Roman Kostomarov on the strength of spirit, gifted doctors and the importance of family support
The RUSSIA
EXPO hosted a meeting with figure skater Roman Kostomarov, Denis Protsenko,
Director of the State Medical Center "Kommunarka", the medical
facility where Roman received his main treatment, and the crew of the movie
"Roman Kostomarov: Born Twice". The picture tells about the path of
recovery of the athlete after a serious illness. It was held in Pavilion C at
the exposition of the Russian Ministry of Health "In the Service of
Health!" for the guests of the RUSSIA EXPO.
The talk
addressed the theme of turning points in fate, boundless fortitude, gifted
doctors and the importance of family support. A documentary movie was also
shown.
The story
of Roman Kostomarov - three-time European champion, two-time world champion,
Olympic champion in figure skating - became a living example of incredible
resilience and fortitude and proof that nothing is impossible in life. Roman
Kostomarov did not immediately accept the offer to participate in the filming -
his desire to participate in the project appeared in the process of
rehabilitation.
"We
decided that I am ready morally and physically. And the movie helped me to be
busy after leaving the hospital, helped me to distract myself from everyday
difficulties, to do something. I'm glad that the shooting went smoothly,
without unnecessary tension. The crew did not pressure me - and it turned out
to be a good movie," said Roman Kostomarov.
The idea of
the picture was finalized in the course of filming, said the director of the
film Michael Shchedrinsky.
"For
those four months, while we worked, we received such a charge of vitality,
which you do not get in normal life. We wanted this movie to be about love,
about the strength of spirit, about the way a person can come back to life in
any situation. And, of course, about the doctors who created this small
miracle," said Mikhail Shchedrinsky.
Denis
Protsenko, the chief doctor of the Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 40 in
Kommunarka, in his turn, told about some details of the skater's treatment.
Bilateral pneumonia caused severe lesions of the extremities. After that, there
was sepsis and a brain hematoma. Roman Kostomarov suffered two strokes.
However, he was eventually discharged from the hospital on July 6 - 177 days
after his hospitalization. A few months later, in November 2023, he announced
his desire to return to the ice.
The authors of the picture filmed more than 30 hours of interviews - with Roman Kostomarov himself, his wife Oksana Domnina, mother, daughter, friends, other athletes and doctors who were involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of the skater. In addition, the picture includes archival footage from his life.
Let us remind you that the premiere screening of the documentary "Roman Kostomarov: Born Twice" was held at the RUSSIA EXPO on March 7, 2024. In cinemas, the film was released on March 9.
