Dmitry Ignatov leading disabled biography. How to overcome illness and move on with your life
Well-known motivator, paraathlete and TV presenter Dmitry Ignatov spoke about the problems of social adaptation of people with disabilities in an exclusive interview with “Living Sports”.
Dmitry Ignatov is one of the most famous paraathletes in Russia, a man who has become a role model for many disabled people in our country. Dmitry attended the unique fitness festival Russian Fitness Fair as an honored guest. As part of the event, the star athlete gave an interview to our portal.
– Why did you decide to visit the Russian Fitness Fair?
– I have a lot of friends in the fitness community. I was called here, they said that my story would help motivate many people, that's why I'm here.
– In your opinion, why do many people with disabilities in Russia still have problems adapting to normal life? There are few people like you.
– Propaganda is now busy with somewhat different things. There is no emphasis on the internal situation in the country, which is not as good as it seems to me. We even kill people with disabilities. Suffice it to remember how recently teenagers beat a disabled person almost to death...
Unfortunately, even if you take the Paralympic athletes, no one knows about them. This is very bad. If you ask any sports person to name five famous athletes, he will name many, but not para-athletes.
– What needs to be done to change the situation?
– We need to tell people that there are such cool people. They want to have sex, have families. They are just as fashionable and cool. You just need to help them. The work must come from both sides. Healthy people should not mock and point fingers at people with disabilities. At the same time, disabled people must behave with dignity, not be capricious and be worthy members of society.
– Are there many people with disabilities who live full lives?
– I have a sufficient number of friends and acquaintances who lead an active lifestyle. Others may just be shy. It’s not customary for us to talk openly about ourselves. Soviet education is still in our heads. Now we still live in the 21st century. The world is ruled by pictures - social networks. We need to come out of our dens and show that we exist.
– Did you have the feeling after you became disabled that your life was over? How did you deal with negative thoughts?
– It seems to me that I have always been an optimist. Well, there is no leg... We live in the 21st century, there are phenomenal developments. No matter what, there are no problems with legs, like there are with cheese, for example, in our country.
– I saw one of your previous interviews. There, people wrote in the comments that they do not have the financial capacity, like you, to pay for prostheses. What do you say to this?
- I am begging you. Our government is trying to help everyone. In particular, my prosthesis has now passed its expiration date. I'm diving back into the bureaucratic system. I need to pick up the report from my prosthetists, then go to the narcologist and tell him that I am not registered. Next, I go to the surgeon, who will tell me that I can have a prosthesis. Then I go to the MFC, and the machine starts. After that, all that remains is to stimulate me through the media so that I get everything. Everything is possible, everything is real. People just don't know and are lazy.
– Don’t you think that Russia lacks motivators like you? In the USA there is the same Nick Vujicic and many others.
- Oh, I can’t hold a candle to Nick Vuychich. First of all, it has a crazy story. Read it, it's very interesting. I sat on the subway like an idiot and cried. Then I raised the book higher so that people would understand that I was reading a book about him.
There are such people in Russia. They are mainly present on social networks. They don’t go on television because it’s a complete mess. Nobody wants to be a dog there on these not talk shows, but “dog shows”.
When I was in the hospital, I found a huge number of people in other countries. Now we have these people too. Maybe thanks to me there are more of us in the public space.
– A wish from you to the readers of our portal who may have disabilities and similar problems.
“I think the most important thing is to get out of the apartment.” You need to get out of your comfort zone. Try to get to social services, tell them what you need. Try, don't be afraid of failure.
It is clear that people in social services are lazy in most cases to do something, but I think you can reach them.
Basically, don't sit at home, go out, walk and make love.
Earlier, Svetlana Khorkina, in an exclusive interview with our portal, said:
Zurich hosted the first ever Cybathlon - a competition for athletes with disabilities using high-tech assistive devices, including robotics. The competition was held in six disciplines, the Russians were represented in five of them: BCI (brain-computer interfaces), EXO (exoskeletons), WHEEL (robotic wheelchairs), LEG (leg prostheses) and ARM (arm prostheses).
After qualifying, the finals took place at the 10,000-seat Swiss Arena stadium, where, of all the Russians, only Dmitry Ignatov, who competes in the LEG discipline and represents the Ortokosmos team, made it. In the final, he fought against three Icelanders, who eventually managed to beat him. Athletes were required to complete six tests, including tasks from everyday life: going up and down an inclined surface with a tray in their hands, sitting on and getting up from a chair, lifting and lowering suitcases and other objects down stairs.
Lenta.ru talked with Ignatov and Ortokosmos leader Stepan Golovin. They shared their impressions of the competition and talked about their development. In addition, Dmitry, who hosts a program about fitness on the Match TV channel, explained how he got into journalism.
Lenta.ru: After the finish, you hugged very emotionally. Do you consider fourth place a success?
Golovin: Yes, we think this is a good result. In the final we were up against three Icelanders using the world's best prosthetics from the same company, but with different modifications. They prepared for these competitions for a long time because they wanted to advertise their product. The fact that we managed to force a fight on them is a huge success.
Dmitry, you are the only representative of the Russian team to reach the finals of the competition. Did you feel a special responsibility?
Ignatov: No, I didn't think about that. I didn’t like that many members of our team left the arena after qualifying and did not support me in any way. As for the performance itself, I’m not very pleased, I think I was able to compete for second place.
Which test was the most difficult?
When you had to jump from rock to rock. It was this obstacle that I passed with a mistake.
You are one of the few pilots who worked for the public: you played for the camera, asked for support before the start. Is this some kind of clever trick?
Ignatov: A frantic energy emanated from the spectators in the stands. I tried to absorb it and give it out at the start.
Golovin: I would like to note that at all major competitions, athletes who know how to work with the public have a much easier time performing. On the contrary, a large crowd of people puts pressure on someone. It’s more difficult for such athletes.
Why was it not possible to overcome this obstacle without fail? Maybe it's a modification of the prosthesis?
Ignatov: Go and try this test yourself on your own two legs. I'm not sure you'll succeed the first time. With a prosthesis everything is much more complicated.
Golovin: It requires excellent coordination, and in addition, everything needs to be done very quickly, because you are competing with other participants.
Golovin: I think that everything turned out well. The guys performed well, considering that we had very little time to prepare. Here we presented our developments, and not finished products, like some teams. Personally, the developers provided us with a prosthesis only a month and a half ago. I am sure that work will be done to correct the mistakes and
Next time we will come fully armed.
Ignatov: Another important point is that many countries came with imported prostheses, I think this is wrong. We presented our development, which consists of 99 percent domestic materials.
Tell us about how the training went.
Ignatov: We arrived here a few days before the competition. We were able to practice on all the obstacles, but we were not given the opportunity to completely complete the route.
Photo: press service of the Russian Cybathlon team
Can you tell me the approximate cost of your development? How accessible will it be to ordinary people?
Ignatov: It’s difficult to name the price now, but we can already say with confidence: the prosthesis has all the functions that are necessary in everyday life, so it can be very useful to people. Our prosthesis is completely hydraulic, there are no electronic mechanisms, it does not need to be charged or batteries inserted. I would like to note the structure of the foot: it is also hydraulic and can change height depending on the surface on which a person is walking.
How long have you been using dentures?
Ignatov: I have been without a leg for four years now and have tried many models, mostly electronic. Now I have settled on domestic development. I’m not sad, I walk and enjoy life.
How did you get on Match TV?
Just as it often happens on Russian television - through acquaintance. The guys came to film a story about me, and I asked if I could get a job with them. They gave me the producer's number, I called, and in the end everything worked out well.
The ideal man - what is he like? Tall or short, dark-haired or blond, or maybe no hair at all, wearing a formal suit or regular jeans, driving a car or subway, living in Mytishchi or at Patriarch's Ponds, pumped up or skinny? Nobody knows... But one thing is certain: if we write about him, it means he exists! Our today's hero of the column "Bachelor of the Week" – Dmitry Ignatov(25) – refers to the type of men you want to study, recognize, listen to and hear. Everyone knows him as a bright, talented and promising TV presenter. However, few can imagine what he had to go through, what he dreams of and what a girl who can conquer him should be like. You will find out all this right now!
ABOUT ME
I was born in the city Kogalym (Tyumen region). Then, when my parents were transferred to the city for work Naryan-Mar(it is located beyond the Arctic Circle), we moved there. I graduated from school there, and there I had my first journalistic experience. By the way, According to my grandmother, as a child I always wanted to become a patriarch or an astronaut, like all boys. But it so happened that I graduated St. Petersburg University of Engineering and Economics. However I've always liked the field media relations. During my senior year I completed an internship at "REN-TV Petersburg", and in the end I was accepted into a program in which I talked about all sorts of men's toys, such a video version GQ. And then there they offered me to host the poster program. At that time I was still studying at the university, and in my last year I received a summons to the military registration and enlistment office. Naturally, like a real man, I wanted to go to serve, and then I wanted to write a book about it. Having received my diploma, I immediately went to serve in Severodvinsk, where as a result I lost my left leg. Despite this, I am a very active guy: I run, jump, have fun, and the profession of a journalist and television reporter does not mean sitting still.
Jeans and shirt, all Levi's, T-shirt, boots and hat, all Springfield
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
I didn't stay in the army long. After four months of service, our unit was redeployed. As we passed by a large trailer with S300 missiles, this missile launcher fell on me, which was not installed correctly. This happened three years ago. Fortunately, I understood that this was not the end of life and in our time everything is possible. I’ll say more: I felt like a hero from Hollywood films, only this was for real. And the children even call me a transformer, RoboCop.
ABOUT WORK
I soon realized that I needed to look for a job. I sent my resume everywhere: to all publishing houses, media holdings, and so on. Some decent companies responded, and one even invited me to work. It was a TV channel "Moscow-24". Two weeks after the casting, I began hosting a program about social life in Moscow, which was called "Exit to the city". Before, when I watched TV, I always wanted to be the person who talks about all the stars, who is friends with them. And I think I did it well. However, I stopped doing this and went into sports (swimming) because I wanted to somehow develop. I love swimming, I have my first adult category, and I hope that this year I will become a candidate for master of sports. A Now I host morning programs on Match-TV. I was very lucky because my work, love for sports and lifestyle merged together - such a cool symbiosis, you can’t even imagine! This is just the perfect job!
DMITRY'S DAY
I get up very early, probably like all Muscovites. Besides, I live outside MKAD, in Mytishchi. I usually get up at five or six in the morning. It all depends on what time I need to be at work. After waking up, I make myself some oatmeal and go to the shower. I usually eat oatmeal with a banana. Then I go to work by public transport, which I really love. That's where I check my email, messages, or post photos on Instagram. During the day I most often have two workouts. And my working day ends in different ways. However, I try to go to bed at 22:00, but this does not always work out.
New Yorker Vest, Springfield Sweater
WHAT DOES YOU DREAMS ABOUT?
I really want to make a cool program about people with disabilities, and it seems to me that it will receive a TEFI. I would also like to swim across Bosphorus or, for example, take part in major international swimming competitions, but I’m still too weak for this, but I’m gradually moving towards my goal. Also I dream of visiting North and South Poles.
HOBBIES
I absolutely love sports. And I'm lucky that I can play sports at work. In my free time I go to museums, theaters, ballet or opera. I absolutely love literature, which I once hated at university. I love short stories A.P. Chekhov, O. Henry, Mark Twain And P.G. Wodehouse.
CLOTH
I hate rags, but I like to look good. Of course now I can tell the difference Prada from Tom Ford or Louis Vuitton, and I don’t know any other brands. I prefer the mass market, because you can always find cheap and cool clothes there. My wardrobe consists mostly of shirts, T-shirts and tights.
Springfield parka
ADVANTAGES
Probably my biggest advantage is that I approach my disability problem with humor. And I try to make sure that those around her treat her the same way, because there’s nothing wrong with that. Also, one of my advantages, which causes me a lot of inconvenience, is hyperpunctuality, because I arrive at the filming location or meetings not five minutes before the start, but 30. I’m also a neat person. My dad probably instilled this in me. Everything should be clean and tidy for me. But nevertheless, I love wrinkled things. I always have everything laid out on my shelf: shirt to shirt, jacket to jacket, T-shirt to T-shirt.
FLAWS
I can be mischievous sometimes. If I am sure of something, I will defend my point of view to the end.
WHAT CAN TOUCH YOU
I generally hate hiding emotions. We are all human, and in my case there is no way to hide emotions at all. A funny thing happened to me recently. When I was sitting on the side of the pool and putting on a cap and glasses, a little boy suffering from cerebral palsy came up to me and said: “It’s so good that I’m healthy.” It was very funny: I don’t have a leg, and he says how good it is that he’s healthy, but in fact he’s not healthy at all. I also worry and can even shed a few tears while watching a good movie. Music can move me. Mostly classical music Tchaikovsky, Beethoven or Carla Orffa.
WHAT DO YOU REGRET?
I regret joining the army. If there was a time machine, I, like all my peers, would turn away from it.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST FEAR IN LIFE?
I'm very afraid of bees, because in the village of my grandparents, a neighbor was breeding them. And when I got there, they always bit me, I would swell terribly, and it was very painful. Even now, when I see a bee, a wasp, a bumblebee, it makes me wary.
WHAT YOU NEVER WORRY ABOUT MONEY AND TIME
For family, brother and sister. Of course, I would like to spend more time with them, but this does not always work out.
MOTTO IN LIFE
Don't be discouraged and move forward!
WHO INSPIRES HIM
One of these inspirations is my mother. And also a journalist “Rain” Zhenya Voskoboynikova, one of the weightlifting champions Slava Burlakov, my guys from the pool are Paralympic champions Nastya Diodorova And Dima Grigoriev, and Victoria Modesta.
VALUE IN PEOPLE
Honesty, kindness and, most importantly, professionalism!
FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
Of course, I believe in such friendship. And I have this experience with my childhood friend. She is a girl of Caucasian blood - a Lezgin. I had nothing with her! But there are so many things that connect us.
PERSONAL LIFE
My personal life is in excellent condition, because it is gone now, I am married to my job and my favorite hobby - swimming. And my longest relationship was with my barber. We dated for three years.
CHILDREN
I really want two children. There were two of us in the family: my sister and I, so I would really like to have a boy and a girl. The boy would be a swimmer, and the girl would be a ballerina or actress.
DREAM GIRL
This must be Pushkin's Olga, who is incapable of languid sadness and does not like to dream in silence. However, she must be from a creative and sexual profession, such as an architect or a doctor. These professions are sexy because people work there with their brains and with one mistake everything can go wrong: either a human life or a house will collapse, for example. If I say that I like redheads, blondes or brunettes, it will not be true, because hair color can always be changed. The most important thing is that my girlfriend knows at least one line from “Eugene Onegin” and has the idea that this is a work by Pushkin. When I first meet a girl, I always pay attention to her smile.
WHAT ANNOYS ABOUT GIRLS
When they try to be my mom! This really irritates me, because one mother is enough for me. As for appearance, I love everything natural and organic.
HOW CAN A GIRL CONQUER HIM?
The minimum is to smile, and the maximum is to come up and kiss.
IDEAL RELATIONSHIPS
I have an example - this is the relationship between my grandparents. They have been together for a very long time! This is the kind of relationship when one for all and all for one, when it is a big team, where you can solve problems in one go.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
I am very amorous and suffer from it. And I remember my first love. This was back in kindergarten. The girl's name was Elvina. It was love at first sight, and the first childhood experience, and the first kiss.
PERFECT DATE
All dates end the same way, the main thing is that after it you want to return to this person and repeat everything.
Levi's jacket, Springfield sweatshirt
LOVE
As my favorite character from Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, said, “This stupid love is like a jester who runs back and forth, not knowing where to put his rattle.” My understanding of love is similar to this rattle. Namely: when you want to please your beloved, to do everything for her, but sometimes something doesn’t work out, and you run around with this rattle like a fool.
ATTITUDE TO CHANGE
I will say that this is very ugly and dishonest. If you are in a relationship with someone, then please be close to this person, give yourself completely to him, and if something doesn’t suit you, you need to discuss it and maybe go on some kind of romantic trip that will help you reconsider your views and improve your sex life.
WHAT GIRL WILL TURN AFTER
A girl with red lipstick.
HOROSCOPE OF COMPATIBILITY
According to my zodiac sign Aquarius. They say this is a crazy sign, in a good way of course. I have no idea which signs suit me. I think this is some kind of nonsense.
Levi's jeans, Springfield boots
HOW TO GET TO KNOW HIM
This happens in different ways. Firstly, many people write to me themselves on social networks(I have
With International Women's Day approaching by leaps and bounds, HELLO.RU has prepared a pleasant surprise for its readers: it has gathered brutal representatives of various creative professions in one project and asked them to speak and show. Talk, of course, about girls and gifts, but show your romance and beautiful eyes, in which more than one enthusiastic fan has drowned. Among the heroes pleasing both the eye and the ear are photographer Timofey Kolesnikov, TV presenter Evgeny Savin, actor Ivan Fominov, model Fyodor Gamaleya, TV presenter Dmitry Ignatov, fashion model Arthur Kulkov and musician Anton Lavrentyev.
Timofey Kolesnikov, photographer, director
Timofey Kolesnikov
I like receiving more, even if it is selfish on my part. When you give a gift yourself, it’s a different feeling. Joy from joy, or something.
I think the most creative gift is a large and delicious brownie, created in the shape of a heart by the hands of your beloved girl. I love brownies!
In my opinion, the best gift is travel. One day it was a wonderful trip to Georgia.
Evgeniy Savin
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
Definitely give. But not just give, but prepare a gift and hit the bull’s eye, bringing a storm of emotions. Although, to be honest, receiving gifts is also nice. Realizing that they remember you and want to please you.
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
Everyone says that men are straightforward and uninventive. And I would say this about girls. Often I was presented with a home-cooked dinner and then good sex. And this is the case when banal does not mean bad. This story is a wonderful gift for any occasion.
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
One day on March 8th, I gave a trip to Rome to my best friend’s wife. For a week the three of them walked around the spring eternal city with their little son. Although the gift was addressed to her, at that moment it seemed to me that they all needed it. Everything worked out as it should.
A gift does not require a reason or a holiday. They should be given as often as possible. But there is a special woman in my life - my mother. On the 8th I will call her and tell her that I love her.
Ivan Fominov, actor
Ivan Fominov
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
I prefer to give. In general, lately the desire to give has prevailed. For the joy that you experience when you see the joy of your neighbor is the joy of recognizing yourself in another. And even though these moments of happiness are fleeting, they serve as a pointer to that huge and all-encompassing feeling commonly called Love.
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
I was 15 or 16 years old, and the girl with whom I was in love, but with whom for various reasons we could not be together, although we were friends, began dating me on my birthday. I'm not sure about creativity, but at least at that time it was the most desired gift.
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
It was the birthday of a girl whom we have been dating for almost 4 years. She was in Moscow, and I was in Paris on tour with the Gogol Center. I asked my colleague to be a flower delivery person, to which he kindly agreed and brought her a bouquet. She immediately called me on Skype, I was sitting in front of the monitor screen with a cake with burning candles, waiting for her call, and my friend was standing behind this monitor. And on the count of three, when she blew into her monitor in Moscow, my friend blew from behind my monitor in Paris. The candles went out - as if from her breath.
On March 8th I am especially original and creative. I would say that my creativity is off the charts and could be taught in the most fashionable houses in Paris. So, I give flowers, and certainly tulips.
Fyodor Gamaleya, actor, model, running club captain
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
The more you start thinking about others, the less you think about yourself, and your supposedly “global” needs and problems quickly decrease. Some stop bothering you, and some of them disappear altogether. I am for thoughtful selfishness. Therefore, of course, give. This is strength, absolutely.
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
I remember a lot of pleasant moments, for which I am still very grateful to certain people: they stuck in my memory, and I will never forget them. The most important thing is attention. And so that a loved one feels that they can make you happy for a second.
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
I think the girls who received gifts from me will answer this question better than me.
I give love, attention and care. March 8 is the day when all girls become real princesses. Thanks to the men who are nearby.
Dmitry Ignatov, TV presenter and paraathlete
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
I love receiving gifts! And just like that, for no reason - I love it when people surprise. Oh, and, of course, unpacking: digging through the paper, looking for scissors in the commotion, or gnawing on the packaging.
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
My friend once gave me a set of funny and wacky swim caps! I was delighted and started collecting them. In Russia there are only black and white ones, but you can’t get one with a Christmas reindeer or a smile in the shape of bacon.
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
There is an eco-market near my house: everyone knows me there and always tries to advise me and let me try everything that is fresh and delicious. And one day the sellers gave me a persimmon to try. It turned out to be incredibly tasty and my friend Yana liked it. I gave her a whole box, delighting not only her, but also the “market people”.
Probably, every family has this tradition: to go with the father on the eve of the holiday or early in the morning of March 8 to buy flowers and make the morning “delivery” of flowers and sweets.
Artur Kulkov, fashion model
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
I don't like gifts addressed to me. Therefore, rather, give.
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
A flying object... That is, a drone!
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
Honestly, I often forget about important dates, especially gifts. I think the most creative gift I created was in kindergarten when we were forced to make cards with our own hands.
Definitely flowers!
Anton Lavrentiev, musician
What pleases you more - giving or receiving?
I feel great pleasure from the moment of giving gifts. Seeing a person's eyes and emotions is priceless!
What's the most creative gift a girl ever gave you?
For my birthday, I was given a video with congratulations from my friends. It brought together people from different continents, the scale was impressive, and the gift was remembered for a lifetime.
What's the most creative gift you've ever given a girl?
He gave one girl a trip to Paris that she had dreamed about. It was a complete surprise for her; she did not suspect anything. And on March 8, he gave the girl fans a long-awaited, I hope, surprise in the form of a pre-order of his debut album “My Travels.” They were waiting, I know (smiles).
A gift should be welcome and useful, in my opinion. Therefore, I always find out what the women I love want to receive and give it. And, of course, attention and flowers, celebration and surprises!
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Gift ideas for International Women's Day from HELLO.RU. Click on the arrow to view the gallery:
