Edgard Zapashny

Edgard Walterowich Zapashny (born 11 July 1976) is a representative of the famous Zapashny circus dynasty in the third generation (fourth by blood). People's Artist of Russia (2012). General Director of the Great Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Avenue (since 2012). General producer and presenter of the World Festival of Circus Art "IDOL".
==Biography==
Born 11 July 1976 in Yalta, Crimea region. He made his debut in the circus arena in 1988 in Riga.
After graduation, the whole family went to China. During difficult years for the country and the circus in 1991, the family was offered a lucrative contract for several years, which allowed them to save all their animals from starvation. Especially for the Zapashnys, the Chinese side built a large summer circus in the “Safari Park”, near the city of Shenzhen.
Together with his brother, Askold Zapashny, Edgard visited Russia, China, Japan, Hungary, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Monaco, Italy, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia on tour.
In 1998, at the celebration of jubilee, People's Artist of Russia Walter Zapashny gave his sons the attraction "Among Predators".
In November 2012, Edgard Zapashny won the competition for the position of director of the Great Moscow State Circus and today he is the CEO of this circus, continuing to be a performing artist.
Since 2018, he has been a member of the Council for Culture and Art under Vladimir Putin|the President of the Russian Federation.
==Education==
Graduated from the Moscow Institute of Entrepreneurship and Law. Russian State Social University – master’s degree. Can speak English and Chinese at an intermediate level.
==Personal life==
In March 2015, it became known that for several years he had been in a relationship with fitness instructor Olga Denisova, whom he met while visiting a gym in Voronezh. During this time, Olga gave birth to daughters Stefania (2011) and Gloria (2013).
Prior to that, for 13 years he was in an unregistered marriage with the honored circus artist Elena Petrikova.
After breaking up with Olga Denisova, he began a relationship with Yaroslavna Demeshko. They met in 2013 through friends. The novel proceeded very rapidly – at first the lovers spent a lot of time together, and then they came together. Yaroslavna got a job at the Zapashny Brothers Circus as an administrator. On 28 August 2017, the couple became parents to a child named Daniel.
==Honours==
•	1997 – Winner of the festival of circus art "Golden Troika" in Yaroslavl.
•	1999 – Merited Artist of the Russian Federation (30 July 1999) – for services in the field of art.
•	1999 – The title of "Artist of the Year" from the Union of Circus Workers.
•	2001 – Laureate of the Moscow Government Prize.
•	2002 – Laureate of the national award "Circus".
•	2005 – Laureate of the International Circus Competition in Saratov, the main prize "Golden Troika". A special prize for high achievements in circus art was awarded the International Prizes from the China Circus Art Association – the Golden Lion award.
•	2006 – Together with brother, Edgard was listed in the Guinness World Records for the longest jump of a lion with a man on its back.
•	2007 – Laureate of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Art in Izhevsk. The main award "Golden Bear".
•	2008 – People's Artist of Udmurtia (13 October 2008, Udmurtia).
•	2011 – Winner of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Art in Moscow. Special prize from the Mongolian State Circus and from the Grand Circus "Mundial" (Spain). He also has Public Awards from the Governor of the Kemerovo Region, the Governor of the Bryansk Region, and the Governor of the Novosibirsk Region.
•	2011 – The second time was listed with his brother in the Guinness World Records for the record trick "The highest column of 3 people on a running pair of horses".
•	2012 – Laureate of the International Festival-Competition of Circus Arts in Izhevsk and the second time the Golden Bear award for the performance of the equestrian act "Hellas".
•	2012 – People's Artist of Russia (21 March 2012) – for great services in the field of cinematographic, musical, theatrical, choreographic and circus art.
•	2012 – Order of the "Key of Friendship" (31 August 2012, Kemerovo region) – for high professionalism, dedication, and loyalty to his work.
•	2014 – Awarded a commemorative medal and a letter of thanks from Dmitry Medvedev "For a great contribution to the preparation and holding of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi."
•	2015 – Awarded with a letter of thanks from Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, "for active work on the preparation and implementation of several events in 2014 aimed at social support for family members of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who died in the line of duty or became disabled due to military injuries". (20 January 2012)
•	2016 – Awarded with a certificate of honor from Vladimir Kolokoltsev – Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation "For active work on the preparation and implementation of a set of measures in 2015 aimed at social support for family members of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who died in the line of duty or became disabled due to military injuries".
•	2017 – Princess Stéphanie of Monaco presented the prize "For Merit in the Development of the Russian Circus".
•	2017 – award "Silver Clown" at the 41st International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The brothers expressed their disagreement with the results of the jury voting.
•	2018 – On February 5, was awarded the departmental medal "Participant in the military operation in Syria" by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu.
•	2018 – For assistance and practical assistance in the preparation and implementation of several events aimed at social support for family members of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who died in the line of duty or became disabled due to military injuries, Edgard was awarded the badge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia "For Assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs" (5 October 2018). The award was presented by the First Deputy Head of the Department of Public Service and Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Police Lieutenant General Andrei Petrovich Larionov.
•	2018 – Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, for active participation in the social and political life of Russian society.
•	2019 – Order of Friendship (29 April 2019) – for a great contribution to the development of national culture and art, many years of fruitful activity.
==Cultural activities==
Together with his brother, Edgard created the Zapashny Brothers Circus, as well as many circus shows, including "Coliseum" (2007), "Camelot" (2008), "Sadko" (2009), "Camelot-2: Viceroy of the Gods" (2010), "Legend" (2011), "K. U. K. L. A." (2012), "Terrible Force" (2013) and others.
Author and co-author of books:
2008 – Author of the book "Intrigue" together with his brother and Anastasia Takki.
2008 – Author of the book "How We Train Dogs" together with his brother.
2009 – Author of the book "Camelot. Fragments of legends" together with his brother.
2011 – Author of the children's book "My friends are tigers".
Author of articles:
Since 16 April 2021, he has been writing an author's column on one of the leading Russian information portals – the Federal News Agency.
== Participation in television projects ==
•	"City of Temptations" – Vlad, Masha Svetlova's boyfriend, husband.
•	2007 – TV show of the First Channel "King of the Ring". He became the winner, won 6 out of 7 possible victories in intermediate battles. He won the final fight with Evgeny Dyatlov on points (with a minimal advantage). One of his coaches was the Honored boxing coach for the USSR and Kazakhstan Leonid Tleubaev.
•	Sports and entertainment show "Big Races" – a participant together with Askold Zapashny.
•	Guest of the comedy show "Comedy Woman", episode 32.
•	Clip of the group "Kipelov" (song "Babylon").
•	Clip of the singer Vinky (song "Stupid chip").
•	An episode in the comedy television series Interns (2010, episode 33).
•	Episode in the sitcom "Daddy's Daughters" – Kazimir Topazov, trainer from the circus (2011, episode 365).
•	Episode in the TV series The Real Boys (2011, season 3).
•	Clip of the Russian singer Eva Anri (song "Don't be silent", 2011).
•	TV show "Club of the Funny and Inventive" (KVN) 2012 – a guest star in the competition "STEM with a star" of the KVN team of Pyatigorsk "Gorod Pyatigorsk".
•	TV show "Cube" 2013 – passed 6 out of 7 tests, Edgard’s winning amounted to 1,500,000 rubles.
•	Clip of the band Diskoteka Avariya – "Doll".
•	In 2011, Zapashny starred in Yuli Gusman's film “Don't be afraid, I'm with you! 1919" as a student of San Sanych (played by Lev Durov).
•	Russian comedy TV show "HB" – cameo.
•	An episode in the television series "Family Business".
•	Program "The Big Question" (participant, aired November 16, 2014).
•	In one of the episodes of the program "Empire of Illusions: The Safronov Brothers" Edgard appeared as an illusionist (broadcast February 28, 2015).
•	Since 2014 – the author of the idea, the host and general producer of the program "Legends of the Circus with Edgard Zapashny" on the Zvezda (TV channel).
•	2016 – the author of the idea of the TV Show "Margarita Nazarova". The Zapashny Brothers Circus participated in staging scenes with tigers in this TV series. Edgard also played one of the supporting roles. 
•	Since November 12, 2019 – the host of the program “Beyond the Boundary with Edgard Zapashny” as part of the show “Rise” on TNT International Belarus.
•	Since January 14, 2021 – the host of the Wildlife with Edgard Zapashny program on Sputnik radio.
Category:1976 births
Category:Circus performers
Category:Ukrainian actors