Kaliningrad Athlete-Fighter Returns to Sport with Prosthesis

When life throws a challenge, a true athlete does not retreat but accepts the fight. This has been proven by Kaliningrad resident Maxim Shilov. After a severe injury and amputation of part of his limb, he accomplished what seemed impossible: he got on a prosthesis and returned to big-time sport. Maxim is a champion and Golden Gloves boxing winner, a bronze medalist in arm wrestling. He is also pursuing higher education in law and is involved in raising the younger generation.

In his interview, Maxim Shilov, awarded the Order of Courage, candidly told how he managed not only to recover but to continue winning.

— Maxim, tell us how your path in the ring began. What sports did you do in your youth, and what heights did you achieve?

— Since childhood. First, I was into combat sambo, earned the Candidate for Master of Sport (CMS) standard. I also did boxing and earned the CMS standard there. I tried other disciplines — went to wrestling, hand-to-hand combat, competed in various areas. In general, sport has always been an integral part of my life.

— And how did life outside of sport go, and what did you do professionally?

— My work was in construction. At first, I worked with my hands myself, then I began leading a crew, organizing work processes.

— Why did you decide to go to the special military operation (SVO)?

— I could not stay aside. My brother was taken by mobilization, but I did not receive a summons. So I bought plane tickets myself and left without telling my family.

— How did your service go?

— To start, we had to undergo two weeks of training, but on the 11th day I asked to be sent to combat. Since I did my compulsory service in the marines, I already had all the basic skills, so nothing was new for me.

— How many years had passed since the army?

— Eight years had passed, but as they say, experience doesn«t just disappear.

— In which brigade did you serve, and how were you wounded?

— I ended up on assault positions and spent three months near Artemovsk. During another mission, I got a mine-blast injury: shrapnel shattered my left shin, damaged my right leg, arm, and shoulder, hit my helmet and rifle. I was evacuated directly from the battlefield — the guys took a risk and pulled me out. Then there were about 10 operations. I lost about two liters of blood, my condition was critical.

— How did the recovery journey begin?

— After hospitals, I returned to my hometown, spent two months in St. Petersburg, then started preparing for prosthetics. To the doctors« surprise, I almost immediately got on a prosthesis and began training — first on horizontal bars, then CrossFit, then returned to boxing and arm wrestling.

— Moreover, you immediately began showing record sports results?

— Last May, I competed in boxing in Moscow — I took two first places and the Golden Gloves. In August, at the all-Russian arm wrestling competitions held in Kachino, I took third place and earned the CMS standard.

— How do you yourself explain such, one might say, unreal results?

— I am sure that my sports background and youth helped me recover quickly and get back in shape. And also, the Zashchitniki Otechestva (Defenders of the Fatherland) Foundation supports me a lot.

— Tell us how and what this organization helps with.

— Specialists from the Zashchitniki Otechestva (Defenders of the Fatherland) Foundation directed me to the «Istok-Orto» rehabilitation center to get a specialized running prosthesis made. Moreover, it was thanks to the foundation that I started doing arm wrestling. And now I am training for a new profession in law — and in this, the Zashchitniki Otechestva (Defenders of the Fatherland) Foundation is also helping me.

— Besides sports and studies, what else are you doing now?

— I help our guys on the front lines, deliver humanitarian aid. I also regularly give «lessons in courage» in schools, visit orphanages, organize sports events for the younger generation. And, of course, I am raising my nine-year-old son. He goes with me to all events.

— What are your plans for the coming years?

— I want to continue working with youth, raising a worthy generation and developing sports in the Kaliningrad Region.