Saratov is a city with a rich sports history. It can be proud of its outstanding sportsmen who
have brought fame both to our country and Saratov.

Sport is an inseparable part of my life. I can’t imagine my daily routine without it. I have been doing sports
since I was four. And now I’m thirteen. I study at three schools: one comprehensive and two sports schools. I
do triathlon and football. So my life is pretty busy as I have two trainings a day – before and after school. It
goes without saying that sometimes it’s rather difficult to combine studying and trainings but I try to do my
best and I think I’ve succeeded so far as I’m an excellent student at a comprehensive school and I achieve good
results in my sport life.
There are many famous people among sportsmen who inspire thousands of boys and girls to do sports. They
are idols for us. But heroes can be found very close to you, they live in the neighbourhood. As for me I’m lucky
to have wonderful coaches and the teacher of Physical Education. Under their guidance we work a lot, we
learn a lot – not only about sports but about life as well and achieve good results.
We’re training in the same swimming pool with the Olympic champion Iliya Zakharov, we run in the same
stadium with Alexander Loginov – our talented biathlete. When we swim in the Volga we watch our canoeists
training. It gives us confidence that each of us can reach the very top of sport skills.
The main point is to work hard and to achieve goals. And in the end the result will find you! So I totally agree
with the slogan of the Adidas company: IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING! I try to follow this motto in my life.

Though I spend most of the time doing triathlon, I adore football as well.
Despite trainings and taking part in different football cups, I follow all the
events taking place in the world of football using all the sources of
information: the Internet, TV, magazines, encyclopedias, newspapers.
In comparison with triathlon where individual skills (both physical and
psychological) are important, football is a team game. The ability to be the
team-player is rather difficult on the one hand, but on the other hand it’s
rewarding! Team-spirit and the sense of belonging, sharing common goal
makes you feel as if you were a part of a big family. Even my little sister loves
football and the atmosphere of the football stadiums!

I Ilove sport and can’t live without it. But this isisthanks to my nearest and dearest. IfIfto be precise, my
love sport and can’t live without it. But this thanks to my nearest and dearest. to be precise, my
inspiration comes from my Granny. Though she’s never done any sports, she’s always been a a great supporter
inspiration comes from my Granny. Though she’s never done any sports, she’s always been great supporter
and fan of sports.
and fan of sports.
She’s absolutely mad about ice-hockey. When she was young she attended all the matches of our ice-hockey
She’s absolutely mad about ice-hockey. When she was young she attended all the matches of our ice-hockey
teams. She has got autographs of such outstanding hockey-players of the Soviet period as Luchenko, Petrov,
teams. She has got autographs of such outstanding hockey-players of the Soviet period as Luchenko, Petrov,
Kharlamov, Tretjak, etc. In our family it’s considered to be family relic.
Kharlamov, Tretjak, etc. In our family it’s considered to be family relic.
We’ re great friends with my
We’ re great friends with my
Granny. I’m very lucky to have
Granny. I’m very lucky to have
such Granny. She’s my best
such Granny. She’s my best
supporter and fan!
supporter and fan!
I’m ready to listen to her stories thousand times because they are very interesting,
touching and very dear to my Granny.
Her favourite ice-hockey player is V. Kharlamov and I invited my Granny to the
cinema to watch the movie “Legend №17” when it was released. Granny enjoyed it
greatly!
Figure-skating is also my Granny’s favourite. She has got special albums with
pictures of our figure-skaters and articles about them.
My Granny was the person who told me about different championships and Olympic
Games. We still watch all the sports events on TV, we’re usually mesmerized by
what is going on in various championships and games!

My granny isisan example to follow. She’s got strong will and character (though love and kindness are
My granny an example to follow. She’s got strong will and character (though love and kindness are
combined with strictness), she’s aavery responsible person, aaman of word and deed. Besides she’s very
combined with strictness), she’s very responsible person, man of word and deed. Besides she’s very
sociable and gets on very well with all my friends. She’s always present at all our football matches and we
sociable and gets on very well with all my friends. She’s always present at all our football matches and we
call her “coach assistant”. My Granny keeps repeating that Russia has always been the country of sports,
call her “coach assistant”. My Granny keeps repeating that Russia has always been the country of sports,
it’s aa long-lasting tradition and the task ofour generation isis to follow this tradition! Moreover, when we
it’s long-lasting tradition and the task of our generation to follow this tradition! Moreover, when we
are together, we’ll be able to do everything - -Teamwork Makes The Dream Work and we know that
are together, we’ll be able to do everything Teamwork Makes The Dream Work and we know that
Dreams Come True. She also tells me inspirational sports stories that focus on good deeds, overcoming
Dreams Come True. She also tells me inspirational sports stories that focus on good deeds, overcoming
obstacles, achievement and sportsmanship.
obstacles, achievement and sportsmanship.
I’m the contemporary of the 21 st stcentury and the 22ndmillennium, which are marked by great positive
I’m the contemporary of the 21 century and the nd millennium, which are marked by great positive
changes in all the spheres of life and especially by the improvements in the sphere of sport. We have aa lot
changes in all the spheres of life and especially by the improvements in the sphere of sport. We have lot
of possibilities to do sports as there are innumerous number of sports facilities right now. And I I take this
of possibilities to do sports as there are innumerous number of sports facilities right now. And take this
chance and choose the healthy way of life because doing sports isisthe way to success! But my Granny,
chance and choose the healthy way of life because doing sports the way to success! But my Granny,
who isisvery wise, reminds me not to forget that only hard work in combination with the desire to do
who very wise, reminds me not to forget that only hard work in combination with the desire to do
sports will bring the result. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
sports will bring the result. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

As the English proverb runs: Life is not the bed of roses. The same is in sport: sometimes you win, sometimes you fail to win.
But anyway you never lose. In any case you gain invaluable experience. Doing sports teaches you to overcome all the
difficulties and obstacles and to achieve goals. The value of doing sports is hard to underestimate.
There is a poem that I tried to translate into English
(though I’m not much of a poet). I strongly believe
that it’s also the key to success!
Everybody knows perfectly well
That the most difficult fight is
The fight with yourself.
To win yourself – no matter how hard –
Is the dearest victory of all in one’s life.
You have to remember for all and the rest
–
The victory over yourself is the BEST!