Roman Kostomarov, the Olympic ice dancing champion, spoke in a recent interview with First Channel about a moment that reshaped his life. He described how he felt no pain in the hospital until medical teams warned him that his arms and legs might need to be amputated. The admission was a stark turning point, forcing him to confront the possibility of life without his limbs and the identity he had built as a top-level athlete and skater.
Reflecting on that devastating juncture, Kostomarov admitted there were moments when the question of whether his life could be saved crept in. For an athlete whose career is defined by movement and grace on the ice, the idea of losing limbs was a profound blow. He confessed that he did not fully grasp at first why he remained alive, or why he continued to fight, especially given the disorienting reality that greatness in his sport hinges on the strength of his legs and the control of his arms.
Earlier, in January 2023, Kostomarov was hospitalized after a New Year performance in an outdoor show. Reports indicated he faced a critical battle in intensive care, battling pneumonia and requiring a ventilator. His condition was described as extremely serious, and he received treatment at a prominent medical center before moving to Kommunarka for ongoing care. During this period, doctors performed amputations of parts of his arms and legs in response to complications. By early July 2023, the skater began the process of leaving the hospital, marking a major milestone in his recovery journey.
In August, Kostomarov reemerged on the ice alongside his husband, performing during Ilya Averbukh’s show Love Letters. This marked a public step in his rehabilitation and a visible sign of his determination to reclaim a place on the stage even after life-altering surgery. Later in December, Kostomarov took to the ice again, this time wearing a prosthesis that enabled him to move with more confidence and precision on the surface where he first rose to fame.
Previously, Averbukh had indicated to viewers that Kostomarov would appear again in a gala presentation, underscoring the resilience of an athlete who has endured a severe medical crisis and the uncertainty of a return to the sport he loves. The story stands as a testament to perseverance in the face of catastrophic injury and the enduring bond between an athlete and the ice where he found his voice on the world stage.