On May 3, 2011 students and tutors of the National Sports Academy "Vassil Levski" (NSA) had the opportunity to meet Ivan Kozhuharov – a mountaineer in a wheelchair whose personal achievements demonstrate clearly the unlimited power of the human spirit.
Thanks to a video compilation prepared especially by Ivan, the fully-packed hall enjoyed the emotion of the unprecedented climbing of Mont Blanc in September 2009, when Ivan and another 35 alpinists conquered the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. The video featured moments of the logistical and technical implementation of this unique project called "Shared peaks”. Several lecturers from NSA took part in this expedition: Alexander Shopov, Nikolay Panayotov, Stanimir Zhelyazkov, Lyubomir Mladenov, Doychin Boyanov. The whole group received deserved applause from the hall.
In a very direct speech Ivan said that his desire to climb back the mountain, where in 1990 a rock avalanche nearly killed him and put him in a wheelchair, is due to the strong will of his friends rather than his personal ambition. With remarkable modesty he declined the superlative qualifications for his achievement by emphasizing the contribution of each participant to the overall success of the expedition.
Assoc. Prof. Kancho Dolapchiev represented impressive facts about Ivan Kozhuharov. Despite the pessimistic predictions of doctors after the accident, Ivan not only returned to full value life, but climbed another peaks, learned several languages, studied Finance in Switzerland. He looks after his son and even flies by paraglide. Chief Assistant Alexander Shopov told the audience about his friendship with Ivan. He said that the key to success lied in the boundless energy and positivism of Ivan, which was the main driver of the initiative.
Asked by Assoc. Prof. Maya Nikolova whether he could commit himself to training people with disabilities, Ivan expressed his readiness to be helpful in any way - based on his personal experience and thanks to the awareness of useful Swiss practices. In conclusion, he wished the audience to struggle and work for their success.
The Rector of NSA Prof. Lachezar Dimitrov congratulated the guest and admitted that the meeting provoked emotional effect and a lot of positive thoughts in everyone.
