Olympic ice dancing champion Roman Kostomarov wrapped up his act on the Avatar show, as reported by RIA News.
In the program’s fourth episode, aired on November 26, Kostomarov appeared in a Tin Man costume, delivering Igor Kornelyuk’s composition “The Non-Existent City,” a piece familiar to fans from the 1990s television series Gangster Petersburg. Kostomarov’s performance drew a visible, emotional response from the judging panel, including Mark Tishman, Ida Galich, Irina Ponarovskaya, Sergei Lazarev, and Timur Batrutdinov, who were moved to tears by the moment.
Earlier in January 2023, Kostomarov faced a grave health crisis after performing at an outdoor show. He was admitted to intensive care with pneumonia and placed on a ventilator. His prognosis was severe, and he was transported to Kommunarka hospital where he required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During treatment, doctors performed amputations of both his feet and hands to save his life. By July 6, doctors discharged him from the hospital.
At the start of July 2023, Kostomarov left the hospital for good. On June 26, he posted his first video showcasing training in prosthetics. On August 22, Kostomarov and his wife Oksana joined Ilya Averbukh’s ice show Love Letters in Sochi, marking his return to the ice before a live audience since the hospitalization.
In his skating career, Kostomarov formed a renowned partnership with Tatyana Navka. Together they earned the title of 2006 Olympic champions and accumulated multiple world, European, and Grand Prix titles, solidifying Kostomarov’s status as a top figure in Russian ice dancing. He is recognized with the title of Honored Master of Sports of Russia.
Earlier in his career, Kostomarov also made appearances at various tennis events, reflecting his broader presence in elite sports and entertainment circles.