No excuses: "Your life is your choice" - an interview with the conqueror of Elbrus Semyon Radaev

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The special project "No Excuses" continues to tell you about people who are worthy of respect, because, despite their physical illness, they live a bright and eventful life. Today we will talk about Semyon Radaev. He is the champion of Mordovia in swimming and the conqueror of the highest mountain peak in Europe.

Remember Eric Weienmeier? Yes, yes, the same blind climber who conquered the seven highest mountain peaks. We talked about him as part of the No Excuses special project. Eric said: “A lot of people say they go to the mountains because of the beautiful views. This is all nonsense. You will not endure hardship just because of a beautiful picture. I think a person goes to the mountains for the acquisition of meaning."

When I asked Semyon Radaev, a simple guy from Saransk, why he went to the mountains, he replied: "I wanted to become an example for my son." But, in my opinion, Semyon became an example for all of us, because he conquered the highest European mountain peak, being confined to a wheelchair.

About fortitude, real men and life choices - in an interview with Semyon.

Sport

- Hello, Nastya! Thanks for the invitation.

- I was born in Saransk, went to school there. He studied well, finished school without Cs. I entered the pedagogical institute - by education I am a teacher of physical education and life safety.

My family is absolutely simple: my mother worked at a factory, my father is a driver. I have three older sisters, so the family is big by modern standards.

- Sport saved me from all these “street problems”. I have always been athletic: I played basketball, volleyball, speed skating, went to the pool. Until the fifth grade, I rushed between the sports sections: it was interesting to try everything. And then the football coach came and offered to try to kick the ball.

Since then I have become seriously involved in football. After graduating from the junior sports school, he played for the Mordovian "Svetotekhnika". Until the accident.

Back

- At that time, I already had a wife and a son, and the teacher's salary left much to be desired. I had to support my family. I received a salary and bonuses playing football, studied in graduate school - received a small scholarship, and also worked on construction sites. In the summer of 2007, having gone on vacation at the institute, I got a job as a sales representative: I traveled all over Mordovia, sometimes I could drive 800 km in a day.

- Was one of these trips fatal?

- Yes. The job of a sales representative is quite exhausting: in the morning I got behind the wheel and for the whole day. And I just got my license - there was not enough experience. On July 10, I returned to the office, picking up the proceeds in one of the stores, fell asleep at the wheel and flew out of the way.

… I woke up - the car was on the sidelines and the phone was ringing. I tried to crawl to him, but my back hurt like hell. Some man (I don't remember his face) found the phone, dialed the number that I dictated.

- I called my sister and said that I had an accident and broke my spine.

- My back was very painful, and I could not move my legs. Although, of course, I did not have such deep knowledge as now. I didn't know how serious it was, that it was related to the spinal cord. It was just that my back hurt a lot.

- Yes, an ambulance arrived, took me first to the regional hospital, then transferred to Saransk, where they had an operation. A month later, I was discharged, and rehabilitation began.

For six months he studied at home, wore a corset, then began to train with a doctor, go to rehabilitation centers.

- When the accident happened, I was 25. Yesterday you ran, and today you ride in a wheelchair - it's hard to accept. But I was lucky - family and friends were there. Depression, lasting weeks, when I do not want to eat or drink, I have not had. There were times when I just wanted to be alone.

Elbrus

- This is a responsible person you can rely on, in whom you are confident, who will not let you down.

- “Sparta” definitely contributed to this. Their psychophysical training really helps to become a real man. It all starts with leaving your comfort zone. At home you do something, then an inner voice tells you: "Dude, you're tired, let's rest!" - and you obey. At "Spartan" trainings, no matter how much your inner voice sabotages you, you must complete all the exercises. As a result, you realize that your physical and psychological capabilities are much wider than you thought. After that, the worldview and attitude to life change.

- The modern man is sometimes too soft. And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, a large number of divorces, as a result - boys, sons, are raised by women. Secondly, people do not feel the need for development: they do not go in for sports, do not think about what is wrong in their character and lifestyle. "Sparta" makes you reconsider your attitude to yourself, your family, your career.

- Yes, I was offered by the founder of this project, Anton Rudanov.

- I don’t know, you need to ask him.:) But I can assume that my mission was that the other members of the expedition, looking at me, did not allow themselves to give up. Because my example once already inspired the guys who were training with me. They saw me doing the exercises and pulled forward.

- I did not know what awaits me in the mountains. I only knew what kind of equipment was needed. It was helped by the "Spartans" to assemble it, and the sled was provided by a company that produces wheelchairs. Physical training consisted in the fact that I went to the gym, swam, and also went on the ski tracks.

- Fine. They are used to the fact that I lead an active life. Before that, I had already jumped with a rope from a 57-meter height (something like a bungee), so the news that I was going to Elbrus did not cause a shock.

- It was physically difficult to be there in principle. I've never been to the mountains before. Headaches, lack of oxygen, poor sleep, discomfort. The sleigh work was also not easy. Fortunately, the guys helped. And emotionally it was difficult to go down.

- Because when you go up, you have a goal. Climbing takes up a lot of strength, but when you climb, you literally feel like “the king of the mountain”. And then the realization comes that you still need to go down and the way back will require no less strength. I would like to be at home by magic.

The expedition consisted of 80 people, we were divided into groups and subgroups, we went at different rates. And during the descent, I repeatedly saw people from other groups, ready to give all the money, if only they were lowered on a snowmobile.

A real man

- Nothing. I cannot say that having conquered Elbrus, I proved to myself that I am very strong. I have not been a rag before. I had a different goal.

I wanted to be an example for my son. Looking at me, I wanted him to fall in love with sports and an active lifestyle.

Because before he had no desire for this, I had to force him to attend training. Now he approaches this more responsibly.

- Be extremely honest with yourself and the people around you, treat people with respect, show kindness and love to your relatives and friends. All these qualities are really necessary for a man. I really hope that I can raise them in my son.

I'm in this world to make it better

- I plan to win it. After the injury, I wondered if I could swim. I tried it - it worked. Now my goal is to qualify for the national team and win the Paralympic gold. Daily training is gradually leading me towards this goal.

- If possible, yes.

- Don't feel sorry for yourself. Life goes on, and this is a very cool thing. Everyone can look for excuses not to do something, it is not necessary to be in a wheelchair. But then life passes by, without vivid emotions and impressions.

Everyone chooses for himself: make excuses and lie on the couch, spend time on the Internet, or do something useful.

I am in this world in order to make it better. I really want to be remembered not only by my grandchildren, but also by the great-grandchildren of my grandchildren.:) Your life is your choice.

- No.

- Yes. More precisely, this is the result of the choice I made a little earlier. I chose to work as a neighborhood sales representative as an inexperienced driver. Could I assume that this is fraught with loads and accidents on the road? I could!

Accidents are not accidental. For example, I have always been interested in sports, after the injury I started looking for a place where I could practice. I chose one adaptive sports club, there I met the guys who brought me to swimming … The result depends on the choice. It's like a mosaic, but the drawing always comes together the one you see.

Life is given once. Live it brightly so that in old age you will have something to tell your great-grandchildren. Set high goals and achieve them. To live aimlessly is ingratitude. And, no matter what the circumstances, do not give up - difficulties will make you stronger.

- Mutually!:)