The war between Ukraine and Russia has killed another athlete. Oleksandr Pielieshenko, a 30-year-old Ukrainian weightlifter who participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics, was killed on Sunday at the frontline. The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian Olympic Committee.
Several athletes have already lost their lives in the war, which began in February 2022, however, Oleksandr is the first Olympic athlete to die in the conflict. In a statement, the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation commented on the death.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you that the heart of Ukraine’s honored sports master, two-time European champion in weightlifting, Oleksandr Pielieshenko, has stopped beating. We express our deepest condolences to the family and everyone who knew Oleksandr,” it wrote.
Pielieshenko was a two-time European weightlifting champion (2016 and 2017), and finished his participation in the Rio Olympic Games in fourth place, in the 85 kg category. The athlete, however, had not competed since 2018, when he was banned after being caught in an anti-doping test.
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