Sports in the Russian women's lives

[Lily]

Hello my RWD friends,


I have decided to start this topic as I could not find something similar on this board.


Sports and athleticism are companions to good health and positive outlook on life. Being born and bred in the former USSR, I have mostly seen the sport at its highest levels, like an Olympics or other top national event. Not many people were practicing it where any of top national achievements were to expect. The state was less than willing to train amateur athletes who did not promised any top international results.


When I started my life in Canada, one of the first things that I noticed was excellent equipment for any kind of outdoors and sports activities. Amazing and comfortable running shoes, equipment and clothes! And even more than that, I was truly impressed by a variety of amateur sports clubs and associations for runners, divers, swimmers, cyclists, skaters! Just a modest membership fee, and you can enjoy weekly runs, trainings, races, and company of local people sharing the same passion.


This community thoroughly discusses habits of Russian women in many aspects of daily life. Nevertheless, I seldom read about a FSU wife or girlfriend who is passionate about a sport.


Would someone care to share a story?

[BC]

Hi Lily,

My wife enjoys formal dancing, which is quite popular here. Mostly fast-paced Latin styles.  Goes to a couple of classes and events regularly.

3-4 times a week and is great exercise.

I tried but couldn't keep up. Memorizing all those steps, jarring hip twists, and associated acrobatics is far too complicated for me, even dangerous

[ML]

UW and I used to walk 3 miles every other day, lift weights (we have weight room) the days between and do Pilates on Sundays.

And she likes to play basketball (we have a court . . . well, half court).

But all of that stopped when she entered PhD program (completed now).

Then I suffered a series of broken bones, botched operations, etc. and I now have impaired lung function.

So now we are both much out of shape with respect to muscle tone, etc. and I don't think we will get any better.

[John Gaunt]

Not so much sport although it involved rigorous training. My wife was a dancer and toured internationally as part of an Ukrainian folk dance troupe.
She recounts that while touring in the near Middle East, an Arab was keen to purchase her for his harem and made an offer to the group manager.
She was about 12 at the time.
Thankfully, the offer was firmly rejected.