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Komsomolskaya Pravda: “When I saw you alpine skiing, I was simply dumbfounded!”

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This is what Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told skiers with disabilities. Shortly before his trip to Tambov, Putin saw a televised report about a unique specialised adaptive school for children and teenagers, which has existed in the city for several years. Its initiators – Raisa and Mikhail Oleinikovs – have almost done the impossible – they have trained the blind for downhill skiing.

This is what Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told skiers with disabilities. Shortly before his trip to Tambov, Putin saw a televised report about a unique specialised adaptive school for children and teenagers, which has existed in the city for several years. Its initiators – Raisa and Mikhail Oleinikovs – have almost done the impossible – they have trained the blind for downhill skiing.

When the prime minister saw, by chance, a televised report showing alpine skiers on a ski slope they seemed quite ordinary at first. But they were blind, and Putin could not conceal his admiration: "I was simply dumbfounded!"

Having tea later on, he kept pressing Sergei Churilov, candidate master of sport and participant in six national Paralympic championships:

"But how is this possible?"

"Mr Putin, we go by ear. Imagine a seasoned skier – we call him the leader --skiing ahead of us. He is yelling commands and telling us to turn left or right."

"Incredible!" Putin exclaimed in surprise.

Alexander Gamov