No excuses: "To be number one" - an interview with Irek Zaripov

Life "before"

- Welcome Irek! Thank you for taking the time to chat.

- Hello, Anastasia! Thanks for the invitation.

- The life of the heroes of our special project, is generally divided into "before" and "after." Let's talk about the period "before". Where are you from? Which family?

- I was born and raised in the Republic of Bashkortostan Sterlitamak in a simple working-class family. Mom and Dad worked for many years at the local brick factory. I have one child in the family, but was never spoiled. I went to an ordinary garden front of the house. He graduated from an ordinary secondary school.

After the ninth grade, he enrolled in the College of Automotive. I've always liked technology, so well studied. At the undergraduate Master he has trusted me to train newcomers.

- A sports do?

- Attended various school clubs: basketball, volleyball. I went to Sambo. I loved in the yard football drive. But with the sport his life did not connect. I thought, after graduating from college, I will go to the factory, will the chief engineer, then as a mechanic in the garage. I am going into the army in armored troops - again closer to the art.

- It did not come true because of the accident?

- Yes.

The end of the 1990s, all the guys riding motorcycles, it was fashionable. "Java", "Iz", "Sunrise", "Planet" - these models were very popular. I also dreamed about a motorcycle. Parents protested at first, but in 16 years made a gift, bought. I was happy!

Disaccustomed on the right, but rolled a total of four and a half months - September 12, 2000 I knocked devyatitonny MAZ. The driver and the organization for which the number of the car, were found guilty. An accident, but after years I understand: it was meant to be.

- The accident resulted in the amputation of both legs. It was difficult to accept this?

- It was generally a difficult time. The first six months I spent in the hospital. Parents were always close. Guide the plant while going forward, but at one point mom and dad still had to write a statement "at will".

Before the accident, I did not see people with disabilities, and never thought about why and how they live.

Eighteen months after discharge from the hospital, I came to the senses.

- In one interview I read the words of your mother: "For all the time I have only Yreka tears at the hospital saw." It is really true?

- Whining and crying is not in my nature. But once it was a failure, gave vent to emotions with their parents: "Why do I live? Why do you care for me? ". Mom almost fainted. After that I put together will in a fist and held. There is no need to show the suffering of families, they were no better than me.

Mom at first was afraid that I do something with it. She got another job, but always resorted to see me home. And to me gradually began to come to the realization that if left alive after a hard crash, it means that I have some kind of mission. You need only to find it ...

Way to Olympus

- Your mission has become a sport?

- I was looking for something to do. Profession mechanics in the past. I went to study in the programmer, in the beginning it was a true zero. One good man, Mudaris Hasanovic Shigabutdinov, gave me a computer, then they were not all.

In parallel, I joined the local society of persons with disabilities. In May 2003, I was called out and asked to participate in the championship of Bashkortostan in weightlifting, which was held in the framework of the republican sports and athletics. I consulted with parents and agreed.

After the hospital, I had the weight of a hundred - a sedentary lifestyle and hormones have done their job. I decided to prepare for competitions, got hold of the barbell, dumbbells, barbells. I watched online exercises and gradually trained. As a result, for the three months to August, dropped 10 kilograms.

I went at the Games and, to the delight and surprise, won the competition in weightlifting.

At that moment, when I hung a medal, a certificate was given and handed a gift, I realized that the sport - it's my future.

I like to be number one. I have seen how parents are proud of me, and I was happy.

- As far as I know you have been doing, and swimming, and table tennis, and athletics. How did skiing?

- Before skis it was still far away. I worked mainly in athletics, I have traveled to the national Games. Everywhere I brought medals. In 2005, I became interested in the team, but at the time I did not have a good sports wheelchair. Rescued again Mudaris Hasanovic - gave money, driver, we went and bought b / a stroller. This allowed me to significantly improve the result - I entered the national team of Russia in athletics.

On one of the championships of the country came to me and told me that we have coaches in Bashkiria cross-country skiing and biathlon, which is engaged with people with disabilities. They were Gumerov Amir Abubakirovich and Gumerov Salavat Rashitovich. Before I could get back to the championship, I got a call and was invited to the training camp - was preparing for Turin, season 2005-2006. I know not know what beans, skis, poles, but went. Started training, and in December 2005, I went to the World Cup.

It was my first international competition - I was very green. No tactics, ran headlong with burning eyes. But gradually Amir Abubakirovich and Salavat Rashitovich made me a present of the skier.

- What about athletics?

- Until 2007, I worked in parallel skiing and athletics. But these are two completely different preparation systems. I had to choose. I like skiing, and coaches have found me the right approach.

In 2006, I went to the Paralympics in Turin. He took fourth place, which was a good idea to start a career.

- But the game began in Vancouver for you to truly stellar. What's it like - to stand on the podium and listen to their national anthem?

- It's been five years, and emotions, of course, podostyli. But then there were an incredible feeling. All that you have done is not in vain! Corns, pain, sweat and blood - all this gave the result. To Vancouver, I was ready for 101%, the body working at maximum, and the motivation is through the roof.

I proved to myself and to all, even to those who did not believe that I can be number one!

But the most interesting - and everyone can. If abut horn and plow, no matter what. Rain? Well, okay! Snow? You still need to practice. It is necessary to leave everything behind and go to the goal.

- At the Paralympics in Sochi have a silver medal in the ski race 15 km. It was not sorry that failed to repeat the success?

- The era of athlete - one-two Olympic season. My journey began in Turin. In 2011, I took another world title. After that, I had a feeling of accomplishment.

Sochi I arrived with serious injuries. I think that did the best I could. Medal to the national team dropped - this is important. After these games, I decided to keep health and retire from the sport. And I do not regret it.

- But you're still one of the most popular athletes in the country. You know that you have a fan club in the social network "VKontakte"?

- I know. :) But star fever never suffered. Their victories take it as a job well done. On the contrary, fame and state awards to impose an additional responsibility.

Number one in everything

- In July 2014, you were appointed deputy chairman of the committee of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Republic for Education, Culture, Sport and Youth Policy. Why do you need a policy?

- Politics I started back in 2010 in parallel with the sport. First, he became a member of the City Council of Sterlitamak, then ran for the State Assembly. People trusted me because they saw that I was from an ordinary family, just got myself and many of the problems I know firsthand.

Now I am engaged in patriotic education of young people, social security, a barrier-free environment and, of course, the development of adaptive sports. We plan in the near future to organize a team of sledge hockey in the country.

- I spoke with many parasportsmenami, and almost all of them say that the athlete has a difficult time when he is already showing results, but is not in the team. We have to travel everywhere at their own expense, or to look for sponsors. And a lot of guys, not finding financial support, throwing sports, and in fact could be champions. Why it happens?

- This problem is. Although now it is no longer as acute as, for example, in 2006, when the Paralympic movement in our country is only in its infancy. The essence of the problem is that before the release of the federal level, before the athlete was in the team, it should support the home region. But, unfortunately, the regional authorities are not always able or want to develop adaptive sports. Bashkortostan is no such problem. I hope that in the other regions and republics to the minds of officials soon will reach, how important this is.

- You communicate a lot with young people, and it have accepted blame. Everything is so bad?

- Young is good, only a weak, infantile. Many lack the inner shaft - which beckon, there and go. At the same time they want all at once: a good salary, housing and so on. They do not want to go vertically life. This is bad, because only rising from the bottom up, tempers the character.

- You live in Ufa. Why not left for Moscow, probably the same name?

- Needed where was born. I have many times been invited not only to Moscow (given housing, work), but also in other countries. But I am a patriot, I love to his small home.

You know, many are leaving to the cities in search of a better life. But success is possible and in a small town. The main thing - do not sit idly by.

You will not fall on the bag with the knowledge, skills and money - all this should be achieved.

- Irek, your name means "freedom." Do you consider yourself a free man?

- I did everything to be free. In my understanding of freedom - is independence. Once I learned how to get down from the third floor with a stroller behind unassisted and still trying to do everything himself.

- And what about the freedom of speech in our country?

- A good question for a public servant. :) My answer is this: if I see an injustice, do not say anything.

- How did you meet your spouse?

- I was in ninth grade, she was in the eighth. But the school is not particularly overlap, met in 1995 on the city Christmas tree. We walked in the same company, but I always communicate more with her girlfriends than with her. She told me it still remembers. :)

Then we parted ways. We saw each other again after the accident - she was visiting me in the hospital. But in 2006, they met by chance in the street. I just returned from Turin. She grew up, flourished. We exchanged phone numbers. I promised to call two months later, when I get to the charges, if the number is not lost... Brazen was - horror! :)

I called - began dating. We met a year, although it says loudly - I almost was not home. More on the phone talking. But 12 months later they married.

- Now you have two children with Elena. How old are they now?

- Son of seven years, getting ready for school, and her daughter four.

- What do you aim to teach children?

- Be fair and independent. To grow and understood that everything in life depends on them. Parents somewhere can help, but most have to do themselves.

- The interview comes to an end. You want something readers Layfhakera?

I wish to have a purpose in life and to understand what is and what you're doing. Then everyone will be able to become number one in the business.

- Thank you, Irek, for the wonderful interview!

- And thank you!