How a simple gypsy guy could become a famous skater, although the coaches refused him
How a simple gypsy guy could become a famous skater, although the coaches refused him

Video: How a simple gypsy guy could become a famous skater, although the coaches refused him

Video: How a simple gypsy guy could become a famous skater, although the coaches refused him
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Ivan Rigini, it is believed, wins the hearts of the audience not only with the highest technique, but also with incredible charm. His smile, positive attitude and optimism make him a unique athlete, whose performances you want to watch endlessly. He himself believes that "I would have won an emotional Olympic medal if there was one." Today, few people remember that in childhood this young man was practically written off from sports due to a severe injury.

The life path of Ivan Bariev has a very extensive geography. Born in Moscow, he began to practice figure skating at the age of six at a children's sports school in Sokolniki. His sports career began very brightly: at the age of nine he won the Hungarian Cup at the International Children's Competitions, and a year later he took third place at the Children's Championship of Russia "Crystal Horse". The boy looked very bright and artistic on the ice, everyone predicted a stellar career for the young athlete, but he was not lucky. In training, learning a new element, Ivan fell unsuccessfully, crushing his leg with the weight of his body. Today, having already had coaching experience behind him, he calmly says that the reason, and in those years, a complex closed fracture of the lower leg almost put an end to his career.

Ivan Bariev - first place at the Russian Children's Championship 2004
Ivan Bariev - first place at the Russian Children's Championship 2004

The young athlete showed miracles of courage and, despite poor predictions, nevertheless returned to the ice. The mentors did not want to take on him after the injury - his technique suffered too much, but he was lucky, he found "his" coach - the famous Marina Kudryavtseva, and was able to return to the international level. Fractures have repeatedly happened in his life, but the athlete explains his perseverance in such situations by a very high pain threshold and says with a laugh:

In fact, Ivan was far from the last in youth competitions. Twice he won the Russian championship among juniors, and showed good results at the first "adult" competitions. In 2013, he decided to change his “sports citizenship” and began playing for the Italian national team. In subsequent years, Ivan Rigini became a four-time champion of the country and was one of the six best European singles.

Ivan Rigini - Russian-Italian figure skater
Ivan Rigini - Russian-Italian figure skater

Today, the athlete admits that he has not yet finally decided what is most important in his life. Time passes, and besides sporting achievements, other questions began to interest him: figure skating as an art form - he has many invitations from ice shows from all over the world, while the skater constantly collaborates with the Swiss “Art on ice”; teaching and coaching and even business. Several years ago Ivan started working on his own brand of fashionable clothes. So far, this project of his, according to the star, takes more funds than it brings in, but Ivan, as always, does not lose optimism and tells the journalists about it with great pleasure: He also gives his own “recipe for success”:

Ivan Rigini
Ivan Rigini

Ivan is a unique person. Most athletes of his level are too busy training. The hardest championship schedule rarely allows you to engage in other professions in parallel, but for the Russian-Italian skater, this does not seem to pose any problem. During his life in Oberstdorf, where he studied with the famous coach Michael Huth, the young athlete managed not only to master the techniques:

Ivan Rigini - "Gypsy King" of sports
Ivan Rigini - "Gypsy King" of sports

In childhood, Ivan Bariev-Rigini did not often recall his gypsy and Italian roots, but today he says that he is happy to feel part of several cultures. In recent years, among his friends, he was nicknamed Gipsy King (gypsy king). The athlete is surprised that now fans, commentators, and even representatives of the Federation have begun to call him that. In an interview, Ivan shares:

Journalists, for their part, also love him very much and call him “a holiday man”. I would like to hope that the unique Russian-Italian athlete will find his further path and achieve success in any endeavor, because by the age of thirty he came not only with a hefty "collection" of the highest sports awards, but also with a whole army of fans all over the world who love Ivan not for medals, but for the incredible positive energy that permeates each of his performances. The success of skaters depends on many reasons. In the 80s, a real drama of the world famous pair of figure skaters Sergei Grinkov and Ekaterina Gordeeva.

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