Laysan Utyasheva , a gymnast from the golden generation of the 2000s, did not get lost against the background of Alina Kabaeva and Irina Chashchina and was Irina Viner’s favorite. Due to serious injuries, Utyasheva left the sport early - at the age of 21.
A few years later, a tragedy occurred in her life - Laysan lost her mother. During a difficult period, her friend, Comedy Club TV presenter Pavel Volya, . It was then that Utyasheva realized that the love she had been waiting for all her life was always there.
Now Volya and Utyasheva are one of the most romantic and sweet couples in Russian show business.
Russian gymnastics star Laysan Utyasheva
Laysan was born into a very simple family, where her father was a historian and her mother a librarian. At the age of 4, the girl and her family were forced to move to the city of Volgograd for personal reasons. At that time, the parents’ dream was to send their daughter to ballet art, however, life itself sometimes puts everything in its place. And the fate of Laysan is proof of this.
One day, a gymnastics coach, Nadezhda Kasyanova, came to see Laysan’s mother at the grocery store. After this meeting and a series of events, the little girl Laysan began to take her first, but fairly confident steps in artistic gymnastics. At the age of 12, the girl was already transferred to the Moscow Olympic Reserve School, where she studied with the best mentors and improved her skills. Laysan acquired the title of Master of Sports at the age of 14.
Laysan's rapid career showed that the girl was in the right place in life. Already at the age of 16, she easily won the World Cup in Berlin, and after this step she became the winner of the championship in Madrid. The audience fell in love with the gymnast, and the girl’s career was easier than ever. It would seem that everything was going great, if not for a series of failures that haunts almost any athlete at a certain stage of their career.
During a performance in Samara in 2002, in the process of landing, Laysan severely kicked off the foot of one leg. Despite the nagging pain in her leg, the girl did not give up and did not complete the competition. After examination, no injuries were found, just a bruise. As a result, the girl had to continue the intensive training program. However, the pain did not go away and was so strong that the athlete sometimes could not sleep properly. Despite complaints to doctors, they decided that the girl was simply suffering from star fever and was trying to get away from training with complaints.
The girl’s fate was saved by the coach at that time, Irina Wiener, who forced Laysan to undergo a more thorough examination, but in a German hospital. As a result, it turned out that the girl’s legs were broken, and all this time she had been training on injured limbs. The diagnosis turned out to be so severe that doctors questioned not only Laysan’s ability to continue her career in big-time sports. Doctors doubted that with such injuries the girl would be able to walk as well as before.
But even here, fate did not abandon the athlete and a successful operation in her homeland helped the girl get back on her feet. Laysan was able to get into shape quickly enough and a year later she was fully performing as part of the Russian national team. Considering the athlete’s perseverance and hard work, it is unknown how her career would have developed further if Laysan had not decided to leave big-time sports in 2006.
It was from this stage of life that Laysan’s career took off in show business. She had the opportunity to prove herself as a ballerina. She performed in the show ballet “Balero” with a personal solo number. Laysan also became the author of an autobiography with the self-explanatory title “Unbroken,” and also had the chance to play a leading role in one of the popular TV series. Despite her successful career, Laysan had to endure many failures and trials in her personal life. However, even here the bad streak ended after meeting Pavel Volya.
Volya helped her survive her mother’s death, Viner immediately approved of Laysan’s choice
After completing her career, Utyasheva performed in gymnastic shows and ballet, commented on the Olympics, and hosted programs on television and radio. Her mother, who acted as an agent, helped her in everything. At social evenings and carpet events, Laysan almost always appeared with Zulfiya.
In March 2012, Utyasheva’s mother passed away due to heart problems. The girl had a hard time with the early death of her mother - she was only 47 years old. And at this time Laysan realized that she needed a family:
“I don’t allow myself to go into the state of furniture or a vegetable, because I have a huge female goal - children. I want to raise them, put them on their feet and say “thank you” to their mother in this way. Mom, this is procreation, I don’t just do it, I won’t destroy myself.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to hug the baby: I was being treated, then we were running somewhere, then I didn’t like someone, then I didn’t want to get married. I’m very heavy, obstinate to the point of madness, but now I realized that it’s time,” said Utyasheva.
It turned out that even then the ex-gymnast had the love of her life next to her. Laysan did not talk about her chosen one until the wedding. And when information appeared that Utyasheva married showman Pavel Volya and was expecting a child from him, many did not believe it. Although the couple did not hide, they were considered just friends.
As Utyasheva said, she and Pavel were really friends for a long time - about seven years. He always helped her and supported her. They met even before the death of Laysan’s mother, but it was during that period when her dearest person passed away that Utyasheva realized how much Volya loved her. And at this time Pavel proposed to her.
Zulfiya always liked Volya, so Laysan was calm. But another test for the gymnasts is watching their sports mother, Irina Viner.
“We were so afraid of it, to be honest. But everything was very easy. Irina Aleksandrovna called me every other day to find out my condition. Since April, she knew who was nearby. When she said: “Come on, come to me, you’ll be with me, I can’t leave you like this,” I said: “Irina Alexandrovna, I’m not alone. Pasha is next to me.” She asked: “Which Pasha? Can he be trusted? I say: “Yes, you can.” She replies: “Give him the phone.” I don’t know what they were talking about, but Pasha was beaming.
Then he himself said: “Let’s go, let’s go to Irochka.” I say: “Ah! OK then". And when we arrived, I felt superfluous, because they were so happy together - they sat and talked. He loved her very much, and Irina Alexandrovna said: “Cool guy.”
Laysan takes an example from her favorite coach: she said that the love story of Viner and Alisher Usmanov, which they carried through their entire lives, inspires her. And the fact that Irina Aleksandrovna does not sit idle gives her motivation.
Comedian and humorist Pavel "Snowball" Volya
The famous comedian Pavel Volya has been a participant in the Comedy Club show from the date of its foundation to the present day. However, Volya’s career as a comedian began much earlier than joining the popular project.
From early childhood, a sense of humor helped Volya become the soul of any company. While still at school age, together with a group of like-minded people, Pavel became a full-fledged member of the local KVN club. It is not surprising that everyone unanimously at the general council chose the future star as captain of the KVN team. The guy was active, especially in the company of pretty ladies. It was probably partly this weakness that helped Pavel make his choice of profession in favor of the philological faculty of the local university in the city of Penza.
Having received the profession of a teacher of Russian language and literature, Pavel did not go to work in it, but decided to further develop his sense of humor, but in Moscow conditions. After his arrival, Pavel temporarily found work as a foreman at one of the Moscow construction sites. some houses in Moscow were built precisely under his leadership.
After the end of this stage of life, Pasha decided to continue working in the comedy industry and auditioned for various roles in stand-ups and shows. However, the comedian found his real calling precisely in the Comedy Club show. Pavel Volya has been actively involved in the life of the Comedy Club since 2005.
Pavel knew how to succinctly and subtly ridicule the activities of any person from the stage, be it a politician or an athlete. It is not surprising that it was precisely his subtle sense of humor that became the key to Pasha’s popularity among the female half of the audience. At the same time, Volya tried not to advertise his personal life and relationships with many representatives of the domestic show business.
At this stage of his life, Pasha had no time for a serious relationship; he was overwhelmed by the career question and quite successfully. Pavel even tried out as a singer and released a solo album, which at that time enjoyed quite a lot of success. Pavel's hyperactivity made itself felt; he worked at several radio stations, while managing to take part in Comedy, as well as act in films and release his personal songs.
The only lady who is definitely known to the public is Marika or Maria Kravtsova. Pavel did not hide his relationship with her, and for about 3 years in public these two played a completely happy couple. In reality, ideal relationships lasted significantly less time. Many assumed that Pavel and Maria would finally be able to start a family and constantly asked the couple about the event. However, something prevented the young people from bringing what they started to its logical conclusion.
Utyasheva did not think about marriage and had her first kiss at the age of 19
Since childhood, Utyasheva had incredible flexibility, talent and perseverance. Back in the 1990s, when Laysan was training in Volgograd, she was noticed by the main woman in rhythmic gymnastics, Irina Viner.
In the early 2000s, Laysan was number three on the national team: Kabaeva and Chashchina performed with her. But Utyasheva sometimes even beat her older friends. Wiener hoped that she would be the main star of gymnastics.
Utyasheva won the World Cup and won the Grand Prix final. And at the 2001 World Championships she won gold in the team all-around. However, due to a strange doping scandal, Laysan was deprived of her medal: the banned furosemide was found in the samples of Kabaeva and Chashchina, who competed with Utyasheva. Officially, Laysan is not a world champion, but she is often presented as such.
The leaders were disqualified, and 16-year-old Utyasheva automatically moved to first place in the team. The expectation of victories and increased workload resulted in an injury - the gymnast was diagnosed with a stress fracture of her foot. The damage was not immediately discovered - Laysan was even accused of simulation. And when the study showed multiple fractures, doctors suggested amputating part of the foot. Utyasheva did not agree: she underwent 5 operations, pins were inserted into her leg. The girl learned to walk again.
She returned and took her second gold at the European Championships. Wiener often complains: if not for injuries, Utyasheva would have won the Olympics. And the gymnast was preparing for the Games: she planned to compete before Beijing 2008.
In 2006, during one of the training sessions, Laysan’s kneecap popped out; the injury was not as serious as the previous ones, but the gymnast realized that it was time to leave.
The 21-year-old athlete did not think about marriage then: her mother, Zulfiya, was her family. Utyasheva said that during sports she did not pay attention to young people, and had her first kiss only at the age of 19.
Meeting Laysan and Pavel
The future young family met at one of the typical social events. At first glance, there was no particular sympathy; both first learned about each other from screens, in absentia. The sympathy from the category of friendship lasted for 3 years. The friendship had rather strict boundaries; the couple did not interfere in each other’s personal lives, respecting personal boundaries. When meeting at similar social events, two friends would chat for hours about nothing. And then again disperse into the working aspects of life for several months.
Over time, Laysan increasingly began to come to Comedy Club shows in the company of her mother, and not fans, of whom she had quite enough. The girl’s mother respected the work of comedians, believing that it was high intelligence that helped children joke subtly and at the same time feel the edge of their humor without going too far. At the same time, Pavel and Laysan could have been friends for a very long time if fate had not intervened in their relationship again in the most cruel way.
Publicly declare their love and do joint projects
In November 2012, Volya and Utyasheva got married - they did not have a wedding, because Laysan was still grieving for her mother. The following year, the couple invited friends and celebrated two events - the wedding and the birth of their son.
Utyasheva gave birth to her first child in the USA. In May 2013, Robert was born in Miami.
“I gave birth in another country only because Pavel and I wanted to be ordinary guys. There you can just walk around pregnant, kiss on the streets, and no one will recognize you, no one will rush after you, no one will rush after your husband.”
Two years later, a daughter, Sofia, appeared in the family. Despite the fact that Pavel and Laysan are very open people, they rarely show their children. The gymnast explains this by saying that parents should not choose for their child whether to become public or not.
But Utyasheva and Volya often confess their love to each other in public. After the wedding, Pavel talks about his wife in almost every speech, gives her gifts and writes poetry.
“He shares with me what he’s cooking, and then suddenly he says: “Lya, I won’t tell you this monologue. Let this be a surprise for you,” Utyasheva recalled one of her husband’s speeches, “and I tell him: “Pashka, tell me, I just want to come in a tracksuit or jeans, I’m still breastfeeding.” He replies: “No, please wear makeup for this concert.” And I was already expecting something, but I didn’t know what it would be. And he begins to confess, and I’m pleased as a girl, and I think what people will say. And then, of course, tears.”
One day Volya gave his wife a copy of Vrubel’s “Demon”. This was also a gift with meaning. As a child, Laysan and his mother often went to the Tretyakov Gallery and studied paintings; “The Demon” was one of their favorites. Utyasheva knows this work down to the smallest detail. After going to the museum, Pavel gave her a copy of his favorite painting.
Recently, Utyasheva celebrated a milestone – she turned 35 years old. Her husband wrote her a poem and made a touching video for Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
You are eighteen again today!!!
Publication by Pavel Volya | Pavel Volya (@pavelvolyaofficial) Jun 27, 2022 at 3:01 PDT
Pavel and Laysan always joke and smile, and when quarantine began, they even apologized to the audience - they dreamed of working remotely in order to spend more time together.
“I adore family, I madly love my wife and children. And this is some kind of incredible love. My thoughts today and always are about my family and my children. I believe that this is the main meaning of life. Give birth to children, raise them with dignity,” Volya said.
They really don't have much time together. Several years ago, the online educational project “Willpower” was opened. Utyasheva talks there about proper nutrition and exercise, as well as how to become an ideal wife. Volya shares the secrets of efficiency and tells how to develop a sense of humor. According to the website, more than 20 thousand students from 53 countries have already taken courses.
Utyasheva launched the “Charging” project on YouTube, and Volya takes an active part in it. Laysan attends almost all of her husband’s performances at the Comedy Club. They make funny videos for Instagram and TikTok and give interviews together.
Utyasheva dreamed of her only and true love for the rest of her life. Volya admired the affection of his parents and hoped for the same happiness for himself. They both seem to have fulfilled their dreams.
“I think family is the most important thing that happened to me. And now my dream is to be a grandmother. I look at my grandmothers, and I really want to live until this moment. Be with them, help them."
Wedding of Pavel Volya and Laysan Utyasheva: circumstances and details
As mentioned earlier, fate had its own way with the couple’s relationship and they moved from the category of friendship to romance under cruel circumstances. The tragic death of Laysan's mother from a heart attack at the age of 47 took the girl by surprise. If not for Pavel, Laysan might not have survived the death of such a close person. Pavel freed the girl from the burden of responsibility, and also helped to mentally alleviate her suffering with humor.
Pavel and Laysan got married in September 2012. The atmosphere of the solemn event was quiet and family. Pavel and Laysan celebrated their wedding in their quiet family and home circle. The two also decided not to spend extra money and emotions on purchasing clothes and dresses; they signed for what they had. Laysan decided to hold such a modest ceremony as a sign of respect and memory for her deceased mother. Only Pavel and Laysan were present at the ceremony itself; everything went off without unnecessary noise or PR.
After the celebration in the evening, the couple celebrated the event in a quiet family circle. And then I decided to continue celebrating the event together, walking around my favorite places, parks, museums and carefully avoiding publicity and social life. Now the couple has a son, Robert, and they are happily married.
The wedding of Pavel Volya and Laysan Utyasheva proves that sometimes all you need for happiness is sincerity and the desire to start a family with a person you can truly rely on in difficult times.
Happy family life
Pavel Volya and Leysan Utyasheva are happily married. The comedian dedicates his touching monologues to his beloved wife and children. The gymnast is happy to share news about creativity and children with subscribers of her blog. But she very rarely posts photographs of her son and daughter and always tries to choose angles so that the children’s faces are not visible.
Pavel Volya and his wife work a lot and take part in joint projects. Leysan ended her sports career in 2005 and, after a successful marriage, tried herself as a presenter. Utyasheva is in great demand. She starred in commercials and in one of the videos she appeared before the audience in a wedding dress. Fans thought that the gymnast and her husband decided to have a big wedding after all. But it turned out that this was just an image.
Pavel Volya and his family spend a lot of time on vacation abroad. They are especially common in Spain. Against this background, rumors arose about the emigration of celebrities. The popular comedian commented quite harshly on this information. He advised not to interfere in their lives and said that he and his wife did not even think about leaving Russia.
Is it true that Volya emigrated from Russia with his wife and children?
In 2016, rumors appeared that Pavel and his family were leaving for permanent residence in Spain. This country was chosen because it has a warm and mild climate. An example was the move of Katie Topuria with her husband and Alsou with Yan Abramov. A couple of days later, the comedian wrote a post on Instagram, where he explained this point in detail.
Volya ridiculed the situation with his usual sense of humor. Pavel wrote that he has money for frequent travel, so he and Laysan constantly fly abroad, but do not plan to leave their homeland forever. Pasha sarcastically said that if you work hard and well, then subscribers will also have a chance to go on vacation.
Children of Volya and Utyasheva: photos now
In 2013, the son of a comedian and gymnast, Robert, was born in a private Miami clinic. Volya said that he rarely felt so happy when he took the boy in his arms. The kid is interested in sports, willingly learns English, and grows up very inquisitive.
Two years later, in May 2015, Laysan gave birth to a girl, Sofia. Pasha always speaks affectionately about his daughter, saying that she constantly talks incessantly and is very affectionate. The girl is growing up flexible and athletic, doing rhythmic gymnastics and dancing.
Laysan Utyasheva: biography, personal life before Pavel Volya
The famous Russian gymnast was born in the city of Raevsky on June 28, 1985. A chance meeting with coach Nadezhda Kasyanova helped Laysan connect her life with sports. It was she who saw the abilities in the girl. Already in 1999, Laysan became a master of sports and then a world champion.
In 2010, the gymnast married businessman Valery Lomadze, but the happy family life did not last long. The man accused Laysan of embezzling money to buy a BMW car and a luxury apartment. This situation ended the relationship of the spouses; they later separated and divorced.
