Theodore learns about Yegor Golenkov, the Russian footballer

Theodore the curious turtle was exploring a soccer field one day when he saw a tall young man practicing his shots on goal. The man had amazing skills, kicking the ball with power and precision.

Theodore inched closer to watch. When the man took a break, Theodore asked him who he was.

"I'm Yegor Golenkov," the man said with a smile. "I'm a professional football player from Russia."

Yegor told Theodore he was born in 1999 in a city called Samara. He started playing soccer as a young boy and joined his first professional team, Krylia Sovetov Samara, when he was only 16 years old!

"Wow, that's impressive!" Theodore exclaimed.

Yegor nodded. "I worked very hard to improve my skills. I'm a centre-forward, which means my job is to score goals for my team."

He explained that after playing for a few different clubs, he now plays for FC Rostov in Russia's top league.

"I wear number 69 on my jersey," Yegor said. "In my career so far, I've scored 30 goals in 130 games."

Theodore was amazed by Yegor's accomplishments at such a young age. Before saying goodbye, Yegor gave Theodore some advice: "If you have a dream, work hard and never give up. With dedication, you can achieve great things."

As Theodore slowly made his way home, he felt inspired by Yegor's story. Maybe one day he could be a star athlete too - even if turtles aren't known for their speed!