Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency:  Golder’s News And Sport

This is the moment a Russian Para-Athlete champion is seen working as a food delivery man in his running blades to reportedly save up for his trip to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Russian triathlete Mikhail Astashov, 31, was filmed picking up an order at a food court at the Greenwich shopping centre located in the city of Ekaterinburg in the federal subject of Sverdlovsk Oblast in Russia.

The video shows the moment Astashov stands at a restaurant with running blades on both legs wearing a yellow raincoat.

The Russian paralympic athlete is seen carrying a food delivery bag for Russian-based food delivery company Yandex. food as he stands around waiting for his order seemingly unaware he is being filmed at the time.

Astashov, who is missing both hands and lower legs, reportedly started working at the company earlier this month to save up some money for the upcoming Paralympic Games set to take place between 25th August to 6th September in the Japanese capital Tokyo.

Local media report he was bombarded by media for questions after the video was shared online which prompted him to release a statement saying he is “sorry to all the journalists and followers that I did not pick up any of your calls, or answer any of your messages.

“This is all because I did not expect it to become that public and I do not know how to react in a situation like that. I am feeling a little shy.”

He went on to say he was doing the job to have some “new experience” and his main focus at the moment is training and preparing for the upcoming games.

Netizens took to the internet to show their support for the athlete with ‘Sailo’ saying: “Good job, boy! I have so much respect for people like him.”

Another guest user of a local Internet forum added: “Amazing! Both he and the company that employed him rock!”

Astashov won the 2019 Paratriathlon World Cup and is expected to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics.

He is ranked 14th in the world by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) in the PTS2 class. PTS2 is the category for athletes with ‘severe impairment’.

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