An examination showed that Tambov bodybuilder Irina Fomenkova died due to excessive physical exertion. An examination showed that Tambov bodybuilder Irina Fomenkova died due to excessive physical exertion - She could have reached heights in this sport

Irina Fomenkova died on April 30, her death was reported by the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region. Irina joined the Federation in January 2015, took part in regional competitions and the Russian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship, and was a prize-winner of the Moscow Region Cup in Bodybuilding and Fitness.

The day before her death, Irina’s temperature rose to 40, but the next day her temperature did not drop. An ambulance was called for her, and later the intensive care unit arrived. They could not save the girl. They did not initiate a criminal case in Moscow; they decided that there was no crime in this story.

“Only recently, forensic experts told me the cause of death - acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Due to physical overload, dystrophic foci of the myocardium arose in the heart. No harmful substances were found in her blood."

Mother of the deceased

As the mother of the deceased told Moskovsky Komsomolets, before the last competition her daughter lost a lot of weight and complained that “her chest and butt had fallen off.” Before the performance in Tambov, my daughter’s breathing was short at night and she was covered in perspiration, but the coach did not attach any importance to this. The woman also said that Irina was limited in her intake of carbohydrates and sugar-containing foods; she trained day and night. Already at the first competitions, she fainted from hunger before going on stage. Her nose was bleeding and she had tampons in her nose. The woman also said that her daughter allegedly secretly used powerful fat-burning drugs.

The girl came from Tambov to Moscow in 2013, settled in a dormitory at the institute, and got a job at a large collection agency. It was in Moscow that she first went to the gym - according to her mother, Irina was an unsportsmanlike child and teenager. Irina met coach German Yukhanov, head of the Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, on the Internet, and she decided to participate in competitions under his leadership. Yukhanov, according to his mother, took it upon himself to control her. The man told the publication that he did not know what medications the girl took and her training regimen, since he did not guide her personally; they communicated mainly by correspondence.

“I could only see that she had lost a lot of weight from her photographs on social networks. I didn't know what it was connected with. I thought my body was starting to react to the diet. But I was never her coach, I did not lead this girl. She didn't listen to my advice."

German Yukhanov

Head of the Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of the Tambov Region

In his opinion, she was “too fanatical about the sport.” Among other things, he noted that he warned Irina that this year she would not take prizes, she needed to train for at least another year. Nevertheless, the girl believed that she would have time to prepare. According to Yukhanov, he recommended Irina a classic diet - exclude fried and floury foods, reduce the amount of carbohydrates, eat only boiled vegetables, chicken, fish, and also warned about the correct training regimen and load distribution.

The Tambov native prepared very seriously for the tournament in Mordovia. In two months she lost 23 kilograms...

A participant in the Mordovia Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship has died in Moscow. On April 30, 20-year-old Irina Fomenkova suddenly suffered cardiac arrest. According to one version, the reason could be the weight-loss drugs that she took in large quantities secretly from everyone. In preparation for the competition, the girl lost 23 kilograms in two months. But forensic experts will say more precisely about this... ELENA FETISOVA has the details.

For Irina Fomenkova, her performance at the Mordovia Championship was her third in sports career. In the past, the girl was a professional powerlifter. But in January I decided to try my hand at bodybuilding and joined the Tambov Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. She got her body into competitive shape in record time. short terms. In two months I lost 23 kilograms. Irina competed in the body fitness category. At the Mordovia Championship, she competed against athletes from Samara, Penza, Kuznetsk and Saransk. A tall, spectacular blonde in a blue shiny swimsuit stood confidently on stage, showing with all her appearance how much she needed this victory. Being a beginner, she was in no way inferior to experienced athletes. In the hall, the participant was supported by coach German Yukhanov, who is the president of the Tambov Federation. The team from this region performed with excellent results. Absolute champion in women's fitness for Yulia Glazycheva, silver among juniors in bodybuilding and second place in the fitness bikini category for Maria Burmina. Medals were also expected from Irina, but the winner in this category was Samara resident Elena Sergeeva. Second place went to Valentina Tarasova from Kuznetsk. Fomenkova lost bronze to the host of the competition, Natalya Abramova. After the results were announced, she could hardly hold back her tears. But the coach managed to cheer up the pupil. German Yukhanov always noted her incredible willpower.

“The best praise is the praise of a coach,” Irina wrote on her page in social network. - There is still a lot of work ahead. 23 kilograms were lost during these 70 days. Tell me after this that there is at least something impossible? Thank you very much!" In 2010, the girl moved from her hometown to Moscow, where she worked as a fitness instructor. But she preferred to prepare for competitions in Tambov. Judging by the posts on the social network, preparation for the tournaments was not easy. She had to go on a strict diet, and before the performance she tormented herself with thirst. “We didn’t drink for 5 hours and 24 minutes. We’re holding on for now,” Irina shared her impressions. Her efforts were still crowned with success. She took second place at the Moscow Regional Junior Cup. “My first competitive season has ended. I collected all the unluckiest places 2, 4 and 11,” Fomenkova wrote on her page. - Great experience. I saw something to work on. I squeezed out what I could in three months. There are already tasks for new season and a new form. I ate and calmed down. Many thanks to everyone who was there and put up with me during the drying process. Special thanks to my colleagues from Fresh Fitness, who pumped me up after every cardio session. Forgive the rudeness, I started again normal person with a legal 150 grams of carbohydrates per day.” Despite the fact that the season was over, the girl, according to eyewitnesses, continued to exhaust herself. “Whoever was next to her in preparation for the competition saw everything,” they write on the Tambov forum. “She moved around Moscow exclusively by taxi, moved into the hall, fell from powerlessness, suffered from shortness of breath and drowsiness. It was scary to look at her; she had killed herself. She didn’t listen to anyone and the words “they don’t die from this, I can handle it” were a constant companion to the dialogues on the topic of the drugs she was taking. Everything was according to her wishes, but not without prompting... There are no culprits. She’s not there... It’s a pity she didn’t have that much loved one away from home, which would have the ability to stop her.”

A heated discussion broke out on the Internet about Irina’s death. Many wondered why ruin their health in a sport that gives practically nothing financially. “If she became a champion, her services as a fitness instructor would become much more expensive,” they write on the social network. - Yes, and the coach would have made her famous, since he made the girl a champion in just three months. But she paid for it with her life.”

Publishes the story of a 20-year-old bodybuilder from Tambov, Irina Fomenkova.

The publication reports that bodybuilder Irina Fomenkova died on April 30. The death of a 20-year-old athlete was reported by the Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of the Tambov Region. The cause of death is the heart.

But the news of Irina’s death went almost unnoticed in the media. Only stingy condolences from colleagues in the shop. The press service of the federation reported: “In January, Irina joined the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region. She took part in a number of regional competitions and the Russian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. She was a prize-winner of the Moscow Region Cup in bodybuilding and fitness. Irina was an ardent enthusiast of sports in general and fitness in particular. She lived and breathed it until the last heartbeat.”

But tragic story Irina’s life turned out to be not as simple as the athletes are trying to make it out to be, the publication writes.

The mother of the deceased, Svetlana: “Sports and my daughter are incompatible things”

Irina Fomenkova was born in Tambov. She was the only and late child in the family.

Now the mother of the deceased, Svetlana, is looking for those responsible for the death of the child. It's unlikely she'll be able to find anyone. What she knew about her daughter was the tip of the iceberg, writes Moskovsky Komsomolets.

“More than two months have passed since her death, but I still can’t come to my senses,” Svetlana began the conversation. - Do you know what I’m distracted by? I get behind the wheel and make circles around the city. Takes your mind off things a bit.

Svetlana even in nightmare She couldn’t imagine that her daughter would be driven to her grave by professional sports.

— She was an absolutely unsportsmanlike girl when I grew up. There was never a place for sports in her life. Books, languages, studies - yes, but not sports. Iru with early childhood called a child prodigy. From the age of 5 she began to learn English. At 6 I went to school. In the 9th grade she won the American competition in Voronezh. After which she was invited to an internship in America, where she studied for a year. In addition to English, I learned several more languages ​​on my own. I finished the 11th grade as an external student. I successfully passed the Unified State Exam and entered MEPhI. And this despite the fact that we never hired her a single tutor. Psychologists shrugged: “Your girl is a child prodigy. She has a great future ahead of her."

In 2013, 16-year-old Irina left for Moscow. I settled in a dormitory at the institute. Soon she got a prestigious job at a large collection agency. Despite young age, Fomenkova was added to the staff.

— She worked in the strategic analysis and planning department. Within two years, she rose to the position of senior business analyst. Her salary was 115 thousand rubles. I don’t know what prompted her to start playing sports. It was in Moscow that she first went to the gym. I read about this later in her diary,” Svetlana continues. “I thought that she just decided to lose weight because she was inclined to be overweight, like her father.” Once, in her hearts, she even said to me: “When you decided to conceive me, you didn’t see - from whom? Why do I have to suffer all the time now?” The exercises helped her lose weight. She became a beauty. She dyed her hair blonde, got her nails done, changed her hairstyle, and looked well-groomed.

At the beginning of 2015, Irina began to visit her mother more and more often.

— At this time, a chain of gyms “Stimul” was opened in Tambov, where German Yukhanov worked. He also heads the Tambov Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. Ira met him on the Internet and decided to participate in competitions under his leadership. She was given a certificate in January. And Herman undertook to control her. Before the competition, she lost a lot of weight and complained to me that her breasts and butt had sagged. Herman, in turn, strictly controlled her regime. He saw in her strong man.

Mentor Yukhanov, in turn, applauded her on his page. I posted photos of Irina “before” and “after”. After the girl’s death, Herman deleted all the cards.

— Irina’s first competition took place on April 11 at the Tambov Drama Theater. A week later, Herman took her to Saransk. A week later there was Krasnodar, the Russian Cup,” says the interlocutor. — Before the performance in Tambov, I noticed that my daughter’s breathing was short at night and she was covered in perspiration. Warned Herman. He waved his hand: “Have you forgotten how fat she used to be?”

Later I found out that Ira was limited in her intake of carbohydrates and sugar-containing foods, and she trained day and night. Already at the first competitions, she fainted from hunger before going on stage. Her nose was bleeding and she was protruding with tampons in her nose.

I found a coach who was involved in organizing events. He pumped it out personally. I asked him later why I didn’t tell Herman about my daughter’s health condition. He sighed: “Yukhanov was involved in refereeing, he had no time for the participants.” And then Irina went to Saransk. After which Herman notified me: “On the way back, Ira was lying in the car and snoring heavily, which is not typical for a young girl.” But nevertheless, she was not suspended from the competition.

Returning from the Russian Cup, Irina slept for half a day, her body was shaking, she was drenched in cold sweat. And in this state she went to Moscow. After the death of his daughter, Yukhanov talked to me, asked me not to stir up a scandal, complained that he had lost many clients due to the tragedy, that he could not calmly walk down the street - people looked and judged. He tells everyone that Irina secretly took powerful fat-burning drugs that killed her.

Svetlana learned about her daughter’s death from Irina’s friends who were with her that night.

— The day before her death, Ira’s temperature rose to 40. She still went to work. The next day the temperature did not drop. An ambulance was called for her. At one o'clock in the morning the doctor arrived and gave an injection. And two hours later she felt bad again. The intensive care unit has arrived. They couldn’t pump it out,” the woman recalls. “Only recently did forensic experts tell me the cause of death: acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Due to severe physical overload, dystrophic foci of the myocardium arose in the heart. No harmful substances were found in her blood. Who did I turn to for help? I contacted the All-Russian Fitness Federation. They told me harshly: “Yukhanov is a professional. And you yourself had to look after your daughter. You are a mother. So they are to blame." They did not initiate a criminal case in Moscow. The investigator decided that there was no crime in this story.

Fomenkova was buried in Tambov. According to the mother of the deceased, about 500 people came to say goodbye to Irina. Among them was German Yukhanov...

Svetlana blames her fellow countryman for everything.

“After Irina’s death they told me: “Wunderkinds don’t live long.” So it turns out it's true? - asks Svetlana.

“The brain refused to work normally”

German Yukhanov - no last man in Tambov. He has such titles under his belt as European bodybuilding champion, European vice-champion in bodybuilding in the heavyweight category, two-time Russian champion among juniors and men, and many other awards. Recently, President of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region.

Yukhanov agreed to comment on the situation with deceased Irina Fomenkova:

— Irina contacted me in January 2015 via social networks. She said that she wanted to join the federation and compete. I didn't mind. She trained in Moscow. I just told her where in the muscles she needed to decrease and where to add. Recommended proper nutrition. I did 3-4 training sessions with her. Then we met only at competitions.

“Did you realize that something strange was happening to the girl?”

- I didn’t see anything bad. Understand that we mostly communicated by correspondence. She shared her results. I didn’t see her faint at competitions. She came across as a fanatical girl, but not crazy. She said she quit money job for the sake of your favorite sport. Before going to the competition, I honestly told her: “You won’t take anything this season, you should train for another year.” But she believed that she would have time to prepare. Just what did it cost her?!

— Irina used illegal drugs to gain weight faster the required form?

“I don’t know what she used.” After all, Ira lived in Moscow. I recommended a classic diet for her - exclude fried and floury foods, reduce the amount of carbohydrates. There are only boiled vegetables, chicken, fish.

— To participate in competitions, she lost 23 kg in 70 days? This is fine?

“I could only see that she had lost a lot of weight from her photographs on social networks. I didn't know what it was connected with. I thought my body was starting to react to the diet. But I was never her coach, I did not lead this girl. She didn't listen to my advice. For example, I said that she needs cardio exercise for a maximum of two hours a day. An hour in the morning, an hour in the evening. She ran on the track for three hours. It was impossible to control this. In my opinion, the tragedy here was inevitable - she was too fanatical about sports and did not listen to my recommendations.

Kiril Sevostyanov is Fomenkova’s classmate at MEPhI. He still has his own memories of the deceased.

— Irina led an extremely harsh lifestyle because of sports - she slept, ate by the hour. At some point, her thinking changed. Priorities have changed. She did not catch the moment when her body began to fail. The bodybuilding regime divided her life into two stages: first, she gained weight - she trained and ate a lot, and then the drying stage began - she removed excess fat from the body. Of course, she felt bad because her body didn’t have enough sugars and carbohydrates. The brain refused to work normally. She looked very tired. She didn't look happy, that's for sure.

“I ate 80 grams of porridge a week”

The hackneyed expression - hurry to live - perfectly defines Irina’s lifestyle.

Irina’s first coach agreed to tell the publication why Fomenkova decided to go in for sports and how she managed to lose excess weight.

— We met in 2013. Irina came to our gym with one goal - to pump up her muscles. By that time she was in good shape. Ira said that she managed to lose weight on her own from 90 kg to 62 kg, says Timur Bekarov, a teacher at the capital’s sports and pedagogical college. — I have been doing powerlifting for a long time, I am a master of sports. Ira began to train hard and showed good results. But when I moved to work at a more expensive club, she was no longer able to pay for training. Last year we broke up. She found another trainer. But for me, a student leaving for another place is a boycott. This is where our relationship ended. But I didn’t lose sight of her. Knew what was happening to her.

— Did Irina take illegal drugs?

— Professional sports, especially powerlifting and bodybuilding, without pharmaceuticals, without nourishment for the body, are ineffective. Ira became a real fan of this sport. And I understood that if you don’t watch her, she might do something stupid.

She is one of those people who always achieves little, little, little results and needs more and faster. She was told not to rush. She ignored it. Ira really was a kind, sympathetic person, but her character was iron and heavy. If she decided to do something, she could not be broken. If some coach had taken her seriously and devoted a lot of time to her, then perhaps the tragedy would not have happened. But everyone has their own life. I couldn’t give her all my time - I have a family, a child, and work.

— Did she go to the doctors?

“When I trained her, I advised her to undergo a medical examination. At that moment, Ira switched to another coach. I later heard from guys I knew that she went on a strict diet, which was contraindicated for her. She consumed 40 grams of carbohydrates per week.

For example, 100 grams of oatmeal contains 54 grams of carbohydrates. She had to eat 80 grams of porridge per week. And with a low carbohydrate diet, strength and energy leave a person. It is not surprising that during training she lost consciousness, because there was a colossal load on her heart. When the trainer put Irina on a low-carb diet, he had to think about what type of figure she belonged to. Irina is prone to being overweight. Intake of carbohydrates and fats is mandatory for her. She also had to use growth hormone and ephedrine under control. Most likely, this diet was recommended to her. She wouldn't have thought of it on her own. She always needed a mentor, a man whom she would obey.

- Why such torment? For what? Does this sport make money?

— If you find a sponsor, you can earn money. But finding a sponsor, especially in the Tambov region, is difficult. To do this, you need to constantly perform, model your body, and show yourself in competitions. You must be noticed. Irina did not have any sponsors. She spent all her money on training and vitamins. And when they hinted to her that she was not ready to perform this season, then, I think, she decided to finish off her body at all costs and prove herself. It was not in vain that she worked hard all year.

— Irina’s mother blames the president of the Tambov federation for what happened, who sent her to the competition?

— In Moscow she was led by another coach. Now no one will take the blame for her death. In my opinion, it was not the chemistry that ruined Irina, but the training programs and diet. All bodybuilders use chemicals so as not to die or harm their health. But in this case, it was written in such a way that it caused colossal harm. They told her: “Ira, stop.” But she insisted: “They told me I could do it.”

— Could she reach heights in this sport?

“With her character and persistence in powerlifting, she could have succeeded.” She squatted 150 kg with me. She would hardly have succeeded in bodybuilding. Well, she wouldn’t fit into the bikini category at all. Irina didn’t look great in the photographs; she also didn’t have the figure for this sport. She is massive and could gain a lot of mass. Such girls are only interested in powerlifting.

— Is it true that she started playing sports because of her unhappy love for a certain coach?

“She showed feelings for me.” But you can’t call it unhappy love. Still young. It wouldn't have worked out for her and me.

“Moskovsky Komsomolets” publishes the girl’s latest posts on her wall on the social network VKontakte:

April 1 - “In the last few carb-free days, my body can only move by lying in the car.”

April 10, 2015. In the photo, Irina sleeps in her clothes on the sofa. Here is her comment: “5 hours 24 minutes without water. Smiley. Let's hold on."

April 15 - “According to our happy faces we can make guesses about how many hours we have been without water.”

April 19 — “The best praise is the praise of a coach. There is still a lot of work ahead. 23 kg were lost in 70 days, so tell me after that that at least something is impossible...” And then the answer from the President of the Tambov Bodybuilding Federation, German Yukhnatov: “This man has done a tremendous amount of work on himself and should become a motivator for everyone.”

April 28 — “My first competitive season has ended. I collected all the unluckiest places - 2, 4, 11. I saw what to work on. I squeezed out what I could in 3 months. There are tasks for the new season and a new form. I ate, calmed down, and turned into a normal person. Thanks to everyone who was there and put up with me during the drying process. Special thanks to my colleagues from Fres Fitness, who pumped me up after every cardio session. Sorry for being rude. I was back to being a normal person with a legal 150 grams of carbs a day.”

“On the last carb-free days, my body can only move while lying in the car.”

On April 30, bodybuilder Irina Fomenkova died. The death of a 20-year-old athlete was reported by the Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of the Tambov Region. The cause of death is the heart.

Her life had everything - unhappy love, the desire to live beautifully, and the pain that the girl went through in order to become happy.

The news of Irina's death went almost unnoticed in the media. Only stingy condolences from colleagues in the shop. The press service of the federation reported: “In January, Irina joined the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region. She took part in a number of regional competitions and the Russian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. She was a prize-winner of the Moscow Region Cup in bodybuilding and fitness. Irina was an ardent enthusiast of sports in general and fitness in particular. She lived and breathed it until the last heartbeat.”
But the tragic story of Irina’s life turned out to be not as simple as the athletes made it out to be.

Why do people register on social networks? To tell the whole world about yourself. And in the details. What did you have for lunch and dinner, where did you go, what outfit did you buy, how much, where, with whom you are “in a relationship” today, and with whom you broke up and why. Personal life - in full view. Irina Fomenkova was no exception.

Here are the latest posts on her wall.

April 1 - “In the last few carb-free days, my body can only move while lying in the car.”

April 10, 2015. In the photo, Irina sleeps in her clothes on the sofa. Here is her comment: “5 hours 24 minutes without water. Smiley. Let's hold on."

April 15 - “You can guess from our happy faces how many hours we have been without water.”

April 19 — “The best praise is the praise of a coach. There is still a lot of work ahead. 23 kg were lost in 70 days, so tell me after that that at least something is impossible...” And then the answer from the President of the Tambov Bodybuilding Federation, German Yukhnatov: “This man has done a tremendous amount of work on himself and should become a motivator for everyone.”

April 28 — “My first competitive season has ended. I collected all the unluckiest places - 2, 4, 11. I saw what to work on. I squeezed out what I could in 3 months. There are tasks for the new season and a new form. I ate, calmed down, and turned into a normal person. Thanks to everyone who was there and put up with me during the drying process. Special thanks to my colleagues from Fres Fitness, who pumped me up after every cardio session. Sorry for being rude. I was back to being a normal person with a legal 150 grams of carbs a day.”

Funny pictures on the page of the deceased they no longer seem so funny. Signatures for them - even more so.

“The Russians say: “Die, but do it.” “I buried my back and shoulders today.” “That feeling when you killed yourself in training.”

Death during training seemed like a game to Irina.

Drying, refusing to eat is fun.

But this girl’s life could have turned out differently.

The mother of the deceased, Svetlana: “Sports and my daughter are incompatible things”

Irina Fomenkova was born in Tambov. She was the only and late child in the family.

Now the mother of the deceased, Svetlana, is looking for those responsible for the death of the child.

It's unlikely she'll be able to find anyone. What she knew about her daughter was the tip of the iceberg.

“More than two months have passed since her death, but I still can’t come to my senses,” Svetlana began the conversation. - Do you know what I’m distracted by? I get behind the wheel and make circles around the city. Takes your mind off things a bit.

Svetlana, even in her worst nightmare, could not imagine that her daughter would be driven to the grave by professional sports.

— She was an absolutely unsportsmanlike girl when I grew up. There was never a place for sports in her life. Books, languages, studies - yes, but not sports. From early childhood, Ira was called a child prodigy. From the age of 5 she began to learn English. At 6 I went to school. In the 9th grade she won the American competition in Voronezh. After which she was invited to an internship in America, where she studied for a year. In addition to English, I learned several other languages ​​on my own. I finished the 11th grade as an external student. I successfully passed the Unified State Exam and entered MEPhI. And this despite the fact that we never hired her a single tutor. Psychologists shrugged: “Your girl is a child prodigy. She has a great future ahead of her."

In 2013, 16-year-old Irina left for Moscow. I settled in a dormitory at the institute. Soon she got a prestigious job at a large collection agency. Despite her young age, Fomenkova was included in the staff.

— She worked in the strategic analysis and planning department. Within two years, she rose to the position of senior business analyst. Her salary was 115 thousand rubles. I don’t know what prompted her to start playing sports. It was in Moscow that she first went to the gym. I read about this later in her diary,” Svetlana continues. “I thought that she just decided to lose weight because she was inclined to be overweight, like her father.” Once, in her hearts, she even said to me: “When you decided to conceive me, you didn’t see - from whom? Why do I have to suffer all the time now?” The exercises helped her lose weight. She became a beauty. She dyed her hair blonde, extended her nails, changed her hairstyles, and looked well-groomed.

At the beginning of 2015, Irina began to visit her mother more and more often.

— At this time, a chain of gyms “Stimul” was opened in Tambov, where German Yukhanov worked. He also heads the Tambov Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. Ira met him on the Internet and decided to participate in competitions under his leadership. She was given a certificate in January. And Herman undertook to control her. Before the competition, she lost a lot of weight and complained to me that her breasts and butt had sagged. Herman, in turn, tightly controlled her regime. He saw a strong person in her.

Mentor Yukhanov, in turn, applauded her on his page. I posted photos of Irina “before” and “after”. After the girl’s death, Herman deleted all the cards.

— Irina’s first competition took place on April 11 at the Tambov Drama Theater. A week later, Herman took her to Saransk. Another week later there was Krasnodar, the Russian Cup,” says the interlocutor. — Before the performance in Tambov, I noticed that my daughter’s breathing was short at night and she was covered in perspiration. Warned Herman. He waved his hand: “Have you forgotten how fat she used to be?”

Later I found out that Ira was limited in her intake of carbohydrates and sugar-containing foods, and she trained day and night. Already at the first competitions, she fainted from hunger before going on stage. Her nose was bleeding and she was protruding with tampons in her nose.

I found a coach who was involved in organizing events. He pumped her out personally. I asked him later why I didn’t tell Herman about my daughter’s health condition. He sighed: “Yukhanov was involved in refereeing, he had no time for the participants.” And then Irina went to Saransk. After which Herman notified me: “On the way back, Ira was lying in the car and snoring heavily, which is not typical for a young girl.” But nevertheless, she was not suspended from the competition.

Returning from the Russian Cup, Irina slept for half a day, her body was shaking, she was drenched in cold sweat. And in this state she went to Moscow. After the death of his daughter, Yukhanov talked to me, asked me not to stir up a scandal, complained that he had lost many clients due to the tragedy, that he could not calmly walk down the street - people looked and judged. He tells everyone that Irina secretly took powerful fat-burning drugs that killed her.

Svetlana learned about her daughter’s death from Irina’s friends who were with her that night.

— The day before her death, Ira’s temperature rose to 40. She still went to work. The next day the temperature did not drop. An ambulance was called for her. At one o'clock in the morning the doctor arrived and gave an injection. And two hours later she felt bad again. The intensive care unit has arrived. They couldn’t pump her out,” the woman recalls. “Only recently did forensic experts tell me the cause of death: acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Due to severe physical overload, dystrophic foci of the myocardium arose in the heart. No harmful substances were found in her blood. Who did I turn to for help? I contacted the All-Russian Fitness Federation. They told me harshly: “Yukhanov is a professional. And you yourself had to look after your daughter. You are a mother. So they are to blame." They did not initiate a criminal case in Moscow. The investigator decided that there was no crime in this story.

Fomenkova was buried in Tambov. According to the mother of the deceased, about 500 people came to say goodbye to Irina. Among them was German Yukhanov...

Svetlana blames her fellow countryman for everything. Blind maternal love does not allow Svetlana to see the obvious. Her daughter had painted herself into a corner. And she couldn’t get out of there. And her mother persistently continues to look for those responsible for the tragedy.

“After Irina’s death they told me: “Wunderkinds don’t live long.” So it turns out it's true? - asks Svetlana.

“The brain refused to work normally”

German Yukhanov is not the last person in Tambov. He has such titles under his belt as European bodybuilding champion, European vice-champion in bodybuilding in the heavyweight category, two-time Russian champion among juniors and men, and many other awards. Recently, President of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region.

Yukhanov agreed to comment on the situation with the deceased Irina Fomenkova:

— Irina contacted me in January 2015 via social networks. She said that she wanted to join the federation and compete. I didn't mind. She trained in Moscow. I just told her where in the muscles she needed to decrease and where to add. Recommended proper nutrition. I did 3-4 training sessions with her. Then we met only at competitions.

“Did you realize that something strange was happening to the girl?”

- I didn’t see anything bad. Understand that we mostly communicated by correspondence. She shared her results. I didn’t see her faint at competitions. She came across as a fanatical girl, but not crazy. She said that she quit her paid job for the sake of her favorite sport. Before going to the competition, I honestly told her: “You won’t take anything this season, you should train for another year.” But she believed that she would have time to prepare. Just what did it cost her?!

— Did Irina use illegal drugs to quickly get into shape?

“I don’t know what she used.” After all, Ira lived in Moscow. I recommended a classic diet for her - exclude fried and floury foods, reduce the amount of carbohydrates. There are only boiled vegetables, chicken, fish.

— To participate in competitions, she lost 23 kg in 70 days? This is fine?

“I could only see that she had lost a lot of weight from her photographs on social networks. I didn't know what it was connected with. I thought my body was starting to react to the diet. But I was never her coach, I did not lead this girl. She didn't listen to my advice. For example, I said that she needs cardio exercise for a maximum of two hours a day. An hour in the morning, an hour in the evening. She ran on the track for three hours. It was impossible to control this. In my opinion, the tragedy here was inevitable - she was too fanatical about sports and did not listen to my recommendations.

Kiril Sevostyanov is Fomenkova’s classmate at MEPhI. He still has his own memories of the deceased.

— Irina led an extremely harsh lifestyle because of sports - she slept, ate by the hour. At some point, her thinking changed. Priorities have changed. She did not catch the moment when her body began to fail. The bodybuilding regime divided her life into two stages: first, she gained weight - she trained and ate a lot, and then the drying stage began - she removed excess water from the body. Of course, she felt bad because her body didn’t have enough sugars and carbohydrates. The brain refused to work normally. She looked very tired. She didn't look happy, that's for sure.

“I ate 80 grams of porridge a week”

The hackneyed expression - hurry to live - perfectly defines Irina’s lifestyle.

Irina’s first coach agreed to tell us why Fomenkova decided to go in for sports and how she managed to lose excess weight.

— We met in 2013. Irina came to our gym with one goal - to pump up her muscles. By that time she was in good shape. Ira said that she managed to lose weight on her own from 90 kg to 62 kg, says Timur Bekarov, a teacher at the capital’s sports and pedagogical college. — I have been doing powerlifting for a long time, I am a master of sports. Ira began to train hard and showed good results. But when I moved to work at a more expensive club, she was no longer able to pay for training. Last year we broke up. She found another trainer. But for me, a student leaving for another place is a boycott. This is where our relationship ended. But I didn’t lose sight of her. Knew what was happening to her.

— Did Irina take illegal drugs?

— Professional sports, especially powerlifting and bodybuilding, without pharmaceuticals, without nourishment for the body, are ineffective. Ira became a real fan of this sport. And I understood that if you don’t watch her, she might do something stupid.

She is one of those people who always achieves little, little, little results and needs more and faster. She was told not to rush. She ignored it. Ira really was a kind, sympathetic person, but her character was iron and heavy. Once she decided on something, she could not be broken. If some coach had taken her seriously and devoted a lot of time to her, then perhaps the tragedy would not have happened. But everyone has their own life. I couldn’t give her all my time - I have a family, a child, a job.

— Did she go to the doctors?

“When I trained her, I advised her to undergo a medical examination. At that moment, Ira switched to another coach. I later heard from guys I knew that she went on a strict diet, which was contraindicated for her. She consumed 40 grams of carbohydrates per week.

For example, 100 grams of oatmeal contains 54 grams of carbohydrates. She had to eat 80 grams of porridge per week. And with a low carbohydrate diet, strength and energy leave a person. It is not surprising that during training she lost consciousness, because there was a colossal load on her heart. When the trainer put Irina on a low-carb diet, he had to think about what type of figure she belonged to. Irina is prone to being overweight. Intake of carbohydrates and fats is mandatory for her. She also had to use growth hormone and ephedrine under control. Most likely, this diet was recommended to her. She wouldn't have thought of it on her own. She always needed a mentor, a man whom she would obey.

- Why such torment? For what? Does this sport make money?

— If you find a sponsor, you can earn money. But finding a sponsor, especially in the Tambov region, is difficult. To do this, you need to constantly perform, model your body, and show yourself in competitions. You must be noticed. Irina did not have any sponsors. She spent all her money on training and vitamins. And when they hinted to her that she was not ready to perform this season, then, I think, she decided to finish off her body at all costs and prove herself. It was not in vain that she worked hard all year.

— Irina’s mother blames the president of the Tambov federation for what happened, who sent her to the competition?

— In Moscow she was taught by another coach. Now no one will take the blame for her death. In my opinion, it was not the chemistry that ruined Irina, but the training programs and diet. All bodybuilders use chemicals so as not to die or harm their health. But in this case, everything was planned in such a way that it caused colossal harm. They told her: “Ira, stop.” But she insisted: “They told me I could do it.”

— Could she reach heights in this sport?

“With her character and persistence in powerlifting, she could have succeeded.” She squatted 150 kg with me. She would hardly have succeeded in bodybuilding. Well, she wouldn’t fit into the bikini category at all. Irina didn’t look great in the photographs; she also didn’t have the figure for this sport. She is massive and could gain a lot of mass. Such girls are only interested in powerlifting.

— Is it true that she started playing sports because of her unhappy love for a certain coach?

“She showed feelings for me.” But you can’t call it unhappy love. Still young. It wouldn't have worked out for her and me.

"Want true love»

Irina Fomenkova did not love herself.

At parties, young people paid attention to her thin friends.

“I want love. The real one. And I will definitely meet a prince on a white horse,” Irina repeated.

Fomenkova is a girl with a core. If I set a goal for myself, I always achieved it. In two years, Ira has changed beyond recognition. But it didn’t bring happiness.

Tatiana was close friend Irina for three years. They shared a room in the institute dormitory. And everything that happened to Fomenkova, the girl observed with her own eyes.

— We met at a collection company. Ira worked in the analytics department. We also lived in the same dorm,” says Tatyana. “She seemed too smart and capable for her age.” But in everyday life it was not easy for her. She turned out to be unsuited to life. Irka couldn’t even feed herself because she was a terrible spender. I spent more than I received. At first, her salary was 45 thousand - all the money was spent on clothes, cafes, and trips to nightclubs.

— When did sport appear in her life?

— When we met, she was plump, weighed 80 kg. Constantly whined that it was because excess weight she has no personal life. One day she had an affair at work. But in the end, that young man chose another girl for her - a thin one, unlike Irina.

- And they broke up?

“They didn’t really meet to break up.” He simply said to her: “Ira, what did you expect?” After that she began to lose weight. I was on strict diets. I could go weeks without eating anything. She had fainting spells. As a result, she lost weight to 60 kg. Started to look great. But then she wanted to lose weight further. And the diets started again. To get in shape, I suggested she run, but she decided to go to the gym.

There, some trainer became attached to her. Disgusting man. One time he came to our dorm and stole jewelry. The whole story came out. But, thank God, everything was resolved. Further - worse. At some point, he began to persuade Irina to “inject growth hormones” in order to quickly get in shape. At first he came and injected her. Then Ira adapted herself. Soon Irina’s legs began to hurt wildly. She never underwent any medical examination. She was not interested in whether she could run for hours or lift weights.

— How did the romance with the coach end?

— He preferred her friend. Ira then fell into a terrible depression. I moved to another fitness club. And there I fell in love with the instructor again. But things didn’t seem to go beyond friendship. The new trainer told her: “You had the wrong program, I’ll get you into shape myself.” And that’s when the cruelty began. Irka began to sway to incredible sizes. I ate 8-10 times a day. I could eat a bowl of rice at a time. She swallowed handfuls of pills and took injections, which caused her to have convulsions at night. Sometimes I heard her moaning in the next room where she lived alone. Apparently, her body was going through withdrawal.

— Did she like herself in her new body?

- Yes, she boasted that she could lift weights of 100 kg or more. Just for fun, she dragged me in her arms around the apartment. One day I told her: “Ira, you have become masculine.” She suggested that she quit the rocking chair, but she was unstoppable. In December, when she became once again bad, she said: “I’m going to start drying out, I want to participate in competitions to get a rank and engage in coaching.” And she began to train even more intensely. Those who took part in her preparation for the competition deleted their statuses after Ira’s death.

— Did you communicate with Irina until the last moment?

— In winter she made new friends, from gym. And she moved out of the hostel and began renting an apartment with them closer to the sports club. She borrowed money from me several times - she had nothing to pay for housing. I asked: “Where did you put your salary? 70 thousand? In response I heard: “I’m helping my mother.” Then I found out that she didn’t help my mother, on the contrary, she always gave her money.

— Did Irina go in for sports and continue to work at a collection agency?

“In December, she said that she was tired of everything, she decided to devote her life to sports and quit the agency. Or rather, she was fired for her frequent absence from work. It's the same story with the institute. She couldn’t pass the test properly. As a result, I transferred to the evening faculty. Before she moved, I said: “Ira, sport will destroy you.” But she no longer heard me. We haven't seen each other since December. And on April 30, her mother called me in hysterics: “Ira is dead.” On the night of her death, Ira had new girlfriends next to her, who called an ambulance and helped pump her out.

— Do you think that sport ruined Irina?

“She slept 4 hours a day, woke up at 5 in the morning and went to training. I ate nothing except rice and synthetic vitamins. No adult organism can withstand this. And she was only 20.

- IN new form Irina began to feel confident?

- IN lately she considered herself beautiful. I looked up to my new girlfriends in everything.

Ira was easy to manipulate. How many times have I protected her from some things that were imposed on her by those around her? Either she was trying to get into some dubious business, or she fell in love with a guy who was simply extracting money from her. She was too trusting. But Moscow does not accept such people. She was ready to give everything to a person who simply smiled at her, stroked her head and said that she was good. Self-realization in the eyes of other people was important to her. She was easily influenced.

We contacted a girl who took part in the competition together with Fomenkova. In her opinion, no sport is worth the effort that Irina made. And especially not worth living.

— I saw Fomenkova once at the Mordovia Championship in Saransk. She was lethargic and tired. After the performance I found her in the dressing room. Ira was lying on the floor. We asked her: “How are you?” She replied: “I’m thirsty and hungry.” I offered her juice, a handful of sweets and a tangerine and a couple of sips of cognac. To give a little strength to a tired body, everyone does this.

She drank and ate sweets. We never crossed paths with her again,” Olga recalls. —Irina competed in the body fitness category. For a beginner athlete, she was in good shape. The fact that she lost 23 kg in 2 months is normal. I lose 13 kg in a month. This sport is not dangerous to human life if everything is done correctly. Young athletes don't die from physical activity, but from chemicals, which 95% of athletes use in preparation for competitions. As for the prospects, Ira would not be able to win the competition under any circumstances.

This sport is not for everyone. The preparation costs are enormous. About 10 thousand rubles per month are spent on sports nutrition. Next - payment for the gym and personal trainer. In Moscow, one lesson costs 1,500 rubles—you’ll have to pay 30,000 a month. When competing, you must wear a special swimsuit. Mine cost me 29 thousand rubles.

Makeup costs about 4 thousand rubles. Plus the costs of makeup artists, hairdressers, manicurists. At each competition there is a participation fee, the amounts depend on the prestige of the competition. Cash rewards The awards they give for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places are ridiculous. From 10 to 15 thousand rubles. Staircase to career growth too high. The more high titles, the more offers.

After winning major competitions, you can become the face of a major manufacturer brand sports nutrition- you will receive a salary for your face and huge discounts on food. You have to put your life on it. Is it worth it?

On April 30, bodybuilder Irina Fomenkova died. The death of a 20-year-old athlete was reported by the Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of the Tambov Region. The cause of death is the heart.

Her life had everything - unhappy love, the desire to live beautifully, and the pain that the girl went through in order to become happy.

The news of Irina's death went almost unnoticed in the media. Only stingy condolences from colleagues in the shop. The press service of the federation reported: “In January, Irina joined the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region. She took part in a number of regional competitions and the Russian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. She was a prize-winner of the Moscow Region Cup in bodybuilding and fitness. Irina was an ardent enthusiast of sports in general and fitness in particular. She lived and breathed it until the last heartbeat.”
But the tragic story of Irina’s life turned out to be not as simple as the athletes made it out to be.

Why do people register on social networks? To tell the whole world about yourself. And in the details. What did you have for lunch and dinner, where did you go, what outfit did you buy, how much, where, with whom you are “in a relationship” today, and with whom you broke up and why. Personal life - in full view. Irina Fomenkova was no exception.

Here are the latest posts on her wall.

April 1 - “In the last few carb-free days, my body can only move while lying in the car.”

April 10, 2015. In the photo, Irina sleeps in her clothes on the sofa. Here is her comment: “5 hours 24 minutes without water. Smiley. Let's hold on."

April 15 - “You can guess from our happy faces how many hours we have been without water.”

April 19 - “The best praise is the praise of a coach. There is still a lot of work ahead. 23 kg were lost in 70 days, so tell me after that that at least something is impossible...” And then the answer from the President of the Tambov Bodybuilding Federation, German Yukhnatov: “This man has done a tremendous amount of work on himself and should become a motivator for everyone.”

April 28 - “My first competitive season has ended. I collected all the unluckiest places - 2, 4, 11. I saw what to work on. I squeezed out what I could in 3 months. There are tasks for the new season and a new form. I ate, calmed down, and turned into a normal person. Thanks to everyone who was there and put up with me during the drying process. Special thanks to my colleagues from Fres Fitness, who pumped me up after every cardio session. Sorry for being rude. I was back to being a normal person with a legal 150 grams of carbs a day.”

Funny pictures on the page of the deceased no longer seem so funny. Signatures for them - even more so.

“The Russians say: “Die, but do it.” “I buried my back and shoulders today.” “That feeling when you killed yourself in training.”

Death during training seemed like a game to Irina.

Drying, refusing to eat is fun.

But this girl’s life could have turned out differently.

The mother of the deceased, Svetlana: “Sports and my daughter are incompatible things”

Irina Fomenkova was born in Tambov. She was the only and late child in the family.

Now the mother of the deceased, Svetlana, is looking for those responsible for the death of the child.

It's unlikely she'll be able to find anyone. What she knew about her daughter was the tip of the iceberg.

More than two months have passed since her death, but I still can’t come to my senses,” Svetlana began the conversation. - Do you know what I’m distracted by? I get behind the wheel and make circles around the city. Takes your mind off things a bit.

Svetlana, even in her worst nightmare, could not imagine that her daughter would be driven to the grave by professional sports.

She was an absolutely unsportsmanlike girl when I grew up. There was never a place for sports in her life. Books, languages, studies - yes, but not sports. From early childhood, Ira was called a child prodigy. From the age of 5 she began to learn English. At 6 I went to school. In the 9th grade she won the American competition in Voronezh. After which she was invited to an internship in America, where she studied for a year. In addition to English, I learned several other languages ​​on my own. I finished the 11th grade as an external student. I successfully passed the Unified State Exam and entered MEPhI. And this despite the fact that we never hired her a single tutor. Psychologists shrugged: “Your girl is a child prodigy. She has a great future ahead of her."

In 2013, 16-year-old Irina left for Moscow. I settled in a dormitory at the institute. Soon she got a prestigious job at a large collection agency. Despite her young age, Fomenkova was included in the staff.

She worked in the strategic analysis and planning department. Within two years, she rose to the position of senior business analyst. Her salary was 115 thousand rubles. I don’t know what prompted her to start playing sports. It was in Moscow that she first went to the gym. I read about this later in her diary,” Svetlana continues. - I thought that she simply decided to lose weight, since she was inclined to be overweight, like her father. Once, in her hearts, she even threw at me: “When you decided to conceive me, you didn’t see - from whom? Why do I have to suffer all the time now?” The exercises helped her lose weight. She became a beauty. She dyed her hair blonde, extended her nails, changed her hairstyles, and looked well-groomed.

At the beginning of 2015, Irina began to visit her mother more and more often.

At this time, a network of gyms “Stimul” was opened in Tambov, where German Yukhanov worked. He also heads the Tambov Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness. Ira met him on the Internet and decided to participate in competitions under his leadership. She was given a certificate in January. And Herman undertook to control her. Before the competition, she lost a lot of weight and complained to me that her breasts and butt had sagged. Herman, in turn, tightly controlled her regime. He saw a strong person in her.

Mentor Yukhanov, in turn, applauded her on his page. I posted photos of Irina “before” and “after”. After the girl’s death, Herman deleted all the cards.

Irina’s first competition took place on April 11 at the Tambov Drama Theater. A week later, Herman took her to Saransk. A week later there was Krasnodar, the Russian Cup,” says the interlocutor. - Before the performance in Tambov, I noticed that my daughter’s breathing was short at night and she was covered in perspiration. Warned Herman. He waved his hand: “Have you forgotten how fat she used to be?”

Later I found out that Ira was limited in her intake of carbohydrates and sugar-containing foods, and she trained day and night. Already at the first competitions, she fainted from hunger before going on stage. Her nose was bleeding and she was protruding with tampons in her nose.

I found a coach who was involved in organizing events. He pumped her out personally. I asked him later why I didn’t tell Herman about my daughter’s health condition. He sighed: “Yukhanov was involved in refereeing, he had no time for the participants.” And then Irina went to Saransk. After which Herman notified me: “On the way back, Ira was lying in the car and snoring heavily, which is not typical for a young girl.” But nevertheless, she was not suspended from the competition.

Returning from the Russian Cup, Irina slept for half a day, her body was shaking, she was drenched in cold sweat. And in this state she went to Moscow. After the death of his daughter, Yukhanov talked to me, asked me not to stir up a scandal, complained that he had lost many clients because of the tragedy, that he could not calmly walk down the street - people looked and judged. He tells everyone that Irina secretly took powerful fat-burning drugs that killed her.

Svetlana learned about her daughter’s death from Irina’s friends who were with her that night.

The day before her death, Ira’s temperature rose to 40. She still went to work. The next day the temperature did not drop. An ambulance was called for her. At one o'clock in the morning the doctor arrived and gave an injection. And two hours later she felt bad again. The intensive care unit has arrived. They couldn’t pump her out,” the woman recalls. - Only recently did forensic experts tell me the cause of death - acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Due to severe physical overload, dystrophic foci of the myocardium arose in the heart. No harmful substances were found in her blood. Who did I turn to for help? I contacted the All-Russian Fitness Federation. They told me harshly: “Yukhanov is a professional. And you yourself had to look after your daughter. You are a mother. So they are to blame." They did not initiate a criminal case in Moscow. The investigator decided that there was no crime in this story.

Fomenkova was buried in Tambov. According to the mother of the deceased, about 500 people came to say goodbye to Irina. Among them was German Yukhanov...

Svetlana blames her fellow countryman for everything. Blind maternal love does not allow Svetlana to see the obvious. Her daughter had painted herself into a corner. And she couldn’t get out of there. And her mother persistently continues to look for those responsible for the tragedy.

After Irina’s death they told me: “Wunderkinds don’t live long.” So it turns out it's true? - asks Svetlana.

“The brain refused to work normally”

German Yukhanov is not the last person in Tambov. He has such titles under his belt as European bodybuilding champion, European vice-champion in bodybuilding in the heavyweight category, two-time Russian champion among juniors and men, and many other awards. Recently, President of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation of the Tambov Region.

Yukhanov agreed to comment on the situation with the deceased Irina Fomenkova:

Irina contacted me in January 2015 via social networks. She said that she wanted to join the federation and compete. I didn't mind. She trained in Moscow. I just told her where in the muscles she needed to decrease and where to add. Recommended proper nutrition. I did 3-4 training sessions with her. Then we met only at competitions.

- Did you realize that something strange was happening to the girl?

I didn't see anything bad. Understand that we mostly communicated by correspondence. She shared her results. I didn’t see her faint at competitions. She came across as a fanatical girl, but not crazy. She said that she quit her paid job for the sake of her favorite sport. Before going to the competition, I honestly told her: “You won’t take anything this season, you should train for another year.” But she believed that she would have time to prepare. Just what did it cost her?!

- Did Irina use illegal drugs to quickly get into shape?

I don't know what she used. After all, Ira lived in Moscow. I recommended a classic diet for her - exclude fried and floury foods, reduce the amount of carbohydrates. There are only boiled vegetables, chicken, fish.

- To participate in competitions, she lost 23 kg in 70 days? This is fine?

I could only see that she had lost a lot of weight from her photos on social networks. I didn't know what it was connected with. I thought my body was starting to react to the diet. But I was never her coach, I did not lead this girl. She didn't listen to my advice. For example, I said that she needs cardio exercise for a maximum of two hours a day. An hour in the morning, an hour in the evening. She ran on the track for three hours. It was impossible to control this. In my opinion, the tragedy here was inevitable - she was too fanatical about the sport and did not listen to my recommendations.

Kiril Sevostyanov is Fomenkova’s classmate at MEPhI. He still has his own memories of the deceased.

Irina led an extremely harsh lifestyle because of sports - she slept and ate by the hour. At some point, her thinking changed. Priorities have changed. She did not catch the moment when her body began to fail. The bodybuilding regime divided her life into two stages: first, she gained weight - she trained and ate a lot, and then the drying stage began - she removed excess water from the body. Of course, she felt bad because her body didn’t have enough sugars and carbohydrates. The brain refused to work normally. She looked very tired. She didn't look happy, that's for sure.

“I ate 80 grams of porridge a week”

The hackneyed expression - hurry to live - perfectly defines Irina’s lifestyle.

Irina’s first coach agreed to tell us why Fomenkova decided to go in for sports and how she managed to lose excess weight.

We met in 2013. Irina came to our gym with one goal - to pump up her muscles. By that time she was in good shape. Ira said that she managed to lose weight on her own from 90 kg to 62 kg, says Timur Bekarov, a teacher at the capital’s sports and pedagogical college. - I have been doing powerlifting for a long time, I am a master of sports. Ira began to train hard and showed good results. But when I moved to work at a more expensive club, she was no longer able to pay for training. Last year we broke up. She found another trainer. But for me, a student leaving for another place is a boycott. This is where our relationship ended. But I didn’t lose sight of her. Knew what was happening to her.

- Did Irina take illegal drugs?

Professional sports, especially powerlifting and bodybuilding, without pharmaceuticals, without nourishment for the body, are ineffective. Ira became a real fan of this sport. And I understood that if you don’t watch her, she might do something stupid.

She is one of those people who always achieves little, little, little results and needs more and faster. She was told not to rush. She ignored it. Ira really was a kind, sympathetic person, but her character was iron and heavy. Once she decided on something, she could not be broken. If some coach had taken her seriously and devoted a lot of time to her, then perhaps the tragedy would not have happened. But everyone has their own life. I couldn’t give her all my time - I have a family, a child, a job.

- Did she go to the doctors?

When I trained her, I advised her to undergo a medical examination. At that moment, Ira switched to another coach. I later heard from guys I knew that she went on a strict diet, which was contraindicated for her. She consumed 40 grams of carbohydrates per week.

For example, 100 grams of oatmeal contains 54 grams of carbohydrates. She had to eat 80 grams of porridge per week. And with a low carbohydrate diet, strength and energy leave a person. It is not surprising that during training she lost consciousness, because there was a colossal load on her heart. When the trainer put Irina on a low-carb diet, he had to think about what type of figure she belonged to. Irina is prone to being overweight. Intake of carbohydrates and fats is mandatory for her. She also had to use growth hormone and ephedrine under control. Most likely, this diet was recommended to her. She wouldn't have thought of it on her own. She always needed a mentor, a man whom she would obey.

- Why such torment? For what? Does this sport make money?

If you find a sponsor, you can earn money. But finding a sponsor, especially in the Tambov region, is difficult. To do this, you need to constantly perform, model your body, and show yourself in competitions. You must be noticed. Irina did not have any sponsors. She spent all her money on training and vitamins. And when they hinted to her that she was not ready to perform this season, then, I think, she decided to finish off her body at all costs and prove herself. It was not in vain that she worked hard all year.

- Irina’s mother blames the president of the Tambov federation for what happened, who sent her to the competition?

In Moscow she was led by another coach. Now no one will take the blame for her death. In my opinion, it was not the chemistry that ruined Irina, but the training programs and diet. All bodybuilders use chemicals so as not to die or harm their health. But in this case, everything was planned in such a way that it caused colossal harm. They told her: “Ira, stop.” But she insisted: “They told me I could do it.”

- Could she reach heights in this sport?

With her character and persistence in powerlifting, she could do anything. She squatted 150 kg with me. She would hardly have succeeded in bodybuilding. Well, she wouldn’t fit into the bikini category at all. Irina didn’t look great in the photographs; she also didn’t have the figure for this sport. She is massive and could gain a lot of mass. Such girls are only interested in powerlifting.

- Is it true that she started playing sports because of her unhappy love for a certain coach?

She showed feelings for me. But you can’t call it unhappy love. Still young. It wouldn't have worked out for her and me.

"I want true love"

Irina Fomenkova did not love herself.

At parties, young people paid attention to her thin friends.

“I want love. The real one. And I will definitely meet a prince on a white horse,” Irina repeated.

Fomenkova is a girl with a core. If I set a goal for myself, I always achieved it. In two years, Ira has changed beyond recognition. But it didn’t bring happiness.

Tatyana was Irina's close friend for three years. They shared a room in the institute dormitory. And everything that happened to Fomenkova, the girl observed with her own eyes.

We met at a collection company. Ira worked in the analytics department. We also lived in the same dorm,” says Tatyana. “She seemed too smart and capable for her age.” But in everyday life it was not easy for her. She turned out to be unsuited to life. Irka couldn’t even feed herself because she was a terrible spender. I spent more than I received. At first, her salary was 45 thousand - all the money was spent on clothes, cafes, and trips to nightclubs.

- When did sport appear in her life?

When we met, she was plump and weighed 80 kg. She constantly whined that because of her excess weight she had no personal life. One day she had an affair at work. But in the end, that young man chose another girl for her - a thin one, unlike Irina.

- And they broke up?

They didn't really meet to break up. He simply said to her: “Ira, what did you expect?” After that she began to lose weight. I was on strict diets. I could go weeks without eating anything. She had fainting spells. As a result, she lost weight to 60 kg. Started to look great. But then she wanted to lose weight further. And the diets started again. To get in shape, I suggested she run, but she decided to go to the gym.

There, some trainer became attached to her. Disgusting man. One time he came to our dorm and stole jewelry. The whole story came out. But, thank God, everything was resolved. Further - worse. At some point, he began to persuade Irina to “inject growth hormones” in order to quickly get in shape. At first he came and injected her. Then Ira adapted herself. Soon Irina’s legs began to hurt wildly. She never underwent any medical examination. She was not interested in whether she could run for hours or lift weights.

- How did the romance with the coach end?

He preferred her friend. Ira then fell into a terrible depression. I moved to another fitness club. And there I fell in love with the instructor again. But things didn’t seem to go beyond friendship. The new trainer told her: “You had the wrong program, I’ll get you into shape myself.” And that’s when the cruelty began. Irka began to sway to incredible sizes. I ate 8–10 times a day. I could eat a bowl of rice at a time. She swallowed handfuls of pills and took injections, which caused her to have convulsions at night. Sometimes I heard her moaning in the next room where she lived alone. Apparently, her body was going through withdrawal.

- Did she like herself in her new body?

Yes, she boasted that she could lift weights of 100 kg or more. Just for fun, she dragged me in her arms around the apartment. One day I told her: “Ira, you have become masculine.” She suggested that she quit the rocking chair, but she was unstoppable. In December, when she felt bad again, she said: “I’m going to start drying out, I want to participate in competitions to get a rank and engage in coaching.” And she began to train even more intensely. Those who took part in her preparation for the competition deleted their statuses after Ira’s death.

- Did you communicate with Irina until the last moment?

In winter, she made new friends from the gym. And she moved out of the hostel and began renting an apartment with them closer to the sports club. She borrowed money from me several times - she had nothing to pay for housing. I asked: “Where did you put your salary? 70 thousand? In response I heard: “I’m helping my mother.” Then I found out that she didn’t help my mother, on the contrary, she always gave her money.

- Irina went in for sports and continued to work at a collection agency?

In December, she said that she was tired of everything, she decided to devote her life to sports and quit the agency. Or rather, she was fired for her frequent absence from work. It's the same story with the institute. She couldn’t pass the test properly. As a result, I transferred to the evening faculty. Before she moved, I said: “Ira, sport will destroy you.” But she no longer heard me. We haven't seen each other since December. And on April 30, her mother called me in hysterics: “Ira is dead.” On the night of her death, Ira had new girlfriends next to her, who called an ambulance and helped pump her out.

- Do you think that sport ruined Irina?

She slept 4 hours a day, woke up at 5 am and went to training. I ate nothing except rice and synthetic vitamins. No adult organism can withstand this. And she was only 20.

- Has Irina started to feel confident in her new uniform?

Lately she thought she was beautiful. I looked up to my new girlfriends in everything.

Ira was easy to manipulate. How many times have I protected her from some things that were imposed on her by those around her? Either she was trying to get into some dubious business, or she fell in love with a guy who was simply extracting money from her. She was too trusting. But Moscow does not accept such people. She was ready to give everything to a person who simply smiled at her, stroked her head and said that she was good. Self-realization in the eyes of other people was important to her. She was easily influenced.

We contacted a girl who took part in the competition together with Fomenkova. In her opinion, no sport is worth the effort that Irina made. And especially not worth living.

I saw Fomenkova once at the Mordovia Championship in Saransk. She was lethargic and tired. After the performance I found her in the dressing room. Ira was lying on the floor. We asked her: “How are you?” She replied: “I’m thirsty and hungry.” I offered her juice, a handful of sweets and a tangerine and a couple of sips of cognac. To give a little strength to a tired body, everyone does this.

She drank and ate sweets. We never crossed paths with her again,” Olga recalls. -Irina competed in the body fitness category. For a beginner athlete, she was in good shape. The fact that she lost 23 kg in 2 months is normal. I lose 13 kg in a month. This sport is not dangerous to human life if everything is done correctly. Young athletes die not from physical exertion, but from chemicals, which 95% of athletes use in preparation for competitions. As for the prospects, Ira would not be able to win the competition under any circumstances.

This sport is not for everyone. The preparation costs are enormous. About 10 thousand rubles per month are spent on sports nutrition. Next - payment for the gym and personal trainer. In Moscow, one lesson costs 1,500 rubles - you will have to pay 30 thousand a month. When competing, you must wear a special swimsuit. Mine cost me 29 thousand rubles.

Makeup costs about 4 thousand rubles. Plus the costs of makeup artists, hairdressers, manicurists. At each competition there is a participation fee, the amounts depend on the prestige of the competition. The cash rewards that are given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are ridiculous. From 10 to 15 thousand rubles. The ladder to career advancement is too high. The more high titles, the more offers.

After winning major competitions, you can become the face of a major brand of sports nutrition manufacturers - you will receive a salary for your face and huge discounts on nutrition. You have to put your life on it. Is it worth it?