IN THE HOSPITAL, I REALIZED THAT NOTHING WOULD BE THE SAME AGAIN – PARALYMPIC CHAMPION ANTON SKACHKOV

The loss of an arm turns life upside down - forever and ever. The most advanced devices and achievements of medicine will not be able to return such a person to the world they were familiar with. At the same time, any changes, even such frightening ones, open up new paths, paths that will not be easy, but that can lead to success. The Ukrainian athlete Anton Skachkov confirms this, showing that the unwillingness to give up, the will to win does not know physical limitations.

Anton Skachkov’s life changed completely at the age of 13 when an explosive device detonated in his hand. In hospital the young man started to train himself to regain at least some of his lost abilities and skills.

“Before the amputation, I was actively involved in gymnastics. With an injury, I could no longer return to gymnastics training but decided to have a go at sports for people with disabilities. I chose athletics and a year later I took part in the Ukrainian championship. I had a goal – to win the title of paralympic champion. After ten years on the national team, I became the champion of the Paralympic Games, the world record holder in the long jump”, says the athlete. Today, he works as a coach at a sports school for disabled youth.

Red Line is beginning operations in Ukraine and Anton Skachkov is the first patient we will help. The foundation paid for the production of the Ottobock prosthesis. We hope that the new prosthesis will help him both in his daily life and in his work as a coach.