Walter Zapashny is a world famous tamer. His tough character, amazing will and success with women were legendary. ABOUT privacy the trainer and the everyday life of “taming” are told by his famous son Edgard.

Third generation

My dad is from the third generation of circus performers. His grandfather, Carl Thompson, was a clown. Grandfather's daughter, Lydia Karlovna, married Mikhail Zapashny. Before his marriage, Zapashny worked as a loader at the port and was very physically developed. So he was accepted into Ivan Poddubny’s room without any problems. Then Mikhail and his young wife did their own act, and they performed as acrobats.

My grandfather had five children: Sergei, Walter, Mstislav, Igor and Nona.

Dad was born in 1928, and his childhood, of course, was spent in the circus, constantly moving with his touring parents. When he turned thirteen, the war began. My grandfather went to the front, but the whole family remained in Leningrad - they were caught in the blockade. But, fortunately, they managed to get out of the encirclement. In 1943, the Zapashnys joined the front-line artistic brigade and traveled around the country performing until the end of the war. Walter and Mstislav were the first to create a circus act. They, like their parents, were also craft acrobats, but with vaulting elements (this is when acrobats also throw each other). Then Nona and Igor joined them. With the act “acrobatic vaulting” Walter, Mstislav, Igor, Sergey and Nona won the First World Festival of Youth and Students.

In 1958, dad turned 30. A turning point. He realized that he had outgrown acrobatics and wanted to do something completely new. And he had the idea to build the first oceanarium in the USSR, his father began knocking on the thresholds of executive committees. But they didn’t take him seriously there. Then dad had another idea: he submitted 12 applications at once for different attractions with completely different animals: deer, elk, bison and tigers - if only he would be given the opportunity to advance...

On the poster is the Zapashny family room, Walter is on the far right. On the right - Edgard and Askold Zapashny

Ogress

Dad understood that the most difficult thing was to perform a number with predators at the Union State Circus. And so it turned out - almost all the masters of the circus of that time spoke out against my father. The fact is that training is really a very difficult matter, you can’t just get into it. There were many cases when people could not cope, and they were killed by animals, or they themselves maimed the animals. That's why officials were afraid. But dad still achieved his goal - the famous trainer Eder vouched for him and even began to train him.

After three years of rehearsals, right at the premiere, a tragedy occurred: a tigress attacked her father. He ended up in intensive care for two months. And then there was a choice: either end my career or continue, and if I continue, then with what animals? He understood that no one would give him new ones, and it was dangerous to work with old ones. Dad decided to work with those animals that just recently almost tore him apart - the tigress Bagheera inflicted more than forty on him lacerations and bit the spine. Having attacked, and successfully, once, she felt her strength and, of course, will try to do it again. And one more thing: when dad began to delve into the history of the tigress who attacked him, who was brought to the USSR from Germany, he found out that there Bagheera killed the wife of a German trainer, and before that, in nature, there were many corpses behind her. But after that, dad worked with Bagheera for another 15 years. He loved her very much, and says that she is one of the most talented with whom he worked: an excellent memory, physically built beautifully... But in general, dad got it very badly, the animals tore him badly, he is covered in scars and, at the very least, , I was in intensive care three times.

Walter Zapashny knew how to be both affectionate and tough - both with children and animals

With a tiger on a leash

Dad was married twice. His first wife, Maritza, is also from a circus dynasty; at the beginning of her career she performed with the “rubber” act (this is when a person bends in all directions), and then began working with dad and predators. Dad and Maritza worked together for many years. Their number thundered not only in the Union, but also abroad. But in 1975, the marriage of my father and Maritsa was already on the brink. Dad was in Kalinin (present-day Tver) for rehabilitation after an injury (he was torn to pieces by a black panther) and, while walking along the street, he noticed beautiful girl, who greeted his friend. Dad found out that she was a student at a local institute and asked to give a lecture there. He came to the institute with a tiger on a leash. I gave a lecture, then found that girl in the hall and said right from the stage: “I really like you, let’s meet.” He was forty-seven and she was eighteen. It was my mother. My father had just arrived from Australia, he had a cowboy suit, and he came to my mother on a date at night on a horse. It was impossible to resist. Dad knew how to look after. And exactly a year later I showed up. And a year later - my brother Askold. When dad divorced Maritsa, the communist Zapashny was censured for “immoral behavior in everyday life” and was banned from traveling abroad for 15 years.

Little Edgard and Askold played with tiger cubs since childhood. Under the supervision of dad and mom, of course

Kids in a cage

As a child, like most circus children, my father and I always went everywhere. He only stayed for six months in Moscow or St. Petersburg. In other cities - for a maximum of two months. Therefore, my brother and I changed five or six schools a year. Dad never did homework with us and never showed up at our school. But he checked the diary and very harshly, sometimes cruelly punished for bad grades. Our education always came first for dad. He was not as demanding at rehearsals as he was about our school affairs. For a three he could easily hit him, deprive him of anything. He hired us additional teachers, piano and drawing tutors. On the other hand, he spoiled us a lot. Dad was a highly paid artist. The salary in the country was 75-120 rubles per month, and dad received 25 rubles per appearance, with a norm of 35 performances per month, i.e. he received more than a thousand rubles a month! That's why we had everything at home. Dad bought the most expensive toys, and bought our first computer for 5 thousand rubles at an auction in Riga. At the same time, I repeat, for bad grades or poorly worn socks during rehearsal, the scars on our bodies did not go away for several days.

Every year we all went to the circus recreation center near Adler. But for my brother and I there was practically no rest there. At 7 in the morning we ran a cross-country race, then “I stood up on my hands, pulled myself up, did push-ups”... We came to the beach while we were swimming, dad looked for comfortable pebbles for us. And as soon as my brother and I came out of the water, he put them in our fists, like supports for tightrope walkers, and we began to make stands on these pebbles...

The first time my brother and I entered the cage was either in first or second grade. We then lived in Saratov and quite often took our classmates to rehearsals. And somehow I muttered - Dad, can I go into the cage? And dad realized that I was a “pontyar”. And he says - let's do it. He removed the most dangerous animals, but still there were probably about fifteen lions and tigers in the cage. So, when the cage was opened, my brother and I regretted asking for it. We are numb, and there is no turning back! They hugged dad's legs on both sides, and he made a circle around the arena. We left the cage feeling like heroes. But then for six or seven years they didn’t even talk about it. We quickly realized that everything there was for real.

Between a lion and a horse

In 1998, dad officially retired. We celebrated his seventieth birthday on the stage of the Kremlin Palace (by the way, this was the first and only full-fledged program, which was called “Tigers in the Kremlin”). But even now it’s very difficult to get praise from dad. If he says “fine”, it’s already a holiday. Even when my brother and I won competitions, and the audience rose, he came up to us and grumbled: well, why isn’t this so? What prevented you from doing better? He always wanted everything to be perfect, for us to be the best. And he was just as demanding of himself, he always wanted to do what others wouldn’t do. And he did the impossible. For example, among the miners there are probably those who go only to proven mines, and those who break through new ones. So dad, figuratively speaking, was one of those who break through. He walked and tested for himself whether it would work or not. As a result, he did things that no one can repeat to this day. For example, an attraction with three lions harnessed. Just think about it! You need three lions that can easily be torn, placed next to each other, put harnesses on them... This is almost impossible. Or this number in which two horses are galloping around the arena, a lion runs out and jumps on them. And in the center is dad on a horse. I know how to do this purely technically. But I have seen ten rehearsals go smoothly, and at the eleventh the lion jumps not on the horse, but into the horse, or the lion tries to jump, and the horse freaks out and meets him with its hind legs. Or the lion jumps, and the horse slips, they fall together, and the lion begins to rush, and the horse cannot get up because of the heavy harness. There are a million situations when dad found himself between a lion and a horse. My father had about five such serious tricks. My brother and I understand how to do some of his numbers, but we still can’t decide.

Recorded by Aglaya Smirnova

Photo from the Zapashny family archive

Edgard Zapashny was born on July 11, 1976 in Yalta. He is a representative of the fourth generation of the famous Zapashny circus dynasty. Father is the famous circus artist Walter Mikhailovich Zapashny (1928-2007), a predator tamer. Mother - circus artist Tatyana Vasilievna Zapashnaya (1956).

Edgard Zapashny: “My parents met in Tver, where my mother lived and studied at the university, and my father came there on tour. After another injury, he did not work for several days, but simply wandered around the streets of the city, where he accidentally met his mother. We talked and he invited her to the circus. The girl was 19 years old, the father was 47. Then he was married to Maritsa Zapashna and they worked together with predators.”

Brother - Askold (1977). Half-sister - Maritsa (1963, Walter’s daughter from his first wife Maritsa Mikhailovna), a trainer of panthers and leopards. My father’s brothers Mstislav (1938) and Igor (1940) worked with Walter in the circus group “Zapashny Brothers”.

Edgard Zapashny: “Askold and I are completely different in character. Here's an example: if, say, the next day I have to move a thousand kilometers, I will go to bed no later than ten in the evening in order to be on my feet early. Askold will slowly pack his things until two or three o’clock in the morning... I’m shaking from such leisurely behavior.”
Quote taken from the magazine “7 Days”, No. 41 (02.10.2008)

Biography

After graduating from school, the whole family left for China - in 1991, a difficult year for the country and the circus, the family was offered a lucrative contract for several years, which allowed them to save all their animals from starvation. Especially for the Zapashnys, the Chinese side built a large summer circus in the Safari Park, near the city of Shenzhen.

Education

Personal life

In March 2015, it became known that Edgard Zapashny had been in a relationship for several years with fitness instructor Olga Denisova, whom he met while visiting a gym in Voronezh. During this time, Olga gave birth to Edgard’s daughters Stefania (2011) and Gloria (2013).

Before this, for 13 years he was in an unregistered marriage with Honored Circus Artist Elena Petrikova.

After breaking up with Olga Denisova, he began a relationship with a girl named Yaroslavna, who became his common-law wife. They met in 2013 in the company of friends. The romance proceeded very stormily - at first the lovers spent a lot of time together, and then moved in together. Yaroslavna got a job at the Zapashny Brothers Circus as an administrator. On August 28, 2017, the couple had a son, Daniel.

Awards and achievements

• 1997 - Festival Winner circus arts"Golden Troika" in Yaroslavl;
• 07/30/1999 - Honored Artist of the Russian Federation - for services to art ;
• 1999 - title of “Artist of the Year” from the Union of Circus Workers;
• 2001 - Winner of the Moscow Government Prize;
• 2002 - Laureate of the national award "Circus";
• 2005 - Laureate International competition circus artists in Saratov, Grand Prize"Golden Three". A special prize for high achievements in circus art was awarded with International Prizes from the Chinese Association of Circus Arts - the Golden Lion award.
• 2006 - Together with his brother, he was included in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest leap of a lion with a man on his back.
• 2007 - winner of the boxing show among the stars “King of the Ring”.
• 2007 - Laureate of the International Circus Art Festival-Competition in Izhevsk. - Main award “Golden Bear”.
• 2008 - Honorary title “People’s Artist of Udmurtia.”
• 2011 - Winner of the International Circus Art Festival-Competition in Moscow. Special prize from the Mongolian State Circus and from the Great Circus Mundial (Spain). Also has Community Awards from the Governor Kemerovo region, governor Bryansk region and the governor of the Novosibirsk region.
• 2011 - Entered the Guinness Book of Records for the second time for the record stunt “The highest column of 3 people on a running pair of horses.”
• 2012 - Laureate of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Arts in Izhevsk and for the second time the Golden Bear award for the performance of the equestrian act “Hellas”.
• 03/21/2012 - Honorary title “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation” - for great achievements in the field of circus art.
• On August 31, 2012, the governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, awarded Edgard and Askold Zapashny the highest award of the Kemerovo region - the Order of the Key of Friendship, for high professionalism, dedication and fidelity to your work. And their mother, Tatyana Vasilyevna Zapashnaya, received the “Maternal Valor” medal.
• On November 20, 2012, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation appointed him to the position of director of the Great Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Avenue.
• since 2013 - Producer and presenter of the International Circus Festival in Moscow “IDOL”.
• 2014 - Torchbearers at the Olympic torch relay.
• 2014 - Awarded a commemorative medal and letter of thanks from Dmitry Medvedev “For his great contribution to the preparation and holding of the XXII Olympic Games winter games and XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi.”
• January 20, 2015 - Awarded a letter of gratitude from V. Kolokoltsev, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, “For active work in preparing and implementing a set of measures in 2014 aimed at social support for family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to war trauma."
• 2016 - Awarded a certificate of honor from V. Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs, “For active work in preparing and carrying out a set of events in 2015 aimed at social support for family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to military trauma. »
• 2017 - Princess of Monaco, Stephanie, presented the prize “For services to the development of the Russian Circus”.
• 2017 - Silver Clown Award at the 41st International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The brothers expressed disagreement with the results of the jury's vote.
• 2018 - According to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2018 was declared the Year of the Volunteer. Edgard Zapashny, together with his brother Askold Zapashny, became his ambassadors.
• 10/05/2018 - For assistance and provision of practical assistance in the preparation and implementation of a set of events aimed at social support of family members of internal affairs officers who died in the performance of official duties, and disabled people due to military trauma, he was awarded the badge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia “For Assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs " The award was presented by the First Deputy Head of the Department of Civil Service and Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Lieutenant General of Police Andrey Petrovich Larionov.

Creation

Together with his brother, he created the “Zapashny Brothers Circus”, as well as many circus shows, including (“Colosseum” (2007), “Camelot” (2008), “Sadko” (2009), “Camelot-2: Deputy of the Gods” (2010 ), “Legend” (2011), “K.U.K.L.A.” (2012), “ Horrible power"(2013) and others).

• 2008 - Together with his brother and Anastasia Takki, author of the book “Intrigue”.
• 2008 - Together with his brother, author of the book “How We Train Dogs.”
• 2009 - Together with his brother, author of the book “Camelot. Fragments of Legends."
• 2011 - Author of the children's book “My Tiger Friends.”

Participation in television projects

• "City of Temptations" - Vlad, Masha Svetlova's boyfriend, husband
• 2007 - Channel One TV show “King of the Ring”. He became the winner, having won 6 out of 7 possible victories in intermediate battles. Won the final fight with Evgeny Dyatlov on points (with a minimal advantage)
• Sports and entertainment show “Big Races” - participant together with Askold Zapashny.
• Guest of the humorous show “Comedy Woman”, episode 32
• Clip of the group “Kipelov” (song “Babylon”,)
• Video of singer Vinky (song “Stupid trick”)
• Episode in the comedy television series “Interns” (2010, episode 33).
• Episode in the sitcom “Daddy's Daughters” - Kazimir Topazov, trainer from the circus (2011, episode 365)
• Episode in the TV series “Real Boys” (2011, season 3).
• Video of singer Eva (song “Don’t be silent”, 2011)
• TV show “Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful” 2012 - guest star in the competition “STEM with a Star” of the KVN team of Pyatigorsk “City of Pyatigorsk”.
• TV show “Cube” 2013 - passed 6 out of 7 tests, winnings amounted to 1,500,000 rubles.
• Clip of the group “Disco Crash” “Doll”.
• In 2011, Zapashny starred in Yuli Gusman’s film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you! 1919" in the role of student San Sanych (played by Lev Durov).
• HB - cameo
• Episode in the television series "Family Business".
• Program " Big question"(participant, aired November 16, 2014)
• In one of the episodes of the program “Empire of Illusions: The Safronov Brothers,” Edgard appeared as an illusionist (broadcast on February 28, 2015).
• Since 2014 - author of the idea, host and general producer of the program “Circus Legends with Edgard Zapashny” on the Zvezda TV channel.
• 2016 - author of the idea for the film “Margarita Nazarova”. He also played one of the supporting roles in the film. The Zapashny Brothers Circus participated in staging scenes with tigers in the series

Social and political activities

In 2011, together with his brother Askold, he signed an Appeal from representatives of the public against informational erosion of trust in the judicial system of the Russian Federation, which condemned the pressure on judicial system against the backdrop of the second trial in the case of the leaders of the Yukos Oil Company.

On February 6, 2012, he was officially registered as a proxy of the candidate for President of the Russian Federation and now the current President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

In September 2016, like his brother, he became a confidant of the United Russia party in the elections to the State Duma of the 7th convocation and a confidant of the mayor of Moscow S.S. Sobyanin.

Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

On November 20, 2018, Edgard Valterovich, in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia, was included in the new composition of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art.

Height 189 cm, weight 95 kg.

While performing in China, Edgard and Askold decided to go blonde to differentiate themselves from the Chinese during their daily performances.

For entertainment, he prefers billiards and bowling. .

Links

Notes

1. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated July 30, 1999 No. 940 “On conferring the honorary title “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation”” Archived copy dated March 28, 2014 on the Wayback Machine

Edgard Zapashny is a representative of the famous and ancient dynasty of circus artists Zapashny. Edgard and his brother are fourth generation trainers. Their names are known today far beyond Russia.

Edgard Zapashny was born in the summer of 1976 in Yalta, under the zodiac sign Cancer. His father Walter Zapashny was already one of the most respected trainers in the country. His charges are predatory animals. Walter Mikhailovich - Honored Artist of the RSFSR since 1988.

Circus performers There were also grandparents. Moreover, the father of Lydia’s grandmother was the famous eccentric and clown Karl Thompson, a German by nationality, who performed in Russia under the stage name Milton.

So the great-grandchildren of the clown Milton - Edgard, Askold and Maritsa Zapashny - did not see any other way for themselves. They, as they say, absorbed the festive atmosphere of the circus with their mother’s milk. The children are already in early years knew that they would continue famous dynasty Zapashnykh.

Throughout his childhood, Edgard Zapashny carefully watched his father’s work. He left the arena at the age of 70. But until the end of his life he was never able to leave his favorite business and held the post of artistic director of the Zapashny Brothers troupe he created.

IN early childhood Edgard Zapashny was a year different from his own younger brother. He was a calm and reasonable boy. But Edgard has a difficult character, he constantly got it from his parents for his eccentric antics and ebullient energy, which was in full swing and did not always find the right way out.

And if the mother sometimes turned a blind eye to her son’s tricks, then the strict father got it. He controlled not only the behavior, but also the studies of his sons, checking school grades right up to the graduation class. Even at the institute, he was keenly interested in the progress of Askold and Edgard.

Edgard Zapashny received higher education. He has a diploma from the Moscow Institute of Entrepreneurship and Law. He speaks English and Chinese.

Career

The circus biography of Edgard Zapashny began in 1988, when he was 12 years old. This happened in Riga, where my father went on tour.

After graduating from school, the family went to China. These were difficult years, which are usually called the “dashing 90s”. The whole country was experiencing a crisis. Artists and circus performers were no exception. In 1991, the Chinese offered Walter Zapashny a lucrative contract, which literally saved the lives of circus animals. After all, caring for them required a lot of money.

So Edgard Zapashny and his family went to a foreign land amazing country, who greeted the whole family and their charges quite warmly. A spacious summer circus was built especially for the Zapashnys in the famous Safari Park near the city of Shenzhen. To differentiate themselves from the Chinese, the brothers changed their hair color and became blonde.

After the end of the contract, the family in full force returned to her homeland. On tour they traveled all over the former Soviet Union. We visited Japan, Mongolia, Hungary.

And in 1998, a turning point occurred in the life of Edgard Zapashny and his brother: at the anniversary celebration, the father handed over to his sons the reins of the most striking and complex attraction called “Among the Predators.”

The young trainers were able to accept this gift with dignity and successfully developed the family business. They created the Zapashny Brothers Circus and increased their show programs. New circus attractions have appeared: “Colosseum”, “Camelot”, “Sadko”, “Camelot-2: Viceroy of the Gods”, “Legend”, “K.U.K.L.A.”, “Terrible Force” and others.

Edgard has a circus act that is unique in its complexity and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. This is a trick during which Zapashny stands with his loose legs on the croup of two horses moving in the arena, and two girls balance on his back. This issue was prepared for a year and a half.

In November 2012, Edgard Zapashny was appointed director of the famous Big Moscow State Circus, on Vernadsky Avenue, by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

There were also dark streaks in the trainer's work. One day his brother came out of the tigress's cage with a bloody face, having received from the animal strongest blow paw. And more than once he had to encounter tragedies that happened to his closest colleagues, because work in the circus is one of the most dangerous. An example of this was not only my brother, but also my mother and father, who were repeatedly seriously injured in the arena. Unfortunately, severe injuries Edgard himself was not spared either.

In 2006, during a stunt on a horse, Zapashny landed unsuccessfully on the arena and tore ligaments in his leg. As the circus performer himself says, at that moment he did not even feel pain, he only heard a sound as if a string had broken. Long-term treatment in Germany was required, the man had to undergo several operations to restore his health.

And this is far from the artist’s only injury. In 2017 in German clinic he underwent spinal surgery - his intervertebral disc in the cervical spine was replaced with an artificial one. This operation was planned, but due to his busy schedule he kept putting it off.

And in 2010, he and his brother were in a terrible accident, and although the car could not be restored, the guys remained safe and sound.

Edgard Zapashny in the show “King of the Ring”

Edgard Zapashny often appears on screen in TV shows and movies. In the spring and summer of 2007, he became a participant in the “King of the Ring” show, which was broadcast on Channel One. Here he managed to win 6 out of 7 possible victories in intermediate battles, winning in the final battle.

Viewers also watched the popular trainer in the programs “Big Race”, “Cube”, “Alone with Everyone”, “Comedy Club”, “The Invisible Man” and “Empire of Illusions: The Safronov Brothers”. Edgard Zapashny hosts his own program on the Zvezda TV channel, called “Legends of the Circus.”

Edgard Zapashny in the program “Alone with Everyone”

In 2015, he, his brother and his ward, the tiger Martin, came to the studio. And in 2015, television came to visit them - they starred in the program “While Everyone is Home.”

The artist also starred in several films, for example, in the TV series, where he played himself, in and.

Edgard Zapashny in the program “While everyone is at home”

In February 2012, Edgard Zapashny registered as a proxy of the candidate for President of the Russian Federation, and the current president. In March 2014, he signed an appeal from Russian cultural figures in support of the president’s policies in Crimea and Ukraine.

In the fall of 2016, during the elections to the State Duma, he became a confidant of the party " United Russia».

Personal life

According to the artist, he managed to “accustom” journalists to the fact that he is not one of the media persons who provide rich food for yellow publications. Therefore, the personal life of Edgard Zapashny for a long time was in the shadows, no one knew anything about her except ten of her closest friends. But no one doubted that the handsome handsome man (he is 189 cm tall and weighs 95 kg) is not deprived of female attention.

In 2008, the artist gave frank interview magazine “7 days”, where he spoke about his first woman. He was 16 when he moved from theory to practice. But his chosen one was 36. She worked in the Novosibirsk circus, where Edgard came for a month. He admits that there was a mind-blowing passion between them. But love did not work out, the difference of 20 years and the artist’s youth had an impact.

For 13 years the trainer lived in civil marriage with his circus artist Elena Petrikova. But the couple’s life together did not end in legal marriage. According to Edgard, Lena realized that her other half’s “youth” would never end, which means strong family it won't work with him.

It seemed to Zapashny that he met his love in Voronezh. He liked Olga, a red-haired beauty with a beautiful figure, immediately when he saw her. This happened in one of the Voronezh fitness centers. Olga Denisova – fitness instructor. A romance broke out. It continued when the girl moved to the capital. The move to Moscow was connected with her career.

Olga gave birth to Edgard’s daughter Stefania in 2011. But the couple never turned into official family. This did not happen 2 years later, when the second daughter Gloria was born.

Nevertheless, Edgard Zapashny is a wonderful dad. He takes in the life and education of girls Active participation, gave them his last name and assumed financial expenses. After every tour, he rushes to his beloved daughters and tries to give them maximum parental warmth.

Further, the personal life of Edgard Zapashny seems to be developing in its own way. Soon he admitted that he had a girlfriend. He hid her for a long time, but when the news leaked onto the Internet that the trainer was preparing to become a father for the third time, he revealed the name of his chosen one. She became Yaroslavna Demeshko. They met in 2013 in the company of mutual friends. They talked a lot, and soon decided to move in together. To be closer to Edgard, Yaroslavna even got a job at the Zapashny Brothers Circus as an administrator.

In August 2017, the couple had a son, who was named Daniel. True, a boy was born ahead of schedule for several weeks, and he had to be placed in the intensive care unit in a special box. But, fortunately, everything worked out. Today at " Instagram"The artist regularly appears with photos of his children. But the microblog on Twitter has not been updated with new entries since 2015.

Fans of the trainer are all waiting for news about the wedding, but for now Yaroslavna remains in the status common-law wife Edgard.

Edgard Zapashny now

On April 1, 2017, information appeared on the website of the Great Moscow Circus that Edgard fired his brother from the circus. Allegedly, Askold himself wished to leave the post of artistic director of the BSMC. This position will be filled by Honored Artist of Georgia Gia Eradze. This news was received with indignation among the masses. But by the evening of the same day, Edgard announced that it was an April Fool's joke.

But in June 2018, a serious scandal broke out around Zapashny. A video has appeared on the Internet of his daughter Gloria training, who is already learning the circus profession with all her might. In the video, the girl cried in pain after stretching. The man was immediately accused of ill-treatment with the children, to which he did not remain silent. He published a long response to his detractors, but main quote in this speech there was a phrase:

"No pain - no result...".

Trainer Askold Zapashny: how did he become famous, and who is his wife?

The famous trainer Askold Zapashny, together with his brother Edgard, is known all over the world. Many fans happily buy up tickets to performances by representatives of the ancient circus dynasty. How Askold achieved success and what is happening in his personal life - we will talk about this in the following material, and we will also find out who his wife is and whether Zapashny has children.

Celebrity biography

Askold was born on September 29, 1977 in Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR. He and his older brother Edgard are the heirs of the famous dynasty, dating back to the times Russian Empire. Their ancestor, the clown Carl Thompson, was known for his eccentric performances in the 19th century. Parents Walter and Tatyana were famous wild animal trainers throughout the USSR.

Naturally, such a legacy directly influenced Askold. Together with his brother, he was immersed in this circus work from childhood. The guys traveled with their parents when they toured the vast country.

Of course, Askold became interested in this dangerous and interesting activities. For the first time he found himself in a cage with tigers at the age of 10, and made his debut on stage a year later, in the winter of 1988, taking part in one of the numbers.

In 1991, Zapashny and his brother graduated from school and went to China with their family; At that time, the parents entered into a contract with the Chinese: they helped save the animals in a difficult time for Russia, and also provided them with work.

The USSR had just collapsed, and there was no problem with leaving. Askold continued to improve his skills and continued to perform. To emphasize his stage image, the young man and his brother became blond. The work brought Zapashny fame throughout China: spectacular performances, unusual appearance, all the paraphernalia attracted thousands of spectators over and over again.

Zapashny learned Chinese, achieved heights in training, juggling, acrobatics, and creating risky performances.

After completing the contract with the Chinese, the family returned to Russia. Zapashny toured a lot both in Russia and abroad, including the most distant countries.

Askold Zapashny with his subordinate

In 1998, Father Walter made Askold and his brother the leaders of his attraction “Among the Predators”: this was influenced mature age Walter and the brothers' skill. Zapashny learned to work with predatory animals, transforming the skill into a real art. Askold even got into the Guinness Book of Records by making a jump while riding a lion. In 1999 he was recognized as an Honored Artist of Russia.

Soon the brothers created their own “Zapashny Brothers Circus”, created their own repertoire and performance style. Askold became a real star, whose performances were attended by many spectators. His dangerous performances prompted people to admire his agility, confidence, and skill.

In 2012, the man became People's Artist Russian Federation for its contribution to the development of circus art. In 2013, Zapashny appeared on television in the television project “ glacial period" Later he participated in several more famous programs. In 2014, Askold signed an appeal supporting the reunification of Russia with Crimea.

Who is Askold Zapashny's wife?

Askold Zapashny with his wife

Askold's image and beauty have always made him attractive in the eyes of female representatives. But of all the women, he chose Ellen Raichlin, an Israeli whom he met in the capital of Belarus, where future wife received higher education.

Zapashny was fascinated by the girl’s beauty and intelligence. Besides natural charm Helen attracted everyone with her speeches and deep thoughts. And, most importantly, at first she did not know who Zapashny was, having fallen in love with him not for his status and successful work.

Their romance lasted 3 years, the guys were able to overcome many obstacles and were able to unite their hearts in marriage. The couple had daughters - Eva and Elsa, who already in 2016 appeared at one of the performances of the Zapashny Brothers Circus.

Askold is full of strength and energy to continue performing, create something new, delight and delight his fans around the world. He managed to become a worthy successor to his family’s work, achieve success and improve his personal life. We can only wish him continued happiness and good relations with his beloved wife.