No excuses: "Be patient, if you can" - an interview with skier Sergey Alexandrov

Smile. She never left my face all day after a conversation with Sergei.

Elbrus, open fracture, 30 hours waiting for help, amputation of both legs, 30 days in intensive care. All this not only did not break it, but transformed.

Readers Layfhakera Sergey Alexandrov is already familiar. We talked about the documentary "Be patient if you can", dedicated to him.

In this interview you will meet with Sergey closer, learn about his sporting successes and get your... smile. :)

- Hello, Sergey! Ready for "tricky" questions?

- Hello, Anastasia!

You can ask any questions. I have no negative feelings. Especially children are asked abruptly: "Uncle, you do not have legs?". Adults are afraid, and the children are spontaneous and ask direct questions. I'm always interested to answer them.

- Tell me about your life before 2009?

- I was born and has always lived in St. Petersburg. He graduated from Herzen University named after AI Herzen.

The most remarkable event until 2009 - is 10 years in the travel club. When the House of Art organized an experimental platform, whose main goal - to interest teenagers. Change the position with the "I want a good" to "I am interested!". To do this with the kids go into the woods, where the online form tell about nature, travel and so on.

5 years I have visited this club as an apprentice, and as much again as a teacher. When this was probably a dozen "Education", because we went to different interesting lectures, watching educational films, etc.

In 2006, I resigned from the club ...

- Why?

- It is hard to say. The club exists to this day - well done guys, keep this matter. But it takes 100% of your time.

Then I practiced photography, and in 2006 finally left in this area. And in terms of performance and in terms of creativity.

Plus began to go into serious climbing trips, self-assembling groups of 3-4 people.

"Present"

- What happened then, in 2009, on Elbrus?

- We went to Mount Elbrus in preparation for another, more serious, hike to the Pamirs. And just out of the blue slope I fell and he was left without a leg.

- What is the first thought came to you when you realized what happened?

- All my thoughts were focused on survival. I knew that the units survive in such a situation. On average, an open fracture in the cold can hold 1.5-2 hours.

I endured 30 hours. Time for despair was not - it was necessary to survive.

- Why so long there was help?

- Many different causes. The helicopter did not fly, and rescue workers were severely exhausted as the day before worked on "Elbrusiade". And then we call: "Guys, you on the other side of Elbrus - 10 hours walk there and back the same amount." They, of course, is not very happy, but it came out, dragged.

A month in intensive care. A state on the brink. During those 30 hours, I lost 10 kg.

In the end, I'm alive! But his legs could not be saved. It would be too fantastic. :)

- But it was possible to remain optimistic! :) How?

- sound strange, I myself still can not explain why this situation I took so easily.

But depression after injury, which in theory would have to be, I did not at all. I was calm and well. I enjoy simple things.

Dropper in all places - a "working moments." Difficulties that need to survive. And inside while it was surprisingly good.

And I did not have to maintain this feeling artificial. It was simple. Instead of despair I was feeling happy and light. Where it came from, I do not know. But only as a "gift" to call it can not.

- How do you manage to give this "gift" to others?

- I do not know, but it's a fantastic feeling. When I came home, people came up to me the stone, and went live. Rather, I was able to communicate with them as human beings.

After all, they came to a disabled person - not me. Difficult situation confuses all human mask. I was open. They saw that I was a living person, and themselves become such.

Chat with real people to me and now helps.

- For example?

- For example, you go to the car, broke something suitable Policeman - "Sgt Petrov. Come with me".

I sometimes point to their feet and say, "I'm sorry, it will take some time, right back."

And there is an interesting metamorphosis - in front of me is already not Policeman, but a living person.

When really something nakosyachit, I'm happy to pay a fine, and when to stop, to stop, to talk to a live person much easier. Say, here correct, turn on the lights, and Godspeed. :)

- Sergei, is it possible to learn patience?

- Of course.

Somewhere in the "Contact Us" read: "If you can not find a job, earn money, learn? Well, sit in the ass! ".

I am very hard on themselves and others in terms of any leadership skills, including patience.

All well-known: you do - will result. Not? See quote above.

Sport

- How has your life after the injury?

- Very much. I've got a beloved wife and daughter. :)

And yet there is a unique opportunity to touch the big sports. Because in a healthy sport, if you are under 10 years nothing has been achieved, you merge. The wheelchair competition is a little less - I have managed to taste of this sport seriously.

- When we met, you were in the competition in the United States. Therefore, I can not help but ask whether it was possible to climb on the podium?

- Yes, it was the America's Cup. Brought together the best athletes in the world. I managed to take 20th place. I think it's cool, because I was able to compete with people who are trained for 10-20 years. I'm in this sport just 3 years.

- You used to do on skis did not stand?

- It was, but it was a different technique. I spent many years ski touring, that is a heavy backpack over his shoulders and the problem down the mountain slowly and safely as possible. In alpine skiing a fundamentally different approach - you need to go down very quickly.

- So, you're just one year after the injury took the skis and went into the mountains. Not scary was that?

I do not like extreme, do not speed. Even in the car Always wear. Extreme sports - is that part of the sport, which I do not like. But we have to overcome their fears, because I do not know of any other such areas of life, where there was so much energy.

- Are you planning to perform in Sochi. Will you go?

- As an athlete I have done everything for this. I am waiting for decisions from "above".

- How do you feel about the Olympics? Many are unhappy ...

- Definitely good. All dissatisfied conversations - it is just an attempt to undermine the power that it once again to redistribute. Another reason I do not see.

The Olympics in your home country - the development of the sport. A sport - it's a priori health. To me it does not matter how long it spent the money.

Olympics - a great incentive to the sport became fashionable. So that when you run in the morning, to you not to point the finger, and thought, "Here I am today is not running, it would be necessary to run."

- You're still doing photography or entirely left to the sport?

I'm at a crossroads. On the one hand, it is necessary for something to live. But, and photography, and sports - the area where you want to plunge into the whole being. Because of sports I do not have such an opportunity to devote himself to photography. I work with old clients and new float away from me. But the sport still can not get away with his head - need sponsors.

- How do you manage to buy tools, clothes, pay for the trip?

- Who is financing my trips Disabled Sports Federation Saint Pererburge. In the past year helped one construction company. In addition, I always help on the spot, for example, I ride for free in the "Golden Valley" and "Puhtolova mountain."

But since I'm not in the national team, it is very much to have to pay for yourself.

Alpine skiing - one of the most expensive types. Only more expensive "Formula 1". Masthead athlete - it's not one pair of skis, it is a hundred pairs of about 1.5 tons of expensive equipment, which "drives the athlete worldwide 8-10 months of the year. For this equipment must be constantly monitored. Therefore, a top-end athlete - it is also a staff of people who are prepared ski, track, trainers, doctors etc. In addition, training for speed disciplines, for security reasons, the entire overlap resorts. To do this, dozens of specialists are needed. In short, it is an industry in which I dipped only 3 years ago.

As long as I go alone. I am looking for sponsors! :)

A responsibility

- Our project is called "No excuses." What do you mean do not look for excuses to Sergei Alexandrov's point of view?

- A wonderful slogan. But here everything is simple: someone looking for an excuse, some opportunities. As already mentioned, work - get the result. Looking for excuses and say that this is not possible, you do not get anything.

I was struck by one case. In the Championship of Russia, I met with the champion among veterans. Imagine, I stand at the start and do something that's never in his life had not done. Just jump over your head - and in terms of overcoming fears, and in terms of emotional and physical strength.

Standing beside it. He sees and understands what I feel, and says, "even higher! Even further!". I do not understand where it such power, where the "space" to draw strength?

The next morning, at breakfast, I received a reply. The hotel was a buffet with all sorts of dishes. But on the first day he said to me, "Eat this stuff here," and pointed to the oatmeal. She quickly digested, and you need energy. I ate it every morning.

And the morning after the start where I jumped higher than his own head, I went for breakfast. Done a lot of work - it worked out. All sorts of goodies in front of me - that I am a fool again take this stuff? Scored all sorts of sausages, I sit down at the table and see that he looks at me and did not understand why I do not eat porridge ...

Everything is made up of little things. Live without excuses means to accumulate power to achieve their goals every day, every minute.

- Sergei, the impression that you are always in a good mood, you always see only the good people and the bad ones do not occur. How is this possible?

- Perhaps it is not so. But this is my position in life.

If I have a bad mood, then it's my fault in this. If I met bad people, then it's my fault. If my life's journey there "unsolvable" situation, then I created it.

I fully take responsibility for everything that happens to me. Of course, there are things that do not depend on me. But I am ready to accept "gifts" of fate. This is also my responsibility.

- Finally your wish readers Layfhakera.

Smile! If you do not smile, no sport, no oatmeal will not help. :)

- Sergey, your smile is radiant. Thanks for the conversation! :)

- Thank Layfhakeru!