Russian swimming champion Maria Shurochkina is fighting between life and death after a terrible domestic accident in her home in Moscow. The 31-year-old, an artistic swimming star with two Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles, is hospitalized in desperate conditions at the Sklifosovsky Emergency Research Institute, with burns on 30% of her body.
The blaze from the fireplace
The accident occurred on the night between 8 and 9 November inside the penthouse on the 17th floor where the athlete lives. According to initial reconstructions, the champion was attempting to refill a bioethanol fireplace when the highly flammable vapors triggered a sudden and violent flame. The flames quickly reached her clothes, enveloping her. In pain and terror, the woman managed to escape from the apartment, only to be rescued in the stairwell with her clothes still on fire.
Hospitalization
Shurochkina still remains in intensive care. The doctors report that the situation has been stable since hospitalization, while her sister Nyusha confirmed that Maria suffered burns mainly on her chest and abdomen, where an initial skin transplant operation will be necessary in the next few days; fortunately his head, face and hands were not damaged.
Concern remains high: in addition to the imminent danger to his life, there are fears of complications such as shock from burns, dehydration, infections and the risk of tissue necrosis. Recovery times will be very long and, between operations and skin grafts, it may take more than twelve months. Meanwhile, the Russian Water Sports Federation offered her immediate support.
Who is Maria Shurochkina
Maria Vladimirovna Shurochkina is the daughter of musician and producer Vladimir Shurochkin and gymnast Oksana Baranovskaya, as well as half-sister of the famous pop singer Nyusha. Having started synchronized swimming at the age of 7, she joined the national team in 2013, collecting an extraordinary series of successes: 11 world gold medals, 6 European and, above all, 2 consecutive Olympic golds in the team competition in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.
For her sporting achievements she was awarded the Order of Friendship and Honor by Vladimir Putin. After the Tokyo Games, around 2022, he concluded his high-level competitive career, continuing his activity with aquatic theater shows, training and founding his own dance school.