Former figure skater Roman Kostomarov opened up about surviving limb loss and the role of family and inner strength in his recovery, as reported by Sports Express.
He said that beyond his loved ones, the people who stood closest to him made the biggest difference. He described how his wife and brother visited every morning, offering unwavering support. “That support likely had a purpose,” Kostomarov recalled. He described the experience as cruel and said his strong heart carried him through. He noted that all his organs failed at one point, yet resilience and the care around him kept him fighting.
In January 2023, Kostomarov faced a dire medical situation after an outdoor performance. He was admitted to intensive care, placed on mechanical ventilation, and treated for pneumonia, with his condition described as extremely serious. He was moved to a hospital in Kommunarka, where he underwent resuscitation and was connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine. During the course of treatment, both of his feet and hands were amputated.
By early July 2023, Kostomarov had moved out of the hospital. On June 26, he shared video footage of his initial training while wearing prosthetics. On August 22, he and his wife Oksana joined an ice show led by Ilya Averbukh called Love Letters in Sochi, marking his first on‑ice appearance before fans since the hospital stay.
Earlier, Kostomarov had faced moments that moved even judges on the show Avatar to tears, reflecting on the emotional toll and the remarkable road ahead for the skater. [citation to Sports Express]