Such a situation may happen only once in ten years! Andrey did the right thing taking up the challenge in Las Vegas. If the World Bar Arm Wrestling Championships occurred as it was announced, his matches would make Ukrainian armwrestling famous all over the world. And members of the Ukrainian team have a good chance of winning medals. So if everything went according to the plan, Pushkar could fight and win in Las Vegas, while his team could fight for medals in Poland. Andrey would not be able to compete in the World Bar Armwrestling Championships and then in the World Championships in Gdynia. Only a cyborg would make it and Andrey is an ordinary champion, a flesh and blood person.

He picked what seemed to be a challenge. He told his coaches to include somebody else in the team for the World Championships.

And when he reached Vegas, it turned out that….

When Pushkar arrived in Gdynia, around five hundred people asked him whether he would compete and how it was in the USA.

I decided to save his time and energy and asked him the same questions so that others don’t have to do that.

Andrey, let me ask you for the last time- how was it in Las Vegas? How did you feel?

As usual, Andrey took a deep breath first and then told me he felt the organizers of the World Bar “did the dirty on him”. That’s the soft version. The “hard version” is not suitable for citing.

Next question, how do you feel with the fact that you’re here and you can’t compete?

Andrey responded: It was not possible for me to be in top form both at the World Bar and at the championships here. So I gave my place in the team to someone else. I won’t compete in the World Championships for the first time in ten years. At least, five of my pupils will be taking part in the championships – that’s one consolation. Now, my task is to guide them so that they win. Their medals are the only thing that can make me feel better in this situation.

Andrey, thank you for the conversation. I hope you’ll never find yourself in such a situation again.

PeSzy/photo Iza Małkowska