Double Olympic synchronised swimming champion Maria Shurochkina is fighting for her life after suffering severe burns in a fire at her home in Moscow. The 31-year-old, who won gold in 2016 and 2021, was rushed to hospital after her clothes caught fire in her luxury flat.
Doctors are working to save her amid concerns of potentially fatal complications, including burn shock, dehydration and infection. According to Mash, a Russian Telegram channel, her condition was initially described as "moderate" but has since been changed to "serious".
Incident at Moscow penthouse
The incident occurred when Shurochkina was refilling a bioethanol fireplace in her four-bedroom penthouse. Her clothes caught fire when flammable vapours began burning. She was later found writhing and screaming in agony on the stairwell of the building.
She reportedly suffered acute damage to the skin on her head, neck, chest, abdomen, arms and hands. It is claimed that doctors fear she may have suffered tissue necrosis, the death of damaged skin and underlying tissue.
Hospitalisation and response
Shurochkina was taken to the Sklifosovsky Emergency Research Institute in central Moscow, which specialises in emergency medical care and burn trauma. According to The Sun, the Russian Aquatic Sports Federation confirmed she had been hospitalised and said officials had contacted both the hospital and her family.
Shurochkina retired from competitive swimming four years ago to pursue a career in entertainment, performing in aquatic theatre productions and taking up dancing. Speaking after her decision to retire, she said: "I felt like a lost child who didn’t know where to go or what to do next."
Awards and family
She was awarded the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honour by Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2016 and 2021 respectively. Earlier this year, Shurochkina performed at the State Kremlin Palace in a production choreographed by dancer Ildar Gainutdinov.
Her half-sister, Nyusha, real name Anna Shurochkina, is one of Russia’s most prominent pop stars. The two sisters competed in and won the second season of the reality TV show, Treasures of the Emperor, last year.
