This is a story that has never been told. A tale about the strength of the human spirit. About the encounter with illness and fear, about the lights on the operating table that replace those in the volleyball hall.
One of our most promising young volleyball players, Denis Karyagin, who defends the colors of the Turkish Fenerbahçe, in a frank confession about the unexpected clash with the diagnosis of cancer.
For his 22 years, he has played in the strongest European championships in Italy, Russia, Poland. He has fought a number of battles on the field, but one leaves a lasting mark on his mind. The one about life...
"I went for a check-up, for a completely different problem, but they found this disease", begins the story of the national player.
This is not a battle that can be won with a powerful serve or a merciless attack. It is not a match in which the rules are clear and the time predictable.
"The problem was in the left testicle, in a very early stage, which is lucky in this case. It just so happened that the operation itself was on my birthday. It was a gift that I was able to successfully go through this thing", Karyagin recalls with a smile.
So the world filled with shouts from the stands, the thud of the ball and adrenaline, suddenly shrank to the hospital room and the many questions.
"After the operation, I said to myself: "Okay, I'm still here..." And so, day after day, everything passes and is forgotten."
Sports are on Denis' side again. The years spent fighting with himself, his own body and abilities help him not to lose faith.
"You should never give up on anything. There are always difficulties, but when you don't give up, things work out. You should always believe in the good. 7 days later I was in the gym. I returned to full training after a month and a half," he added.
In the match of his life, Karyagin emerged victorious, to be back on the court today side by side with one of the most talented volleyball players in history - the Frenchman Erwin Ngapet in the Fenerbahçe team.
And contrary to the claims that Bulgarian volleyball players have no desire to defend the colors of our flag, Denis's greatest ambitions are related to the national team.
"We have potential that we must realize. I hope that with the new coach Gianlorenzo Blenghini we will achieve great things," concludes Denis.