Andrey Kalina Biography

The question arose of what to do next, because we satisfied our hunger and greed for rewards. And I asked myself what I want? Learn or continue your career? As a result, Kalina decided not to choose one thing, but to combine professional sport with studies at the university in order to develop comprehensively. At first he received a higher education in jurisprudence, then - sports.

Since the main goal in the career - the gold of the Paralympic Games - has already been achieved, the athlete was moved by the desire to become more professional and develop equipment in Brasse, one of the most difficult swimming styles. This pleased, spurred to new heights and results. A team that will always help also help me a lot, will tell you the right path and indicate shortcomings, ”says the athlete.

At the Beijing Paralympics, the athlete again won gold in Brasse, four years later in London repeated this result. In other disciplines at three paralympics, Kalina won four more medals: three silver and one bronze. Not to consider himself weak in the year for family reasons with his wife Maria Andrei moved to St. Petersburg. Maria Timofeeva. Leaving Ukraine, the couple were sure that they would not be able to continue his sports career, but were ready to sacrifice their favorite things for the sake of the family.

Fortunately, in St. Petersburg, the athletes found an adaptive swimming section, and decided to resume classes. When the quarantine ended, I had about a year left to prepare for the Paralympics in Rio. The conditions in which I trained were the most encouraging in my entire career: I took off, I fluttered, I felt much stronger than ever. But we did not go to the games, there was a feeling that you have wings, but you cannot fly.

I had to adapt further and adapt to the situation, ”recalls Kalina. The adaptation was successful: at the games in Tokyo, Andrei won as many gold awards as he had at the three previous paralympics combined, and became six -time paralympic champion. Kalina is not going to stop, and hopes to get to games in Paris in the year. I was lucky that I chose swimming, water loves me, makes me better and stronger.

Together with swimming, I grow as a person as a person, as a man, ”Andrei emphasizes. The athlete often thinks about what to do after the end of his career. There is no exact plan yet, but Kalina feels that you need to transfer your experience and knowledge, and thinks to try yourself in a coaching career or in another profession associated with paralympic sports. On our part, not in a word, but with deed it is necessary to confirm this.

And the more circumstances, such projects, the more healthy people and disabled people will understand each other. It is important how you present yourself: if you consider yourself weak, then society will consider you inferior, ”the athlete concluded. And in order to become a part of the Paralympic movement, each, thousand rubles in the framework of the Fonbet charity program “Stavka for Good” will be transferred to the Point Point, which is engaged in the development of adaptive sports in St.

Petersburg. Read also the invisible worlds of the four -time winner of the Paralympic Games Victoria Potapova does not know what the award looks like, but knows how to support it.