The story of Pavel Afanasyevich Bychkov, who transformed from a shepherd into one of the best skiers in Russia, is impressive. He was born in 1886 in the village of Bolshoy Azyas in the Penza province. His family was not wealthy, so until the age of 18, Pavel worked as a shepherd. In search of a better life, he went to Moscow, where he could only find work as a laborer on the railway. He lived in a wooden barrack and slept on straw. After a few months, Bychkov quit and found a job as a janitor for merchant Skuy. It was there that his life changed. The merchant had two sons who were passionate about skiing. They invited Pavel to ski with them, and unexpectedly for everyone, he outran them. As a joke, they suggested he participate in the Moscow competitions, and Bychkov agreed. He trained on homemade skis in the evenings. On February 15, 1909, he started the 25-verst race. The participants, seeing his ski suit made of wool and homemade skis, could hardly contain their laughter. However, after the finish, their laughter turned to envy as Bychkov came in third, outrunning professionals. He went on to become a prizewinner in the Championship of the Russian Empire twice, and in 1913 he went to the Northern European Games in Sweden. He recalled: "We traveled alone, without guides. We barely made it to Stockholm. In the evening we arrived at the competition venue, and in the morning we had to start without getting acquainted with the course. We looked like some orphans." Bychkov showed a commendable result, but his sports career was interrupted by the start of World War I. He spent several years on the front. In Soviet Russia, he taught cadets of military schools how to ski. For his contribution to the development of sports, the Soviet government gifted him a sweater.