that there was a fatal risk to Kostomarov's life, doctors connected him to an ECMO machine to oxygenate his blood. It saved his life, but the consequences were very grave. At some point, the tissues of his arms and legs began to rot away because of the circulatory disorder.
To stop the gangrene, doctors decided to remove parts of his limbs. There were many rumors and news about the severity of the amputations. The skater's side has never commented on the subject, but the recent videos showed that both his arms and legs suffered during the treatment.
He was getting ready for prosthetics in the spring. But since Kostomarov is already cycling, we can assume that the operations on his legs were successful. There is no way to tell what stage of healing the athlete's arms are at under the bandages. He may still have to wait for prosthetic arms. But he is already preparing to get back to his normal activities.