Bobsleistka Irina Skvortsova: biography and photos

Irina Skvortsova is a wonderful sportswoman, who is accustomed to easily cope with obstacles and, at all costs, win. In a tragic accident, this cheerful girl was forced to leave the sport and literally fight for her life. But she managed to survive and get out of a difficult situation with her head held high. More details about Irina we will tell in this article.

Sports from the cradle

An optimist, a beauty and an athlete Irina Olegovna Skvortsova was born in June 1988 in an ordinary Moscow family. Since childhood I've been actively involved in sports. At first, she became interested in sprinting, and, having achieved some success, she got to the Moscow national track and field team.

Later, again, together with representatives of the national team athlete was lucky to become an active participant in the summer sports days, during which she ran 200 meters. This was the first triumph, as well as an inexpressible sense of excitement and pride that Irina Skvortsova felt for the first time. A little later, she completely immersed in sports life, but the first sensation and taste of victory will remember for a long time.

This strong granite of science

During the beginning of her sports career Irina easily managed to combine endless training and schooling. Of course, there were moments when she simply did not have time to attend a particular lesson physically, but she easily compensated for the gaps in the school curriculum by doing self-study.

Almost immediately after graduation, the future bobsledder Irina Skvortsova passed the exams and was accepted for the first year of the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sports, Youth and Tourism.

During her studies in 2008 she decided to move away from athletics and directly engage in bobsleigh. Education in the university gradually took a back seat, and after a serious trauma, and completely ceased to interest the poor girl. Later, she still has to take exams, defend the thesis and, finally, will be able to graduate from university.

Beginning of the career of a bobsledder

Not having achieved particularly impressive results in track and field athletics, the girl, determined, took part in the new sports selection. According to her, he was organized by representatives of the young experimental team "Sochi-2014". To the surprise of the sportswoman herself, she managed to pass this selection. And after a year in the role of "overclocking", she was in the main squad of the team.

Love to bobsleigh

"Speed and drive" - this is what, according to Irina, she felt during training. "A light breeze and a scorching cold face" - with them Skvortsova "almost akin". She liked the sharp descent, the fascinating curves of the track and the feeling of flying. "I just fell in love with this sport and our training bob", - says Irina Skvortsova. The accident, which we will talk about later, almost did not affect this "love at first sight."

However, after she managed to finally get back on track, the athlete continued her passion for bobsleigh and other extreme sports. According to her, she also liked figure skating, boxing and skiing. However, after the most serious trauma, which the girl suffered very recently, Irina was left to admire all this only in the role of an outside observer, not a participant.

Irina Skvortsova (bobsled): accident

Despite all the impact during training, Irina never managed to realize herself as an outstanding bobsledder. The blame for all this terrible accident, which almost cost the girl a life. The tragedy occurred in November 2009 in Koenigssee. It was there that Irina went with her team during scheduled training sessions.

According to the story of the girl, nothing foretold troubles. It was an ordinary training session. The team was at the start and expected only the team of the judge. And as soon as this signal arrived, the crew, in which Irina Skvortsova was, started the movement. However, because of the blunder of the judge, the bean flew out at the same time as the female team, in which the male athletes sat.

As a result, there was a collision. At the same time, almost none of the crews were injured, except Irina herself, who had all the cuts and fractures in her body. In addition, her right leg was badly damaged.

Hospital room and disappointing forecasts of doctors

Immediately after the accident, the Russian bobsledder Irina Skvortsova was taken first to a local hospital, and then transferred to the Munich clinic at the university. According to the girl, to lead her to her homeland in such a state, in which she was at that time, was very dangerous. Since there was a real threat to the life of the athlete.

In the Munich clinic, Irina was about four months. During this time, the unhappy and injured Skvortsova had to move more than 50 different operations, most of which affected the severely affected leg.

According to her story, the money for treatment was collected at the expense of those indifferent to her grief, sending their donations to a specially open account. So, for three months of gathering volunteers managed to save over 500 000 rubles. His contribution to the help of a Russian athlete was made by the government of her native country.

Full rehabilitation Skvortsova

In March 2010 Irina was discharged and sent to Kizmu, from where she arrived to the local rehabilitation center. As doctors themselves said, admiring the strength of the spirit and the patience of the girl, her case is unique. Indeed, with such a trauma it is very difficult not to restore morally, but to restore the former physical capabilities of the joints is very difficult. That's how Irina Skvortsova left the bobsled, and also completely stopped her sports career.

In addition, according to the forecasts of most specialists Irina could never stand on her feet. But she could. It turned out contrary to all the medical logic.

In September of the same year, the girl returned to her homeland, where she was immediately sent to the AI Bernazyan Federal Medical and Biophysical Center. There she continued to perform the recommended rehabilitation procedures by physicians, coping daily with unbearable physical pain.

However, step by step Irina Skvortsova (photo of her can be seen in our article) confidently moved to victory. And progress did not keep itself waiting. At first the girl moved only on a wheelchair. Later she acquired crutches and began to walk with their help. And even later, they refused from them altogether.

Prolonged litigation

Immediately after the tragic incident, which almost became fatal for Irina, a complex and very protracted lawsuit began. In this case, on the bench of the defendants was the very same judge - Peter Hell, who made a mistake in the calculations. At the same time the process lasted about four years and ended in November 2013.

As a result of the proceedings, the court found the accused guilty and ordered him to pay a compensation fine of 650,000 euros to the victim. Although initially Irina and her lawyer insisted on much more compensation. At that time it was about 3.6 million euros.

By the way, these money also went to pay for the treatment and rehabilitation of the girl. "And although this is a real victory," says Irina Skvortsova, "it's most insulting to realize that Peter Hell did not understand what his negligence caused." According to her, he never tried to personally express his condolences to the girl and did not even apologize.

Secular activity and work on television

In spite of all the tests that the 27-year-old had to endure, she managed not to lose her former optimism. Immediately after the rehabilitation, she became a welcome guest in various news media, where Irina was invited as the main character.

At one time Skvortsova was very fortunate. She was noticed and invited to the television. At first she worked as a presenter at the show "Army Store", organized by "First Channel". Then she was invited to the alternative TV channel "Russia-1", where she currently holds the position of editor and plans to master the profession of a newsman. In the near future, representatives of the channel say, Skvortsova will be able to conduct the news channel together with Viktor Gusev.

Sports nostalgia and a meeting with Putin

Despite the cardinal change of its role, Skvortsova continues to maintain sports ties. So, in February 2011, she came to Koenigssee to support the Russian bobsled team at the World Championships. However, to her and everyone's surprise she met not only with the representatives of the national team, but also with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, he asked about her well-being, the nature of the current activities and wished success in all future and ongoing endeavors.