At 80, Russian great grandmother fired up by passion for ice hockey

Record ID: 1464491

  • Title: At 80, Russian great grandmother fired up by passion for ice hockey
  • Date: 18th March 2020
  • Summary: BEREZNIK, ARKHANGELSK REGION, RUSSIA (RECENT - MARCH 5, 2020) (REUTERS) TEAM PHOTO IN ALBUM
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2020 09:48
  • Keywords: Russia sport age-freindly sport hockey elderly hockey women ice hockey seniors sport
  • Location: ARKHANGELSK REGION, RUSSIA
  • City: ARKHANGELSK REGION, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA002C5KWBX5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:When 80-year-old Valentina Fyodorova spotted a group of children skating across a fresh sheet of ice, she was determined to give it a try herself.
    The former school principal was keen on keeping fit but had never shot a puck, let alone laced up a pair of skates.
    She could have never dreamed that she would become the captain of a senior women's ice hockey team in her village in northwestern Russia.
    Fyodorova is the captain and oldest member of "Ustyanochka," a team composed mostly of women in their fifties and sixties who train three times a week in the gym and on the ice.
    Fyodorova, who has three great grandchildren, said that although she is much slower and less skillful than many younger players, she enjoys the camaraderie with her team mates.
    On her red jersey, Fyodorova proudly wears number 80. It is not a homage to one of Russia's hockey greats, but a tribute to her age.
    All her team mates, in fact, wear their age on their backs.
    Fyodorova had initially been scared to fall and break a bone, but gradually felt stronger and more confident on her skates the longer she spent on the ice.
    Now skating has become second nature and she hopes to keep playing hockey as long as she can.
    "After playing on the ice, you feel like you have so much more energy," said Fyodorova who also finds time to chair the village council. "You feel lighter. You don't feel those 80 years at all."
    (Production: Evgenia Novozhenina, Anastasia Adasheva)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains photographs or artwork. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
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