The master of sports of the international class on swimming among invalids, the participant of XII Paralympic Games in Athenes.

When Nastya (Anastasia) was 2 years old, an accident happened to her. As a result she lost both her hands. When she was 6, together with father(a former freestyle wrestler Alexey Diodorov) for the first time learned to swim in the pool of Timiryazev Academy's sports in Moscow.

Nastya began her sports career in 2003 when without training she took part in Moscow children invalids competitions and at once she was reckoned with prize-winners. At that very time Nastya was suggested to train in the Olympiysky Sports Center. The road from the house to there takes her more then two hours. In spite of this fact, Nastya agreed.

During the first year of staying in big-time sports Nastya won Russia championship in the age category under of 18 years. In the championship of Europe in the Czech republic Nastya executed the specification of the candidate for the master of sports, and at the end of 2003 she won the national championship among adults and became the master of sports in the invalid group. Now Nastya has more than ten various medals, seven of them are gold.

«We are very much obliged to the government of Yakutia for support. Qualitative training and Nastya's participation in the various championships including Paralympic games, became possible due to this support. If all over Russia invalids and sportsmen were supported, then we would have many champions. We hope with Nastya that the next Paralympic's swimming medal will be our», - noted the trainer of Nastya Natalia Stepanova.

In December of the last year the program on sportsmen' preparation for the next Olympic games in Beijing was accepted in Yakutia. By this program, by the policy of The School of the supreme sports skill the further Nastya's preparation will proceed.

At present, Nastya is preparing to Paralympic games in Beijing.

Translated by Elena Osipova
Resource: GazetaYakutia.Ru

Related Stories:
Anastasia Diodorova's Gold Harvest. // March 2006.