Biography
Laysan was born into the family of Zulfiya and Albert Utyashev. His mother was a librarian, and his father worked as a historian. The name of the future celebrity was invented by her grandmother, who was fluent in the Bashkir language and honored the cultural traditions of her people. On the girl’s birthday, it was raining warmly, so the grandmother suggested calling her Laysan.
From Bashkir “Liysan” is translated as “affectionate”. The parents liked this name, because it suited a sweet and good girl very much. The athlete’s veins contain the blood of several nations: Russian, Bashkir, Polish and Tatar.
In 2012, a tragedy occurred in the Laysan Utyasheva family - her mother died. Mother and daughter always had a close relationship, so Laysan took the loss hard. Zulfiya Utyasheva was only 47 years old.
Laysan as a child with his mother
On the day of her death, the athlete was next to her mother. They were sitting in a cafe. Zulfiya complained of feeling unwell. The daughter immediately called an ambulance. Doctors did not suspect anything dangerous. They just took an injection to lower the blood pressure and left. However, upon reaching home, Zulfiya became very ill and stopped talking. Laysan called an ambulance again. But at that moment there were no free cars and the doctors arrived too late. Zulfiya Utyasheva died of heart failure.
Laysan in his youth
After the death of her mother, Laysan Utyasheva left big sport. In one of the interviews, the athlete said that to this day she feels guilty for the death of her loved one. Mom needed more rest. The girl was able to let her mother go only after the birth of her own daughter.
Pavel Volya and Laysan Utyasheva
Laysan Utyasheva attracts attention even after leaving big sport. A beautiful, smart girl has repeatedly become the heroine of many programs. In 2012, fate presents the heroine with another blow: her mother Zulfiya dies. The woman was everything to Laysan, a close friend, adviser, assistant. The girl was very worried and turned to psychologists for help. During this period, the most devoted friends turned out to be coach Irina Viner, who supported the pupil with all her might, and comrade Pavel Volya.
The friendship between the guys gradually grew into something more. It was a shock for the social crowd to learn that in 2012, comedian, party animal, joker Pavel married the champion. Only about half a year passed, and the family’s first child, Robert, was born. Three years later, the couple rejoiced at the birth of their daughter Sophia.
The union of the Comedy Club resident and the former gymnast, although it became strange for loved ones, was natural. Pavel threw himself headlong into fatherhood, surrounding his wife with care, being proud and admiring of her everywhere. Laysan blossomed in these relationships, experiencing all the joys of a new stage in life. After leaving professional sports, she was not lost among the Wikipedia lists of “former” gymnasts. Immediately after her departure, the heroine published an autobiographical book, “Unbroken,” in which she honestly described everything that was happening in the hall and outside it. Laysan began to be invited to various TV shows as a presenter. With her participation, the projects “This Morning”, “Be Healthy”, “Fitness with the Stars”, “Dancing with the Stars” were released. She conducted the last competition herself.
Sports career
Little Laysan got into sports by accident. Her mother wanted to send her to a ballet school, but Nadezhda Kasyanova, a famous rhythmic gymnastics coach, noticed her in the grocery line. She was struck by the little girl’s natural flexibility, and she persuaded Zulfiya Utyasheva to send her to the sport. The woman did not agree immediately, because she saw a completely different future for her daughter. However, Laysan persuaded her mother, and she took her to her first rhythmic gymnastics training.
Coming out of the gym, the girl said that she would work out here and would definitely become famous throughout the world. Laysan won her first victory at the age of 10. With the money she received, she bought her mother a robe, which was kept in the family for many years.
L. Utyasheva with her coach
When the girl turned 12 years old, she and her family moved to Moscow. Here her sports career began to actively develop. In 1999, Laysan became a master of sports, and in 2000 she won several high-profile victories. She became the winner of tournaments in several countries. Therefore, she became an international athlete.
Sports achievements were not easy for Laysan. Regular physical activity led to leg problems. The girl began to complain of terrible pain, which did not allow her to sleep and work peacefully. The medicinal ointments that her mother lubricated her legs helped her relieve the pain.
In 1994, Utyasheva joined Tatyana Sorokina’s team. The coach immediately did not like the girl’s figure, and she ordered her to adhere to a strict diet. The athlete listened to the recommendations, but constant hunger and health problems ultimately led to a nervous breakdown. In addition to the constant pain in my legs, I also had back pain. However, the girl did not give up and confidently moved towards new achievements.
Famous gymnast Laysan Utyasheva
In 2001, she became a multiple winner of sports competitions. Everyone started talking about the athlete, they began to recognize her, newspapers and magazines began to write about her.
In 2002, Laysan changed her mentor. Irina Viner and Vera Shatalina began to train her. At this time, the athlete won many sports awards, including international ones. In the same year, an unpleasant event happened to the girl. During the performance, she jumped unsuccessfully and injured her foot. After this, Laysan contacted several doctors and underwent examination. But she did not experience any serious consequences.
However, the consequences of an unsuccessful jump did not allow themselves to be forgotten. The athlete felt pain and discomfort in her leg. Despite this, the girl trained hard in the gym. This incident haunted her envious people. There were rumors that Laysan was feigning illness. In 2002, the athlete was examined in detail in one of the clinics in Germany. Here she was diagnosed with multiple bone fractures. Doctors questioned not only Utyasheva’s sports career, but also her ability to move freely.
Beautiful girl and talented gymnast Laysan
The gymnast did not despair and turned to famous surgeons, who successfully operated on her and returned her to normal life. In 2004, the girl continued her sports career and won several victories. Over time, a serious injury reminded itself, and Laysan left the sport.
Laysan Utyasheva: Wikipedia of her ascent to the sports Olympus
On June 28, 1985, a daughter was born into the family of Albert and Zulfiya Utyashev. In Bashkiria, they honor their roots. Children's names were given according to the signs that were noted in nature on the eve of the birth of the child. On the day the girl was born, it was a warm summer rain. Zulfiya’s mother gave advice to name the child “affectionate,” which in Bashkir sounds like “Liisansky.”
Dad is a historian, mom is a librarian. The family of the future athlete had Polish, Russian, Tatar roots, seasoned with Bashkir character. All this came together in Laysan.
At four years old, the family transports the girl to Volgograd. An incident determined her interests: in the queue of a store she was noticed by gymnastics coach Nadezhda Kasyanova. The woman invited Zulfiya to bring her daughter to a trial training session, she liked the baby’s physique so much. Utyasheva was distinguished by natural flexibility. Mom was not enthusiastic about the idea of gymnastics; she dreamed of sending her child to dance as much as possible. But after the first lesson, Laysan announced that she would become the World Champion (at four years old!). Zulfiya no longer contradicted the child’s desire to study, despite the fact that her daughter consciously refused an ordinary childhood. Training camps, training, constant classes - these are the leisure activities of every artistic gymnast.
At the age of 10, Laysan won an international competition and received her first money for her performance. First of all, she bought her mother a gift - a silk robe, which Zulfiya kept all her life. At 12, the family moved to Moscow. At 14, the girl reaches the master of sports level. A year later - silver at a personal tournament in thin. gymnastics in memory of Oksana Kostina. In 2001 - World Cup and Laysan brings 6 medals. It was a breakthrough that no one expected. The name Utyasheva is becoming stronger in the legendary top three: Kabaeva, Chashchina and she. The girls go to Madrid for the World Championships, where Laysan flawlessly takes gold from her foreign competitors. After such successes, the athlete is awarded the name of an international master of sports.
Weight problems
The end of her sports career and the death of her mother were not easy for the girl. Food helped her cope with stress. In an interview, Laysan admitted that for several months she lay on the couch, watched TV and ate everything that she was forbidden during training. It is not surprising that the gymnast turned from a slender girl into a curvaceous lady.
The girl decided to take care of herself after she was invited to a public meeting along with other gymnasts. Due to her obesity, she refused the meeting. She was ashamed to appear in this form and admit her weakness. Utyasheva started running in the morning and did body wraps, but this did not give the desired results.
Successful woman Laysan Utyasheva
Then she found an old food diary that she had left over from her former trainer. The girl began to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition, control her calorie intake and expenditure, and actively play sports. The results were not long in coming. The girl returned to her former form and began to look great.
Working on television
After leaving the sport, Laysan Utyasheva began to be actively invited to television programs as a presenter. The gymnast began leading sports programs. In addition, she began acting in commercials and signed a contract with several large companies. Laysan became a commentator for the London Olympics. In 2008, the girl decided to try herself as a writer, and released a novel about her life under the symbolic title “Unbroken.” The following year, her original dance show started.
In 2011, Laysan Utyasheva became the TV presenter of the Beauty Academy program, where she shared the secrets of youth and health. In 2012, the gymnast starred in the TV series “Champions.” The role was small, but the girl really liked the acting experience she received.
Laysan as the host in the show “Dancing”
The gymnast developed a series of her own exercises, which she filmed. These videos have become a salvation for thousands of women. All the exercises are simple and can be easily repeated even at home.
Between doing exercises, Laysan talks about the principles of proper nutrition, which at one time helped her cope with excess weight and find the figure of her dreams.
In 2012, a radio program was launched with the participation of Laysan Utyasheva. She invites famous personalities and over a cup of tea learns about their interests, hobbies and plans for life. After another 2 years, the gymnast became the host of the popular show “Dancing”.
Personal life
Laysan Utyasheva is a famous person, so it is not surprising that her personal life has always been under the radar of journalists. Especially at the time when she began to be invited to television. The acquaintance of the gymnast with the famous Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom was very actively discussed. At that time, Orlando was in a relationship, but journalists wrote that this did not stop him from falling in love with the beautiful athlete. Whether this is true or just speculation still remains a mystery.
With husband Pavel Volya
Laysan Utyasheva was in a relationship with businessman Valery Lomadze. Parting with him was difficult, even leading to litigation. The main point of contention was an expensive car. In 2012, the gymnast married a resident of the comedy program, Pavel Volya. The young people were friends for a long time. After the death of her mother, he supported the girl and helped her cope with her experiences. This brought them closer and they began a romantic relationship that grew into a strong marriage.
People took the news of the wedding of Pavel Volya and Laysan Utyasheva as a joke. Their relationship was long considered fictitious. However, the subsequent wedding, where the young people did not hide their feelings, dispelled all doubts. Today the couple is raising two children. In 2016, rumors appeared about the gymnast’s third pregnancy, but so far they have not been confirmed.
Laysan Utyasheva: champion with broken legs
Laysan Utyasheva entered the history of rhythmic gymnastics in a non-standard way. The story of a small, fragile, but at the same time, strong and self-confident athlete shocked the world. A simulator, a pretender, a deceiver who “caught a star” - epithets that for a long time stood as a clear shadow on the name Utyashev. Everything was decided by chance, fate or providence. Modern Laysan is an example to be followed by millions of people around the world.
