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Helen Zapashnaya (Raikhlin) - wife of circus artist Askold Zapashny: biography, nationality, children. Elen Zapashnaya: “Askold is the best dad in the world

Askold Valterovich Zapashny. Born on September 27, 1977 in Kharkov (Ukrainian SSR). Russian circus performer, predator trainer, juggler, vaulter, tightrope walker, acrobat, teacher. Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (1999). National artist RF (2012). Artistic director of the Great Moscow Circus (2012).

Father - predator trainer, People's Artist of the RSFSR.

Mother - circus performer, deputy director of the Great Moscow Circus.

Paternal grandfather - (1900-1982), Soviet artist, founder circus dynasty Zapashnykh.

Paternal grandmother - Lydia Karlovna Zapashnaya (1905-1960), daughter of the circus clown Karl Thompson, who toured in Russia in late XIX century under the pseudonym Milton.

Older brother - (born July 11, 1976), circus performer, predator trainer, People's Artist of Russia.

His grandfather Mikhail Zapashny did not have circus roots and came to the arena as a longshoreman in Yeisk; his remarkable strength was noticed by wrestler Ivan Poddubny, who invited him to try himself in the circus. He began performing in the then most popular genre of French wrestling under the pseudonym “Eaglet”. Then he began to master other circus genres. As a result, he founded the legendary circus dynasty.

Circus biography Askold Zapashny began at the age of six. Since childhood, he learned to perform acrobatic stunts, juggle, walk on a tightrope and train monkeys.

Askold first entered a cage with tigers at the age of ten.

When Askold was little, tigers killed his grandfather. He said: “I don’t remember it well, just two moments. One time Askold and I came to visit our grandfather, the second time there were tears in the family, my brother and I were taken somewhere and said: “There’s grandfather in the window, wave your pen.” It was the Kuibyshev hospital. He waved to us and the next day he died of gangrene. The tigers tore off his arm, caused a severe infection, and he developed gas gangrene."

Later, he witnessed how tigers inflicted severe injuries on his mother, leaving about twenty huge scars on her legs.

However, he decided to continue the family dynasty.

In 1991, Askold graduated high school. Then the family received profitable proposition perform in China. The concluded contract made it possible to save the animals. Especially for the Zapashnys, the Chinese side built a large summer circus in the Safari Park, near the city of Shenzhen. To emphasize their foreign origin for the Chinese, Edgard and Askold began to dye their hair blonde.

Speaks English and spoken Chinese.

In 1998, at the celebration of his anniversary, People's Artist of Russia Walter Zapashny handed over the “Among Predators” attraction to his sons.

Later, together with his brother, he founded the “Zapashny Brothers Circus” - one of the most famous and authoritative in the world. Together with his brother Edgard Zapashny, he went on tour around the world.

Graduated with honors Russian Academy theatrical arts(GITIS).

Askold became the author of the script and director of a number of famous circus shows, including: “Colosseum”, “Camelot”, “Sadko”, “Camelot-2: Deputy of the Gods”, “Legend”, “K. U.K.L.A.”, “Terrible force”, “System”, “Mistress of the Dead Lake”, “System-2. Human factor".

The name of Askold Zapashny is twice included in the Guinness Book of Records. For the first time, together with his brother, he was entered into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest leap of a lion with a man on his back. The second time - he and his brother were included in the Guinness Book of Records for the record stunt “The highest column of 3 people on a running pair of horses.”

As Askold said, the act with a jump on the back of a lion was staged in memory of his father, who was the first to conceive of this trick. But he and his brother brought this act to perfection, they did what their father could not do. And it became business card Zapashny for many years - a leap that no one can repeat to this day.

According to Askold Zapashny, fear and a sense of danger are integral components of his work. He admitted: “And I, as a sane person, am sure that it is simply impossible to live without fear. Because fear is a natural feeling that allows us to survive. As for philosophy... then indeed, a person who works with predators, still continues to be afraid of them. I sensibly assess the risks. Only a crazy person can not be afraid... When you do such things, first of all you rely on your experience. And at this moment, somewhere in the subconscious, you analyze the details. You you know, for example, that you can do this like this. And the next moment you quickly react to some inappropriate behavior of the animal, read his thoughts in advance, since a lot depends on his mood. And secondly, after performing such tricks, I always thank God for that that I was alive once again."

Askold Zapashny - jump on the back of a lion

During their long career, the Zapashny brothers successfully performed in the most different corners planet, including China, Italy, Finland, Estonia, Monaco, Japan, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc. Askold received his recognition from the state twice - first he became an Honored Artist of Russia in 1999, and in 2012 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation "for great services in the field circus art».

On November 20, 2012, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation appointed Askold Zapashny to the position of artistic director of the Great Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Avenue.

Since 2013, he has been the director of the World Festival of Circus Arts in Moscow “IDOL”.

In 2014, he was a torchbearer at the Olympic torch relay.

In 2016, Askold Zapashny became one of the creators of the series “Margarita Nazarova” and even starred in a cameo role. The Zapashnys also acted as trainer-directors in the project. The television series told the dramatic story of the life of one of the most famous tiger tamers. Soviet Union. Despite the fact that many storylines series are fiction and do not fully correspond to reality, the work was highly appreciated by film critics and awarded the honorary Golden Eagle 2017 award for the best television series.

Askold and his brother share their memories and some secrets from circus life in books. The works contain stories from the lives of trainers. Askold is also the author of the children's book “My Friends the Tigers.”

Repeatedly participated in TV shows on central channels. In September 2013, together with figure skater Maria Petrova, he was a participant in the Channel One TV show “ glacial period-4". Participated in one of the episodes of the program “Empire of Illusions: The Safronov Brothers” - Askold appeared as an illusionist.

Social and political activities of Askold Zapashny

In 2011, together with his brother Edgard, he signed an Appeal from members of the public against informational erosion of trust in the judicial system Russian Federation, which condemned the pressure on the judicial system against the backdrop of the second trial of the leaders of the Yukos oil company.

In 2012, he was officially registered as a confidant of Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections.

On March 11, 2014, he signed a Collective Appeal to the Russian public from Russian cultural figures in support of the President’s position on Ukraine and Crimea.

In September 2016, like his brother, he became a confidant of the party " United Russia"in the elections State Duma VII convocation and confidant of the mayor of Moscow S.S. Sobyanin.

Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation since 2016.

He is a supporter and active promoter of the circus with animals, speaking on the side of competent and responsible training, which is based on dynastic work experience, the revelation of the individual abilities of animals and a humane attitude towards the wards.

Since September 2018 - Professor at the Department of Circus Directing at RATI.

Askold Zapashny's height: 177 centimeters.

Personal life of Askold Zapashny:

For a long time was in a civil marriage with circus artist Elena Baranenko (born April 3, 1970). But after eight years of relationship, they never reached the registry office. As Askold explained, incl. due to the age difference: Elena is 7 years older than him. "With Lena we have a big difference at age... it was important to me. The second point: we basically got together by accident. To some extent, my mother influenced this. She was very helpful to our life together. Elena seemed to her to be a very good girl, and it so happened that we really began to live together with her, and we both felt comfortable. It was a comfortable relationship. I loved Lena, and I probably still love her, and under no circumstances will I say any nasty things about her. But I never saw her as a wife. And over the years it began to depress me. I understood that the time would come when I would be embarrassed by her,” he admitted.

After breaking up, they remained on excellent terms and work together in the circus.

Wife - Helen Zapashnaya-Raichlin, originally from Israel, served in the Israeli army, studied at medical school(her mom and dad are also doctors).

As Askold said, both Helen’s parents and his mother were against their marriage. “I never suspected or thought that the resistance would be so strong. It was a real war!” he recalled. However, despite strong resistance from relatives, Helen and Askold got married.

The marriage produced two daughters - Eva and Elsa. In 2016, daughters Eva and Elsa entered the arena of the Great Moscow Circus for the first time, and also took part in the New Year's show at Luzhniki.

Filmography of Askold Zapashny:

2009 - Foundry (4th season) - Askold
2011 - Real boys - cameo
2013 - Zapashny Clan. Ours among predators (documentary)
2013 - 12 months - cameo
2016 - Margarita Nazarova - TV cameraman

Bibliography of Askold Zapashny:

2008 - Intrigue (co-authored with his brother and Anastasia Takki)
2008 - How we train dogs (in collaboration with my brother)
2009 - Camelot. Shards of Legends (in collaboration with his brother)
2011 - My friends are tigers

Awards and titles of Askold Zapashny:

1997 - Winner of the Golden Troika circus arts festival in Yaroslavl;
1999 - Honored Artist of Russia - for services in the field of art;
1999 - Title “Artist of the Year” from the Union of Circus Workers;
2001 - Winner of the Moscow Government Prize;
2002 - Laureate of the national award "Circus";
2005 - Laureate of the International Circus Artists Competition in Saratov, main prize “Golden Troika”. A special prize for high achievements in circus art was awarded by International Prizes from the Chinese Association of Circus Arts - the Golden Lion award;
2006 - Together with his brother, he was included in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest jump of a lion with a man on his back;
2007 - Laureate of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Arts in Izhevsk (main award “Golden Bear”);
2008 - Honorary title “People’s Artist of Udmurtia”;
2011 - Winner of the International Circus Art Festival-Competition in Moscow. Special prize from the Mongolian State Circus and from the Great Circus Mundial (Spain);
2011 - For the second time, together with his brother, he was included in the Guinness Book of Records for the record stunt “The highest column of 3 people on a running pair of horses”;
2012 - Laureate of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Arts in Izhevsk and for the second time the Golden Bear award for the performance of the equestrian act “Hellas”;
2012 - Honorary title People's Artist of Russia - for great achievements in the field of circus art;
August 31, 2012 Governor Kemerovo region Aman Tuleyev awarded Askold and Edgard Zapashny the highest award of the Kemerovo region - the Order of “Key of Friendship”, for high professionalism, dedication and fidelity to their work;
2014 - Awarded a commemorative medal and letter of thanks from Dmitry Medvedev “For his great contribution to the preparation and holding of the XXII Olympic Games winter games and XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi";
January 20, 2015 - Awarded a letter of gratitude from V. Kolokoltsev, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, “For active work in preparing and implementing a set of events in 2014 aimed at social support for family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to war trauma";
2016 - Awarded a certificate of honor from V. Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs, “For active work in preparing and carrying out a set of events in 2015 aimed at social support for family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to war trauma” ;
2017 - Princess of Monaco, Stephanie, presented the prize “For services to the development of the Russian Circus”;
2017 - Silver Clown Award at the 41st International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The brothers expressed disagreement with the results of the jury's vote;
2018 - According to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2018 was declared the Year of the Volunteer. Askold Zapashny, together with his brother Edgard Zapashny, became his ambassadors;
10/05/2018 - For assistance and assistance practical help in the preparation and implementation of a set of measures aimed at social support for family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to military trauma, he was awarded the badge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia “For Assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

Askold Zapashny is one of the most recognizable circus performers in Russia. Thousands of people of various ages and professions come with pleasure to the performances of the trainer of predatory animals.

This material will highlight the biography of the representative of the famous Zapashny circus dynasty.

Note to circus fans

Askold Zapashny was born in the Ukrainian city of Kharkov in the fall of 1977. The artist is an ethnic German, but his native language is Russian. Also, the famous circus performer is fluent in English and Chinese.

Askold first began to learn the basics of tiger training at the age of 10 and, together with his brother Edgard, became a representative fourth generation Zapashny circus dynasty. The family constantly changed their registration while performing in different regions USSR, and Askold managed to study in several schools.

The boy's progress was strictly monitored by Father Walter, who devoted every free minute between tiring performances to raising his children. Askold Zapashny's circus debut took place at the beginning of 1989. at the age of eleven. The young trainer took part in an interactive performance, which was positively received by the audience in Riga, where the performance took place.

In the early 90s, many Russian circus performers left their activities, unable to receive enough money from their performances for a decent existence. The Zapashny family found themselves in a similar situation, experiencing lack of funds to maintain tigers.

Askold and his family were helped to stay afloat by moving to China, where circus performers received lucrative fees. The artists settled in the city of Shenzhen, training local trainers and regularly performing in the local arena.

In order for spectators from afar to distinguish Russian circus performers from Chinese ones, Askold and his brother dyed their hair blond. Over the years spent in the Celestial Empire, the representative of the Zapashny dynasty mastered the skills of juggling and riding a horse in a standing position. In 1997, Askold became a laureate of a prestigious Russian competition "Golden Troika" held among circus performers.

Upon returning from China, the Zapashny family settled in Moscow and periodically went on tour to big cities Russia and neighboring countries. In 1998, Walter Zapashny entrusted his sons with the performance of the circus act “Among the Animals,” which was the hallmark of the dynasty of artists.

Later Askold got in the Guinness Book of Records like the man who has completed the farthest jump riding on the back of a lion. In the 2000s, the brothers founded their own circus, which has no analogues anywhere in the world. In 2012, Askold took leadership position in the main state circus of Russia.

A year later, the brothers were presented to the attention of the audience show program “Emotions”, which was successfully shown in St. Petersburg. Being a media person, Askold regularly takes part in various television programs. In 2013, the artist performed in the rating show “Ice Age” together with the famous figure skater Maria Petrova.

The artist makes a significant contribution to the social and cultural life of Russia, while simultaneously taking part in filming. In mid-2015, the artist, while on a work site, received a cut on his thigh as a result of a blow from a tiger’s paw.

Fortunately, after a short stay in the hospital, the circus performer returned to his usual work schedule. In 2016, Askold Zapashny took part in the highly rated TV show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” In 2017, the artist took part in the elections to the State Duma, representing “United Russia”.

Personal life

At the beginning of his professional career, Askold Zapashny began dating a colleague in circus performances Elena Baranenko, with whom he was in romantic relationships about 8 years old. Later, on tour in Belarus, the artist saw his future wife Ellen Reichlin.

The young girl previously knew practically nothing about the Zapashny family’s circus achievements and attracted Akold’s attention with her genuine interest in animal training. The couple met for three years in between Askold’s tours, since Helen was still a student and could not afford to quit studying for the sake of a relationship.

The artist’s parents, who saw their son’s future wife as a circus performer, initially reacted coolly to his chosen one. Over time, Helen became involved in circus activities and joined the Zapashny family. Askold and his wife are raising two daughters Eva and Elsa, who have already managed to perform in the circus, becoming representatives of the fifth generation of the famous dynasty.

Askold Zapashny, like many Russian artists, runs an Instagram page, where he regularly publishes footage of preparations for performances and family photos.

Askold Zapashny with his wife Helen and little daughter Eva live on wheels, traveling with the Zapashny Brothers Circus tour from one city to another. We managed to catch the family in Moscow - new circus performances are in full swing here. About how it changed their lives last year Askold and Helen told our correspondents what it’s like to be millionaires, and whether children and women can be trained.

You better go to your mom...

Askold: It's funny, but our child has three copies of every item. Three cribs, three strollers, three high chairs, and so on. One set is in Moscow, another is in Israel with my wife’s parents, the third is traveling with us in containers. This is how all circus people live. Where to go? I'm happy that we - me, Helen and little Eva - are together now.

I became a dad on the second day of the year. If my daughter was born on the first of January, I would probably be upset. All her life her holiday would have been combined with New Year's. And Helen and I on the night under New Year asked their daughter: “Wait! It's not time yet." And she listened to her parents - good girl! She was born at four o'clock, when I had a break between two performances. In the morning I took Helen to the maternity hospital, and I went to the performance. And in the afternoon I receive a text message from my wife: “Eva and I are waiting for you.” It was at this moment that life seemed to be divided into before and after. I stand with a mobile phone in my hands, look at the screen, re-read it and smile. Colleagues remarked: “Well, what’s there? What? Has your wife given birth? Whom?" - "Daughter!!!" I arrived at the maternity hospital after the performance. I don’t know how to put into words the feelings that filled me at that moment. Responsibility appeared, some special love for the child awoke. I take Eva in my arms and imagine: she will grow up and begin to greet me with joyful cries:
“Daddy has come!” Sentimental and touching...

Helen: When our friends had a daughter, I was very interested to see my husband’s reaction. I took her in my arms and said: “Askold, look what good girl! Here - hold her." He took the child in his arms and immediately gave it to him. And I thought: “No, my husband won’t babysit the children.” But my intuition let me down - she’s babysitting, and how!

Askold: I have never been touched by other people's children. But I’m ready to look at my daughter for hours. It seems to me that a person generally matures not through years, but through serious events, decisions taken. Fatherhood is a major change in the life of any man. When my older brother, Edgard, was born, our dad interrupted the performance, jumped out onto the streets of Yalta, where he was touring, and set off fireworks. In the evening, I made the whole team drunk to celebrate and drank myself, although I didn’t drink at all! They had a great time! And of course - the heir appeared!

- Is having an heir so important for a man?

Of course, the son will continue the family name. And for the circus this is especially important. My wife agrees with me, now we both want a boy. But when we had Evochka, I was incredibly happy.

- And a few weeks later they left their wife and child...

What was there to do? The tour began at the end of January. Don't drag a newborn baby with you.

Helen: When Askold said that it was better for me to go with the child to my mother, I burst into tears. Of course, as a loving wife, I wanted to be with my husband.

Askold: I only went to Israel with them in March and for only a week. Only in the fall we were finally reunited - now Helen and Eva go everywhere with me.

- And how do you, Helen, live the life of a circus performer’s wife?

Helen: Touring life turned out to be quite comfortable. We don’t live in trailers, as they show in old films. Quite decent hotels with two- and three-room rooms, a kitchen, and spacious bathrooms. I adapt quickly, literally in two or three days, and get comfortable. Although before, any change in my usual routine brought me to tears. As soon as my parents sent me to the camp, I began to bombard them with letters of pity and tried to get them to take me away. I also cried in the army: I was ready to serve at least a year more, if only they would let me go home for the night (Ellen, as an Israeli citizen, served military service. - Note "ZN").

Askold and I have been living apart for the entire five years that we have known each other. If before I was still somehow patient, then when I gave birth to my daughter, I started going crazy. I was afraid that one day my daughter wouldn’t recognize her father. In Haifa, where my parents live, there are many photographs of Askold near Eva’s crib. And when dad arrived, she immediately went into his arms and smiled. I felt my own blood.

Helen, you sacrificed a lot for your family: emigration alone is worth it. And they abandoned their career as a doctor. Aren't there many victims?

Yes, my career is very important to me. When I, having served in the army, entered the Belarusian State medical University, I never thought that I would become the wife of a circus performer. I took state exams when I was already pregnant, so I postponed entering a residency or internship. Now I’m just a wife and mother, but I’m already eager to leave home. And as soon as we decide who to leave Eve to, I will study further.

Askold is against kindergartens and nannies. To some extent he is right. My mother, who is also a doctor, went to work when I was four months old. I was raised by nannies, grandmothers, aunts and uncles. There is nothing bad in this, but nothing good either: the woman does not see how the child grows. Mom says that I came to her work and asked: “Is this your home?”

Where are the tigers?

- According to Forbes, the annual income of the Zapashny brothers is $5.7 million. And what is it like to be the wife of a millionaire?

Helen: You just drove me into a dead end with your question... Do not forget that the indicated amount is not in the pockets of the brothers. There are animals that need to be maintained, and this is very expensive. There is a team of two hundred people, expensive projects.
But Askold doesn’t deny me anything, he buys everything I want.

Askold:$5 million is the money that we have in circulation, in production. My brother and I earned them with our sweat and blood. Our lives with Edgard are proof of the formula for success: dreams come true if you put effort into it. They tell us: “Well, yes, you are the children of Walter Zapashny, your last name has paved the way with roses!” I say: “Excuse me, please, we also have a sister, my dad’s daughter from his first marriage - Maritza, and a nephew, they are also circus people. There is the direction of Mstislav Zapashny and Igor Zapashny, father’s brothers. They worked together and were very successful acrobats.” Do you know as much about them? No, unfortunately, they don’t have the kind of success we have yet! I say this because a surname is not an indicator of success. I believe that money comes as a consequence of work. And by the way, I treat them very calmly, only as a means of acquiring amenities - good home, cars.
My wife has the opportunity to buy whatever and as much as she wants. But he doesn’t abuse it, which makes me incredibly happy. She treats money correctly and, for example, does not ask for a Ferrari, although, in principle, I could buy her one.

- Helen is Israeli, and you met her in Belarus, where you were touring then. How did fate bring her there?

Helen's parents hoped to marry her to a dentist, and she was even engaged, but, realizing that she did not love her groom, she broke off the engagement and fled to Minsk, under the supervision of relatives. An old friend of Edgard and I brought her to the performance. I liked the girl right away. Both his appearance is unusual, and his manner of speaking is strange, with a slight drawl. She had a slight accent; her native language was Hebrew.

Helen: I was 26 years old then - it was time to get married. I subconsciously tried on all the men I met for the role of husband and father of the unborn child. And yet, at that time, I was much more occupied with my studies - third year, the very peak, I live in a dormitory, I don’t go anywhere much, because I’m poring over textbooks. I only saw posters - some tiger brothers unknown to me were performing - and that’s all! Askold led our relationship right up to the registry office. It was he who conquered me, he behaved like that, he said such words that I fell in love very quickly.

- Askold, in your early interviews you said that you would marry only the girl who manages to greatly surprise you with something. What struck you about Helen?

Askold: Surprisingly unbiased attitude towards me. She behaved very naturally. She is not boring, not amorphous. Well, I don’t like people who float rather than run through life!

Helen: Our first date took place in Askold’s car. He played his favorite horror films on DVD to see how I would react. If a friend had not warned that Askold was a respected man, not some kind of scoundrel, he would have gotten up and gone. But I wanted to see what would happen next. Well, I finished watching it... I really, really liked it.

We immediately began to spend a lot of time together, walked until four or five in the morning, and at eight I ran to study... I didn’t get much sleep, but I flew like on wings - I fell in love. Askold leaves and immediately sends a text message: “Darling, I want to be close, I don’t want to leave you at all.” I answered: “The tour will end, you will begin a different life, without me. And I’ll stay shedding tears.” I never even thought that we could become a family. And yet, I wrote all his sincere, wonderful text messages in my diary and re-read them a hundred times.

- Helen, words are words, but a man’s actions speak for him...

There were enough actions. We met for a month and a half - and Askold left for Moscow. And then he started running back to me in Minsk - he drove 800 km at night, and back in the morning. That’s when I realized: his words were not empty at all. But she continued to resist, repeating: “Leave me alone, nothing will work out for us.” Another would have waved his hand, but Askold didn’t. He had the strength to break through my mistrust and fear of love. Naturally, I was jealous of him, threw hysterics, cried: “Girls are always hanging around you.” And he had the strength to assure me: “Darling, everything is fine, I am yours, even when there are thousands of kilometers between us.”

They say that Walter Zapashny made an indelible impression on his future wife when he came on a date with a tiger on a leash.

Yes, I heard this one wonderful story. When Askold and I were dating, I dreamed during lectures: now the door will open and my prince with a tiger will enter the audience. It was probably easier for Walter Mikhailovich to do this, times were different. Askold cannot take the tiger and put it in the car. Transporting a tiger is a whole story. And so it’s getting ridiculous: traffic cops stop and, looking out the window, ask: “Where are the tigers?” Moreover, everyone thinks that they joked well. The guys answer: “Now they’ll catch up!”

Xin en how!

Helen: Time has shown: Askold is my soul mate. I’m in a foreign country, but next to him I feel calm and confident. And I even fell in love with the harsh Russian winters... Probably, every woman is looking for such a state of mental comfort.
Family life made Askold a little softer. Previously, he was more domineering: he said it bluntly. Now you can argue with him. I won’t praise our life anymore, I’m superstitious - I’m afraid I’ll jinx it!

Askold: Our life is not ideal, we often get into arguments: sometimes about the child, sometimes over some trivial matter. Recently Helen says: let's go to the cinema. I was tired after the rehearsal, but I thought, okay, I need to please my wife. I called my friends, gathered a crowd - we love company. Everyone took off and rushed to the cinema from different parts of Moscow. There are ten minutes left before the session, we haven’t gotten there yet, and then Helen says: “I’m dying, I’m hungry! Let's go have dinner." I ask: “What about cinema?” - “We’ll have a movie later, or we’ll do without it altogether; we’d better eat.” Let’s call my friends again: I’m persuading them to go to a restaurant. In general, you won’t get bored with my wife, she is unpredictable. Especially, as it turned out, in everything that concerns the child. When I was pregnant, I asserted: “I will be strict, and the baby will probably twist ropes out of you.” And so I am surprised to see how, in front of Ellen, my daughter opens some kind of cream with her teeth. I say: “Take it! She’ll be poisoned!” The wife calmly replies: “Nothing will happen, he’s not scary.” I get excited: “This one is not scary, but the other one will be scary.” I take the tube away, Eva yells in a voice that is not her own, because she has already learned to demand. And our mother gets blown up and runs for another cream - just so that her daughter doesn’t cry... At this point I explode. Yes, I may be a tough parent, but I love my child and do everything to ensure his safety. Although I don’t intend to lay down straw either. Our baby is crawling around the room, Helen screams: oh, she will hit the chair, the table. I say: “Sit still! He’ll hit you a little and he’ll understand how painful it can be.” I have a lot of experience in this regard, because I am a trainer. Stupid people sometimes say that training is violence. Not a damn thing like that! Training is, of course, the imposition of one's will. But the will of an intelligent being is the will of a stupid one. I can’t wait for the tiger to figure it out and answer me something like that. I will make him submit. It’s the same with children, actually. Training is education. If a predator attacks you, he needs to be punished. If the child doesn’t listen, so does that. Another question is how...
Eva already understands everything. I recently unplugged the antenna cord from the outlet. I strictly say: “Eva!” And she immediately brought it to me.

- How were you punished as a child?

They put me in a corner - just to stand and think. Dad sometimes scared me: “Oh, I’ll whip you!” But he never spanked me... Once, when my brother and I were seven or nine years old and my father’s circus was touring in an Asian republic, Edgard suggested: “Let’s go to the river with the boys.” I got scared and said: “Garik, don’t, we don’t know how to swim.” And he: “Come on! Don't be afraid." And I followed him out of desperation. They arrived, and there was a raging river... Local boys immediately, in their clothes, jumped into the water, and they were carried away by the current... I look at all this horror and understand that I would not go there for any price. Suddenly I notice: my brother is undressing: “I’ll dive in too, look!” I was so scared, terrified! I’m crying, trying to dissuade him - it’s no use! Edgard jumped. And when he got out, our Aunt Olya runs out of nowhere. He waves his hands, his face is frightened and pale. And then dad appears on the horizon - right in makeup. They told him that we were missing, he interrupted the performance and rushed to look for us. Saw. He slowly approached and hissed - well, just like a snake: “March home, wait, I’ll come soon.” We are scared - terrified. In the evening, my father returned home, went into our room, pulled the mattresses off the beds, turned them over and said: “You don’t respect your parents - that means you sleep on the floor!” He never raised his hand against us.

But for rudeness we got the full price! I could never snap at him, or at my mother or grandmother. Once at a rehearsal, my brother was performing a trick on a horse, he did something wrong, dad corrected him and heard in response: “Yes, right now!” I didn’t even have time to think of anything - my brother had already hit me in the ass with a whip. That's all. Very good upbringing.

Askold, you lived in China for four years. Is it true that, having fallen in love with a Chinese girl, you learned the most difficult Chinese?

I learned the language because we immediately signed a contract for three years. Languages come easy to me. I teach according to my own system: I take a lot of thick notebooks, write down all the words by category: everything related to a restaurant, a store, culture. Yes, of course, I didn’t know grammar, but I had a very rich vocabulary!

And yes, there was love. But this is a kid, I was only 15. The first girl was a Chinese Mongolian, a little older than me. The second one is Chinese. She and I didn’t even live together for long, and then she went to Hong Kong to act in films. Her departure became a tragedy for me: “Ahhhh... I’ll go to the ends of the world for her.” Mom smiled and patted me on the shoulder: “Hold on! Maybe I'll see you soon." She liked the girl, but she understood: it was all childish. The distance immediately separated us. Then there was no mobile phone, no internet. I remember sending her two cards - with the hieroglyphs “I love you” (“Wo ai ni”) and “Happy New Year” (“Xin en hau”), literally translated, “The New Year is good.”

- Well, what do you dream about in the new year, 2011?

I'm like anyone normal person, I only dream about good things. Recently we were in Magnitogorsk, our friend took us up a mountain on which a tree of wishes grows - everyone attaches ribbons to it. I tied it too. I don’t need anything specific, just the health of my loved ones and my own. And the rest is in my power.

Alla ZANIMONETS, Telenedelya LLC, Moscow (especially for ZN), photo by Vitaly FEDOROV

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Askold Zapashny - producer, Honored and People's Artist of the Russian Federation. He is the artistic director of the Great Moscow Circus, which is located on Vernadsky Avenue. To see the grand shows of legendary trainers called “Sadko”, “Camelot” and “Legend”, “K.U.K.L.A.” and “System”, many spectators regularly come and leave the circus performance in a state of complete admiration.

Askold Valterovich Zapashny is the youngest representative of the famous Zapashny circus dynasty. A dynasty that spans four generations. Not only their parents, but also their grandparents and great-grandfathers were circus performers. He is a German by birth, the eccentric clown Carl Thompson, who performed in Russia under the stage name Milton.

It is difficult to say exactly what nationality Askold and his brother are, because the family has different roots.

To follow in the footsteps of famous ancestors and continue the glorious circus dynasty was destined for the great-grandsons of Milton - and Askold Zapashny. Parents even gave bright names to their children so that they would sound beautiful under the circus big top and be remembered well.

The family toured the country - such a “nomadic” fate for circus performers. The eldest son Edgard was born in Yalta, but a year younger Askold was born in September 1977 in Kharkov, Ukraine.

Zapashnye specialized in training predatory animals. This most dangerous profession more than once put the lives of parents, Walter and Tatyana Zapashny, on a fine line beyond which this life could end. Terrible wounds were left on the mother's legs after the tiger attacked. And one can talk for hours about the injuries received by his father: numerous broken limbs, lacerations and even a broken neck, after which Walter Zapashny miraculously returned to life.

However, such a life - always on the edge - turned out to be the only possible and familiar one for the parents. She became the same for Askold Zapashny and his older brother.

The future trainers studied in the same class, although there was a one-year difference between them. This was the decision of the father, who saw the future of his sons under the circus big top. The family traveled to many large cities in Russia, so the boys changed several schools. However, this did not give them the right to study in any way: the boys’ progress was monitored strict father. And although he was terribly tired after exhausting training and difficult attractions, he always found time to raise his sons.

Askold Zapashny's circus biography began at an early age. He went to the arena as a child, but the boy took part in his first circus act when he was 10 years old. The official debut is considered to be entering the stage at the age of 11. Then, in the winter of 1988-89, the Zapashnys toured in Riga. Askold and Edgard took part in the “Time Machine” number, which was warmly received by the audience.

Career

In 1991, Askold Zapashny and his family went to the Middle Kingdom. The advent of the “dashing 90s” brought their charges to the brink of starvation, because the required provisions for lions and tigers were a considerable expense every day. And in the 90s, it became more and more difficult to buy food for animals every day.

Fortunately, a solution was found. The Chinese offered the parents a lucrative contract. At that time, the sons graduated from school. There were no obstacles to traveling abroad.

In a famous holiday destination, Safari Park in the suburbs of Shenzhen, a summer circus was erected for the Zapashnys. Walter Zapashny's responsibilities included training Chinese trainers. The sons also participated in the process. And to be different from the Chinese, they became blondes.

Askold Zapashny learned the complex Chinese language, which he still speaks today. During these years, he learned to juggle while standing on horses and train monkeys. Later, in this type of training, he and his brother reached such heights that they received the main prize “Golden Troika” from the First All-Russian festival-competition of circus art, which was held in Yaroslavl in 1997.

In addition, Askold Zapashny is an excellent vaulting acrobat, tightrope walker, Segway juggler and roller acrobat.

After the end of the Chinese contract, the circus family returned to Moscow. During these years they toured a lot, visiting all major cities. post-Soviet space, and distant foreign countries. We even visited Japan.

Also, Askold and Edgard Zapashny began working with lions and tigers at this time. In 1998, the father passed on the famous attraction “Among Predators” to his sons. Askold and his brother adopted from him the wisdom of training predatory animals and developed this dangerous and beautiful art. Askold Zapashny with his author's trick “The longest jump on a lion” is included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Soon the brothers created their own circus, calling it the “Zapashny Brothers Circus.” He is distinguished by a special style that none of his colleagues have either in the country or abroad.

In 2012, Askold Zapashny became the artistic director of the Great Moscow State Circus. Edgard took over as director.

Askold Zapashny in the show “Ice Age”

In 2013, the brothers presented the show “Emotions...” at the Fontanka Circus. The peculiarity of this program is that each performance can be considered the main one. That same year, the artist shared in an interview that they began building a 5D circus. And by 2018, or maximum by 2021, such a circus will be created in Russia.

Askold Zapashny – real star. Therefore, a man is often invited to television shows. He and he became a participant in the 4th season of the TV show “Ice Age” in 2013. He also appeared in the top-rated television projects “The Safronov Brothers”, “Veselaya Street”, “One Hundred to One” and “Dinner Party”.

Askold Zapashny in the “Dinner Party” program

Askold Zapashny actively participates in the socio-political life of the country. In 2011, he and his brother signed an Appeal from members of the public, which condemned the pressure on the judicial system in the case of Yukos leaders.

And in the spring of 2014, Zapashny Jr. signed an appeal from cultural figures of the Russian Federation who expressed support for the president’s policy on the issue of annexing Crimea.

Askold Zapashny in the program “Legends of the Circus”

In 2015, Zapashny became the hero of the “Legends of the Circus” project, where the trainer’s brother acted as the host.

In the same year, the artist participated in the filming of a series about life. At the work site, Askold was unexpectedly attacked by the tigress Shakira and cut the artist’s thigh with a blow of her paw. Zapashny was immediately sent to the hospital.

Askold Zapashny in the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

In January 2016, Askold Valterovich participated in the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Paired with famous artist played by an actress.

In September, Askold, like his brother, became a confidant of the United Russia party in the elections to the State Duma of the 7th convocation.

Personal life

For a long time famous trainer considered an eligible bachelor. Handsome, famous, rich, prominent (Askold’s height is 177 cm) - after his heart young man Crowds of beauties were hunting. But later it became known that Askold Zapashny’s personal life was arranged. He also had two charming daughters with sonorous names, like everyone else in this glorious circus dynasty, Eva and Elsa.

The artist met his wife Ellen Raichlin, who has Israeli citizenship, in Minsk while on tour. The girl is Jewish by nationality. At the time of the meeting he turned 27. Behind him was an 8-year-old civil marriage Elena Baranenko, also a circus performer, with whom Askold never decided to marry. Helen was born in Belarus, but as a child she moved with her parents to Israel. Higher education received in my small homeland.

The beautiful student and several other friends were brought with him to the circus by Zapashny’s friend Andrey. Askold immediately liked the girl. She turned out to be not only charming, but also an intelligent conversationalist and an interesting person. But the main thing that intrigued the trainer, spoiled by female attention, was that Helen did not know or hear anything about him until the moment of the meeting.

They dated for three years. These were occasional meetings, because the girl did not give up her studies, and Askold Zapashny could not cancel the planned tour.

Obstacles on the way beautiful couple it turned out to be more than one could imagine. The relatives of each of the young people were not too happy about this union. Helen Reichlin's parents dreamed of a Jewish son-in-law, preferably a doctor. And the circus artist’s family saw Askold’s wife as a girl from the “circus” circle, who would understand and share a specific lifestyle.

However, love overcame obstacles, and two charming daughters only cemented this marriage.

In one interview, Askold’s mother, Tatyana Zapashnaya, recalled that at first she did not treat her daughter-in-law very well, and then fell in love with the girl. The woman also mentioned the spree of her son from his wife. Then Tatyana told Askold that even if he broke up with Helen, she would remain in the family.

In 2016, Eva and Elsa performed for the first time under the circus big top together with their famous dad and uncle. If they tie future life with the circus, they will turn out to be circus performers in the 5th generation, continuing the glorious Zapashny dynasty.

Thousands of fans watch the artist on social networks “ Instagram", where Askold posts personal and work photos and videos. Often, animal rights activists write in the comments to the pictures asking the trainers to close the show.

Zapashny also leads "

It is difficult to say exactly what nationality Askold and his brother are, because the family has different roots.

It was destined for Milton’s great-grandsons, Edgard and Askold Zapashny, to follow in the footsteps of their famous ancestors and continue the glorious circus dynasty. Parents even gave bright names to their children so that they would sound beautiful under the circus big top and be remembered well.

The family toured the country - such a “nomadic” fate for circus performers. The eldest son Edgard was born in Yalta, but a year younger Askold was born in September 1977 in Kharkov, Ukraine.

However, such a life - always on the edge - turned out to be the only possible and familiar one for the parents. She became the same for Askold Zapashny and his older brother.

The future trainers studied in the same class, although there was a one-year difference between them. This was the decision of the father, who saw the future of his sons under the circus big top. The family traveled to many large cities in Russia, so the boys changed several schools. However, this did not give them the right to study in any way: the boys’ progress was monitored by a strict father. And although he was terribly tired after exhausting training and difficult attractions, he always found time to raise his sons.

Career

Fortunately, a solution was found. The Chinese offered the parents a lucrative contract. At that time, the sons graduated from school. There were no obstacles to traveling abroad.

In addition, Askold Zapashny is an excellent vaulting acrobat, tightrope walker, Segway juggler and roller acrobat.

After the end of the Chinese contract, the circus family returned to Moscow. During these years they toured a lot, visiting all the major cities of the post-Soviet space and distant foreign countries. We even visited Japan.

Soon the brothers created their own circus, calling it the “Zapashny Brothers Circus.” He is distinguished by a special style that none of his colleagues have either in the country or abroad.

In 2012, Askold Zapashny became the artistic director of the Great Moscow State Circus. Edgard took over as director.

Askold Zapashny in the show “Ice Age”

Askold Zapashny is a real star. Therefore, a man is often invited to television shows. He, along with Maria Petrova, became a participant in the 4th season of the TV show “Ice Age” in 2013. He also appeared in the top-rated television projects “The Safronov Brothers”, “Veselaya Street”, “One Hundred to One” and “Dinner Party”.

Askold Zapashny in the “Dinner Party” program

And in the spring of 2014, Zapashny Jr. signed an appeal from cultural figures of the Russian Federation who expressed support for the president’s policy on the issue of annexing Crimea.

Askold Zapashny in the program “Legends of the Circus”

In 2015, Zapashny became the hero of the “Legends of the Circus” project, where the trainer’s brother acted as the host.

In the same year, the artist participated in the filming of a series about the life of Margarita Nazarova. At the work site, Askold was unexpectedly attacked by the tigress Shakira and cut the artist’s thigh with a blow of her paw. Zapashny was immediately sent to the hospital.

Askold Zapashny in the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

In January 2016, Askold Valterovich participated in the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Actress Evelina Bledans played together with the famous artist.

In September, Askold, like his brother, became a confidant of the United Russia party in the elections to the State Duma of the 7th convocation.

Personal life

For a long time, the famous trainer was considered an eligible bachelor. Handsome, famous, rich, prominent (Askold’s height is 177 cm) - crowds of beauties hunted for the young man’s heart. But later it became known that Askold Zapashny’s personal life was arranged. He also had two charming daughters with sonorous names, like everyone else in this glorious circus dynasty, Eva and Elsa.

The artist met his wife Ellen Raichlin, who has Israeli citizenship, in Minsk while on tour. The girl is Jewish by nationality. At the time of the meeting, he was 27. Behind him was an 8-year civil marriage with Elena Baranenko, also a circus performer, with whom Askold never decided to get married. Helen was born in Belarus, but as a child she moved with her parents to Israel. She received higher education in her small homeland.

They dated for three years. These were occasional meetings, because the girl did not give up her studies, and Askold Zapashny could not cancel the planned tour.

There were more obstacles in the way of this beautiful couple than one could imagine. The relatives of each of the young people were not too happy about this union. Helen Reichlin's parents dreamed of a Jewish son-in-law, preferably a doctor. And the circus artist’s family saw Askold’s wife as a girl from the “circus” circle, who would understand and share a specific lifestyle.

However, love overcame obstacles, and two charming daughters only cemented this marriage.

In 2016, Eva and Elsa performed for the first time under the circus big top together with their famous dad and uncle. If they connect their future life with the circus, they will turn out to be circus performers in the 5th generation, continuing the glorious Zapashny dynasty.

Thousands of fans watch the artist on the social network Instagram, where Askold posts personal and work photos and videos. Often, animal rights activists write in the comments to the pictures asking the trainers to close the show.

Zapashny also runs Twitter. There, the man regularly shares entries with readers. In addition, sometimes the trainer goes online using the Periscope application, where he communicates with fans.

The Zapashny Brothers Circus has an official website. Fans of the show can find on the Internet resource the necessary information about the program, posters, photos from performances and more.

In 2010, the brothers had an accident when they were returning to Bryansk to start rehearsal in the morning new program. The car hit a curb, lost two axles and stopped 10 cm from a tree. Askold and Edgard were not injured: they were saved by their seat belts and airbags.

In 2014, the tiger tamer suffered complex operations on the spine. The procedures took place in Germany. The artist had problems with his spine due to complex stunts and acrobatic performances. Later, the artist spoke in an interview about the illness and shared with a smile that he felt much better. However, if the man had not applied for medical care, could remain disabled.

Askold Zapashny now

In the summer of 2017, Askold and Edgard Zapashny participated in the program “Where is the logic?” on the TNT channel. The program was hosted by Azamat Musagaliev. The brothers' rivals were Nastasya Samburskaya and Maria Minogarova.

In December-January, the Zapashny brothers presented to the audience three premieres at once under the titles “Princess-Nesmeyana”, “UFO” and “Angels”.

In February 2018, Channel One premiered the program “Stars under Hypnosis.” Askold Valterovich participated in one of the episodes. Hypnologist Isa Bagirov put the artist into hypnosis, and he forgot that he was running a circus. Instead, Zapashny was sure that he was an artist.

That same month, a tragedy occurred in the circus of the Zapashny brothers’ uncle, Mstislav Zapashny. Acrobat Anton Martynov fell during a performance and fell into the arena from a 6-meter height. A month later, the young man died without leaving a coma.

Askold Zapashny in the show “Stars under Hypnosis”

In April, Olga Buzova released the Buzcoin cryptocurrency. In an interview, the presenter and singer said that the world lives in her era. The Zapashny brothers could not ignore such a loud statement. Edgard suggested making a video in which he involved artists of the Great Moscow Circus. Askold took care of the script and editing. According to the plot, the characters in the video are shocked when they find out that they live in the Buzova era and decide to commit suicide.

On May 31, a large volunteer forum started in Moscow. The forum participants summed up the interim results of the Year of the Volunteer.

After the event, Askold and Edgard Zapashny held a circus performance for children with cancer. The program was implemented at the Cancer Center named after. Blokhina.

On June 1, a grandiose performance took place at the Great Moscow Circus, in which the Zapashny brothers took part. The men entered the arena with their favorites - the eleven kings of the jungle. The attraction is called “Among the Predators”. The famous American actor Steven Seagal was present in the hall, who after the show went backstage and thanked the artists for the amazing spectacle.

In the same month, actor Mikhail Efremov offered to give Crimean Bridge Ukraine. Askold called the artist’s words shocking and suggested that he decided to feel like a liberal.

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