Meeting with figure skater Roman Kostomarov took place at the exposition of the Russian Ministry of Health

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On April 19, as part of the Day of National Priorities "Long and Active Life. Healthcare" on the venue of the exposition of the Ministry of Health of Russia "In the Service of Health!", a creative meeting with figure skater Roman Kostomarov, director of the State Medical Center "MMCC Kommunarka DMZ" - medical institution where Roman received his main treatment, and the film crew of the movie "Roman Kostomarov: Born Twice".

The screening of the documentary, telling about the way of recovery of the athlete after a serious illness, was arranged for the medical audience, students of medical universities and guests of the exposition. Before the screening, a meeting with the main characters of the film was held in the format of a dialog on equal terms, which was called " In Spite of". The name was chosen for a reason: the conversation covered the topics of turning points in fate, boundless strength of spirit, gifted doctors and the importance of family support.

The speakers revealed the secrets of making the movie, discussed the experience of doctors working with Roman at all stages of his treatment and rehabilitation, and, of course, answered the questions of the guests.

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 accept the offer of filming immediately - he got the desire to participate in the project during the rehabilitation process.

"We decided that I am ready mentally and physically. And the movie helped me to keep myself busy after leaving the hospital, helped me to distract myself from everyday difficulties, to do something. I'm glad that the filming 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 finally formed in the process 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.

Director of the State Budgetary Institution "MMCC "Kommunarka DMZ" Denis Protsenko, in turn, spoke about some aspects of treatment of the skater. In particular, he noted that bilateral pneumonia caused severe lesions of the extremities. This was followed by sepsis and brain hematoma.

Roman Kostomarov suffered two strokes. However, he was eventually discharged from the hospital on July 6 - 177 days after 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.

The event left no one indifferent: dialogues with the protagonists, frank reflections, sincere emotions from watching the movie, and of course, a joint photo will long be in the memory of the participants of the meeting.