The latest report about Russian figure skater Roman Kostomarov has circulated via a Telegram channel sharing New Year wishes. The post conveyed messages of health and well-being directed at Kostomarov’s followers.
On December 17, Kostomarov appeared during the show Together and Forever, staged by choreographer Ilya Averbukh. He skated to the rink at the close of his wife Domnina’s exhibition routine alongside Maxim Shabalin, delivering an excerpt from Carmen. The program he and his former partner Tatyana Navka used to triumph at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin served as the centerpiece of this moment, tying the present performance to a notable past victory.
Earlier in January 2023, Kostomarov faced serious health challenges and was hospitalized. He spent time in intensive care following a pneumonia diagnosis and required a ventilator for respiration. He was transferred to a hospital in Kommunarka, where he underwent resuscitation and was connected to an ECMO device, a machine that supports blood oxygenation. After that critical period, he remained on mechanical ventilation for an extended stretch. Reports indicated significant medical interventions, including the loss of some arm and leg tissue as part of the treatment process.
There had been moments when Kostomarov could not hide his emotions upon returning to the ice, a sign of the profound impact of the journey on him and those close to him. The road back from such serious health events often tests an athlete’s resilience, and Kostomarov’s experience underscores the fragility and tenacity that characterize elite sports careers. Observers note that the public response to his condition reflects a wide interest in the life of a skater who has become a symbol of perseverance for many fans across the country and beyond.