Roman Kostomarov, the Olympic ice dancing champion, reflected with irony on his appearance in the Avatar show and joked about his voice as part of his remarks captured by Sports Express. The remark underscored a self aware wit about the performance and the persona he presented on stage.
During a moment addressing the judging panel, Kostomarov indicated that his self assessment was intentionally ironic. He explained that the character he portrayed carried vulnerabilities he chose to own, pointing out in a lighthearted way that he lacked arms, legs, and a voice, turning the self critique into a candid moment for the audience. This was reported in connection with the fourth episode broadcast in late November, when Kostomarov appeared in a Tin Man costume and delivered a performance set to Igor Kornelyuk’s song The Non-Existent City, a track familiar from the 1990s television series Gangster Petersburg. The jury members, including Mark Tishman, Ida Galich, Irina Ponarovskaya, Sergei Lazarev and Timur Batrutdinov, indicated that Kostomarov’s voice came through clearly in the performance, and several of them were visibly moved to tears by the number. Source: Sports Express.
In early January of the following year, Kostomarov faced a serious health crisis after an outdoor show. He was admitted to intensive care with pneumonia and placed on respiratory support. His condition deteriorated to a critical level, prompting transfer to Kommunarka hospital where his care included resuscitation and the use of an ECMO machine. The medical team reported the difficult consequence of the illness, noting that both of Kostomarov’s feet and hands required amputation amid the treatment. Source: Sports Express.
By the start of July, Kostomarov had left the hospital for the first time in months. A video posted at the end of June showed him beginning to train again, using prosthetics for the first time in his rehabilitation. Later that summer, on August 22, he and his wife Oksana joined Ilya Averbukh’s ice show Love Letters in Sochi, marking his return to performing in front of spectators since the hospitalization. This sequence of events underscored the resilience required to reapproach the ice after such life changing medical interventions. Source: Sports Express.
On the ice, Kostomarov enjoyed a celebrated career alongside partner Tatyana Navka. The duo captured the 2006 Olympic title and earned multiple world, European, and Grand Prix honors, establishing Kostomarov as one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors. His status in Russia was recognized with the title Honored Master of Sports. Source: Sports Express.
Earlier in his career, Kostomarov had also been invited to participate in other sports events, including tennis tournaments, reflecting a broader athletic profile and the continued public interest in his activities beyond the rink. Source: Sports Express.