Ukrainian Olympian and two-time European champion Oleksandr Pieliesjenko has died on the front lines of Russia’s war in Ukraine at the age of 30, the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation (UWF) announced on Monday.
Pielieshenko finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the men’s 85kg category and won gold at the sport’s European Championships in 2016 and 2017. He was suspended after failing a drugs test in 2018.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you that the heart of the deserving sports master of Ukraine… Oleksandr Pielieshenko stopped beating today,” the UWF said in a post on Facebook.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and everyone who knew Oleksandr.”
Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee also paid tribute to the weightlifter, saying he had joined the armed forces in the early days of the invasion.
“War takes the best of us…heroes don’t die,” says weightlifting coach and UWF board member Viktor Slobodianiuk.
