“Three years ago, a legendary warrior and lifter Andrey Kotovenko was lifted”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
Career Andrey Kotovenko was born on January 16, 1983 in Boyarka in Kyiv region. After graduating from the local comprehensive school № 4, Andrei received his specialized locksmith, but went to work with a consultant at the household appliance shop. The young people liked a variety of devices, he studied their characteristics in detail and always knew what to advise buyers.
Combat path When Russia began aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Andrew decided that he would defend his homeland with weapons in his hands. However, the army managed to get not immediately. In his youth, the man had bad eyesight, so he was not taken into the army. Although the man managed to make a correction, he was “written off” according to the documents.
Tired of the rapids of the military enlistment office, Andriy Kotovenko went to the front as a volunteer as a fighter of the Right Sector. And immediately he was on the front line – in the Sands. As the call sign chose the nickname that he was given a teenager – a cat.
Quickly, Andrew has established himself in artillery and became a commander of a mortar department, which worked extremely effectively in the enemy’s positions. Later, he went into intelligence. As Andrew himself mentioned in an interview with his left shore, he always sought to get as much information about the enemy as possible to resist him as effectively as possible.
After serving in several volunteer formations, Kotovenko concluded a contract with the 93rd brigade.
In January 2016, Andrey suffered serious injury near the Butovka mine during the advancement of the replaced by the Russians. The cat with two brothers, gray and sailor, who went into reconnaissance to hostile positions. The explosion came behind the defender, he was torn his right leg. Kotovenko was able to impose a harness. However, he had no strength to go back to Ukrainian positions – he lost a lot of blood. For a while on his back, but tired quickly. “Probably God hugged me at that moment, and I managed to survive,” the fighter confessed. And from death they saved the thoughts of his son. “Don’t even think to turn off! You have to go home and raise Ivan! ”, – heard in his head.
Andriy underwent 22 operations in Ukraine and Germany, giving up his leg amputation, although doctors warned – if the infection spreads with the body, it is a sure death. The torn vessels in the cut fragments of mines were forced to replace prostheses.
Trace in sports After injuring, Andrei Kotovenko was able to open himself in sports. Even when the man was treated in Germany, there were surprised there, because the patient who had a leg entangled with tubes did not release the dumbbells from his hands, rolled the press. And as soon as the seams were removed, the cat was in the gym. On the treadmill was able to run five kilometers. Due to pain and emotions from the eyes, tears were rolled, the defender confessed.
There, in Germany, Kotovenko on Facebook accidentally came across an article about the “Games of the Unconquered”, international sports competitions in Paralympic style for wounded servicemen. It became the point of reference. The man decided that he would certainly take part in them.
After returning home, Andrew began to train seriously. First – twice a week, then – every other day. Subsequently, he began to engage in blasphering under the guidance of coach Alexei Solovyov.
Andrew with coach Alexei Solovyov In 2020, Andrew won a silver medal at the European Cup in Slovakia. Before that, he became the champion of Ukraine in the bench press in software and silver medalist in the classic bench.
In June 2021, the Keith won the national competitions of the Games of the Non-Sound. And on October 25, 2021 he won bronze in the discipline of bench press at the World Cup. Andrew came to the goal and took part in Invictus Games.
“He made himself a champion, with his own hands, his will, endurance. He had a very big goal, he wanted to win, to become a champion and did everything for that, ”says Alexei Solovyov in an interview with Novinarna.
In addition to sports, Kotovenko led an active life-he worked as a consultant in a hypermarket, won a lawyer at the university, actively taught English, attended the Ukrainian-Norwegian business program.
Prior to the commencement of a full -scale invasion of Russia, Andrew dreamed of participating in the Arnold Classic tournament, which is traditionally visited by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Death Andrew dreamed of becoming a champion and taking a photo with Iron Arnie. He needed it for a noble purpose. Kotovenko expected that it would be a good advertising for veterans competitions that he dreamed of organizing – “Steel Heart”. Andrew even developed a logo, but the war intervened.
The Arnold Classic competition lasted in Collebus on March 2-5, 2022. At this time, the cat defended Ukraine. The wife did not even try to persuade her husband not to go to fight, there was no point in this.
And when Ukraine first in the history of August 19-28, 2022 appeared in the games of warriors (Warrior Games), Andriy Kotovenko was no longer alive.
The cat died at 9 am on May 2, 2022 in Kharkiv region. During the departure, the soldiers of the 58th separate infantry brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky were fired. Andriy was 39 years old.
Andrew with his wife Tatiana and son Ivan Family Andrew had a happy family-Tatiana’s wife, son Ivan, with whom her husband lived in Vita-Post near Kiev. Also live parents of the warrior.
Honoring Andrei Kotovenko was buried in the cemetery in Vita-Post.
On December 22, 2023, the President of Ukraine awarded Andrew the Order of Courage of III degree (posthumously).
Leo Tolstoy Street in Boyarka was renamed Andrei Kotovenko.
