Figure skater Ilya Averbukh shared how audiences stood beside his colleague, Olympic champion Roman Kostomarov, after he faced the devastating loss of his limbs. He spoke about it during a conversation with Moscow 24.
“During the tour in support of Roman, I said to the audience: we aren’t asking for money or fundraising. We can handle this ourselves. Our one request is simple: write kind words and letters, and we will pass every single note to Roma,” Averbukh recalls.
According to Averbukh, the response from fans was immediate and heartfelt.
“There were countless letters of encouragement and affection. Some messages were written in capital letters, some were tucked into the tickets themselves,” the skater explained.
He added that the spirit of support and care is what makes Russia remarkable, emphasizing how community and empathy shine in tough times.
“I am confident the audience will see Roman and us together again, even if the path is different. Roman is part of my family, part of my life,” he affirmed.
On January 10, 2023, Kostomarov was hospitalized with pneumonia. He spent 175 days in medical care, and parts of his arms and legs were amputated as part of his treatment.
In December 2023, Kostomarov returned to the ice, donning his skates once more and performing at Ilya Averbukh’s anniversary show, Hermes-like titled “Letters of Love,” joined by his wife Oksana Domnina.
In the lead-up to the 2023 world blitz championship, Valentina Gunina stated that Kostomarov’s journey serves as a strong source of motivation for him and others in the sport.
Dava, a former blogger who had a high-profile moment in Mauritius, continues to be part of the broader conversation around resilience and support for athletes facing life-changing injuries.