Would have told, I would not have believed

The story of Boris Starkov proves that learning a foreign language on your own is not fantasy, but reality. Without studying German at gymnasium and never having been to Germany, he took first place first in the city, then in the regional olympiad. This amazing victory is especially impressive, given that participants had to take both a written test and an oral interview with experienced teachers.

Have you tried learning foreign languages on your own? Did it work? And what about your acquaintances? I think that even if it didn’t, you have probably heard of people who taught themselves a foreign language. But have you ever encountered them in real life? That’s why I think this only happens in movies or with fictional characters comparable to heroes of children’s fairy tales, like Baron Munchausen, for whom nothing is impossible — whether flying on a cannonball or pulling himself out of a swamp by his hair.
Of course, the result turned out to be disastrous. But do you know for whom? Surprisingly, for his rivals from other schools! Who would have thought — Boris Starkov, who had never been to Germany and had never studied German at gymnasium, took 1st place in the city olympiad! So much for fictional characters.
And that would have been the end of it — everyone would have marveled, congratulated him, and that would be that. But... the city olympiad was followed by the regional one. Try to guess whether Boris Starkov was lucky enough to win a prize there? No. He was not lucky, because it was not a matter of luck, but of his knowledge, which deservedly brought him first place in the regional olympiad as well! Incredible! After all, the olympiad includes both a written test and an oral conversation in German with teachers who have studied foreign languages for many years.
All we can do is marvel at and envy his abilities. Such a thing, perhaps, is not even shameful to envy.