Judo coach breaks spine but vows to continue coaching
The life of Krasnoyarsk judo coach and sports judge Vasily Fedorenko was divided into before and after 4 November 2025. During a regular training session and sparring match with his student, he suffered an injury that left him in a wheelchair. This story might have gone unnoticed if not for his 11-year-old student Roma, who sent a message to the president«s direct line. Journalists from NGS24.RU met with the seriously injured athlete to learn what he had to endure and what gives him the strength not to give up.
«Took the Blow Himself»
The «Raduga» sports complex. A judo competition. Teenage athletes are preparing to show what their coaches have taught them. But on this day, outside the tatami, the only topic of discussion in the hall is Vasily Fedorenko. The coach appeared before his students and other athletes for the first time since his serious injury. As we talk, people approach him, hug him, and encourage him. He sits in a wheelchair and smiles endlessly; it«s clear not only from his words but also from his gaze that he is very happy to see everyone.
Vasily Vladimirovich Fedorenko is a judo coach and a sports judge of the all-Russian category. He is 26 years old, born in Norilsk (his family moved to Krasnoyarsk, and he started 5th grade in a Krasnoyarsk school). He has been practicing judo since he was 11, saying he started late. He has three brothers and a sister. His mother Tatyana raised the children alone. Vasily«s father died when he was 5 years old.
«On 4 November, during training, I injured my cervical vertebrae. I fell awkwardly. They performed two surgeries. Rehabilitation at the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) is scheduled for 26 January. The plans are big, and there are high hopes for recovery. Yes, the injury is quite serious, the first surgery was life-saving, there was significant blood loss, so the surgery lasted 7 hours. The second surgery was more reconstructive—one vertebra had to be replaced with an implant. The doctors tried not to give false hope. Now, there is mobility in my hands, and there is muscle contracture in my legs. There are chances for recovery,» Vasily tells NGS24.RU journalists about that terrible day when he was injured.
That day, there was a regular training session, everyone split into pairs to practice techniques. One of the students had no one to train with. Then Vasily Fedorenko stepped onto the tatami with his student. The weight difference between them was significant: the 18-year-old student weighed 60 kilograms (132 lbs), the coach weighed 100 kilograms (220 lbs).
«As he performs the move, he starts to lift me, and I realize that he»s about to drop me on himself and get injured. To avoid that, I start to twist out and landed. The throw also involved throwing my head back. He could have fallen on his head with my weight on him. I decided to twist out and took the blow myself.
When I fell, everyone surrounded me. My coach was with me, we work together now. He saw the whole situation. I tell him: «I don»t feel my legs,« and he even jokes: »It«s all fine, it»ll pass soon.« I didn»t panic, my students were there. An ambulance was called,« Vasily continues.
Now, Vasily Fedorenko describes his condition as: «As if suspended in air.» Verticalization is difficult for him—sitting in a chair after such an injury, as it turns out, is not so easy. His fingers are somewhat stiff and have limited mobility, but he manages to pull out a cross from under his T-shirt and show it to us. In the hospital, Vasily was baptized.
«In the first week, I had such a misunderstanding of the situation, the second week—alienation from what was happening, there was a state where I thought that was it and I couldn»t, I wouldn«t be able to [move]. And in the third week, I was baptized in the hospital. I wanted to do it earlier, but kept putting it off due to work: either competitions or training. I came to this at a conscious age. And in the hospital, after the surgery, I said I wanted to be baptized. And after that, I understood for myself: God doesn»t give us difficulties and trials, but gives us opportunities. Not «why am I being punished for this,» but «for what purpose.» To become stronger, to become better. I want to become even better in my field. This situation showed how many friends I have across Russia—how many wrote to me, called, made video appeals with their students. It«s all so emotional, I cried every time I watched each video,» Vasily shares.
For Vasily Fedorenko«s student, who made the fateful throw, this situation was also very difficult.
«It was very hard for him, he couldn»t train for 2 weeks. I explained to him: «Sport is sport. You don»t need to take this upon yourself.« I always told them that in sports, you can»t give up, and I still adhere to that. How can I give up when I tell my students every day that they must never give up? Well, now he continues to train. And while I was in rehabilitation, a month after I ended up in the hospital, he pleased me with a gold medal as part of the team, they qualified for the final stage, which was in Sochi. That was his decisive match, thanks to that match they took gold,« Vasily Fedorenko says proudly of his student.
«Santa Claus Doesn»t Exist«
On 18 January, Vasily appeared in the sports community for the first time after his injury and recovery. He is still taking medication. On this day, he was presented with an award for his merits. And while Vasily was receiving it, we seized the opportunity to talk with his mother Tatyana.
«Children often come to him, our doors are always open. And the boy who wrote the message to the president»s direct line, Roma Lituyev, also came to us with his mom and younger brother. I didn«t expect such an act. They called us from the Narodny Front (All-Russia People»s Front, ONF) and told us. I had tears in my eyes, Vasya had tears in his eyes. I thought: «Wow, what kids do!»«>
11-year-old Roma wrote a message to Putin«s direct line when the coach was still in the hospital and needed a wheelchair. The head of the ONF executive committee in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Oksana Larionova, shared a fragment of Roma»s appeal with the NGS24.RU editorial office.
«A misfortune happened in our friendly judo family. Our coach Vasily Vladimirovich Fedorenko suffered a serious injury during training—a neck fracture. Thank God, he survived. And now he is undergoing rehabilitation. Unfortunately, his legs failed, and he cannot walk. Without outside help, he cannot move. We often don»t think about what we are given by God«s mercy, in particular: to see, to speak, to walk on our own feet. But when something happens to us and we lose something, we understand how acutely we needed it. And the case with our coach brought sadness to our entire hall. We are all very worried about him. It»s already the second month he has been in the hospital.
I am already a grown-up child and understand that Santa Claus doesn«t exist. But I believe in a miracle, which lies in helping one»s neighbor. My cherished desire is for Vasily Vladimirovich to stand on his feet. I really want to help my coach. We are all worried about him.«
The boy«s mother, Maria Lituyeva, said that everyone is trying to help the coach, and Roma decided to act in this way.
«A misfortune happened to our coach, at the end of December he was supposed to be discharged. There were problems with the wheelchair, we heard. Roma decided to write. He expressed his thoughts that we lose some necessary life opportunities at an inappropriate moment. Vasily Vladimirovich is an example for our children. Everyone started to look at everything a bit differently and appreciate what you have. You want to help, but you can»t, and from this helplessness it«s very hard. The child understands this.»
«The Path is Long, It»s Not Even a Year«
Tatyana calls her son a fanatic of his work. Even in such a difficult situation, he continues to be a coach for his students.
«He comes home, his phone is always on loud, everyone calls. He even controls the older students, teenagers: »So, what are you doing? Did you do your homework? So go to sleep. Routine!« He is a coach, but like a father to them. Even now he lies down, but drills his older ones—guys around 18 years old—they obey, respect him.»
Ahead of Vasily Fedorenko are years of rehabilitation. His mother believes that he will stand on his feet and be able to walk.
«The doctors said he wouldn»t walk. The upper part of the body responds well, they praise his arms. Now the triceps are engaging, he can already throw his arms back. I believe, I don«t even want to accept the doctors» verdict, doctors also make mistakes, and they never give 100% guarantee. He has very good support, everyone loves and waits for him. We are all determined to do everything needed. Everything that depends on us, we will do.«
The sports community not only of Krasnoyarsk but of the whole country responded in the tragic moment of the Krasnoyarsk athlete«s life. The family is raising money for Vasily»s rehabilitation.
«I have money for 2 months of rehabilitation. We are still considering the clinic. Alina—Vasya»s girlfriend, she is now in Moscow, she is from the Moscow Region. She is looking and searching for clinics, we are gathering information. What they do in Moscow, they work with them for 6 hours, each patient has an instructor, an orderly, a nurse, a pool, many exercises in water. For starters, we have that. But I need him to get stronger now, to at least sit. He sits in a wheelchair, but on the bed he can fall over, he just started mastering balance. A day of rehabilitation costs 30,000 rubles (approximately $330 at current rates). If with me, as an accompanying person, it will be 54,000 rubles per day (approximately $600 at current rates), and that«s a month of rehabilitation for Vasya. Therefore, we plan to bring him alone. My other son is also studying and working in Moscow. The path is long, it»s not even a year. The main thing is that they lay the foundation here so that the back and arms [strengthen].«
Vasily«s mother recalls that in the first days, her son had far from the positive attitude he now projects.
«There were the first days when he was transferred from intensive care to neurosurgery. At first, he directly had the question: »Why?« This question was both on his lips and in his eyes. He wanted to be baptized in the summer, he had this urge, but due to work it didn»t work out. I understand that«s not a reason, but that»s how it is, life«s hustle. And he was baptized in neurosurgery, a priest came. They talked, and Vasya began to understand that it»s not «for something» but «for a purpose.» And now he understands that he needs to accept this trial, go through it. For something. To be even stronger, a test of oneself. And you test your close circle.
He is now without antidepressants, he has enormous support, we support him. My eldest is an MMA fighter. He still enters the cage. And here, you know, they say, well, fate. He himself trained, competed, had no injuries. And here—at work. This happened for something. God doesn«t give trials that we cannot pass.»
«And Where is the Education?»
The most important thing for Vasily Fedorenko is still work. And he explained why:
«Even now, being in such a state where I can»t fully take care of myself, my head is working at full capacity. That is, my head is as if nothing happened. My head already wants to work, my head already wants to delve into all these procedures. I now use the phone and messengers well.
I try to help in the work of my students, they now had a week of training camp before these competitions. And I constantly kept them under control. That is, they called me, I called them, they came to my house after they competed. How, what, what nuances, where to suggest something—in that regard, everything was visible.
Besides sports results, I want them to become someone else too. Therefore, I ask about grades. Sport—it lasts until a certain point: you can get injured, you can quit sport. And who are you then? And where is the education?
Therefore, I tell them that education is mandatory. This is only so that in life they become not only great athletes, but good, real, with a capital «P» people, true patriots of their country, true fathers, mothers. This is my understanding that, besides sports results, I must instill in them these human qualities,« explained the coach.
Vasily Fedorenko must undergo rehabilitation first in Krasnoyarsk, after that he will have to restore his health in Moscow. His loved ones believe that he will be able to walk again and show his students resilience by his own example. And this is not the end of the story. Hajime.
