Ukrainian weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, a double European champion, was killed in combat during the ongoing war against Russia, according to an announcement by the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation. Pielieshenko, who was 30 years old, achieved significant acclaim in the weightlifting world with European gold medals in 2016 and 2017 and had placed fourth in the 85kg category at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The federation expressed profound sorrow in their statement, describing the loss as a tragic event for the sports community. “It is with great sadness that we have to tell you that the heart of the great Ukrainian sportsman Oleksandr Pielieshenko has stopped beating,” they said. Ukraine’s national weightlifting coach, Victor Slobodianiuk, honored Pielieshenko’s bravery on Facebook, stating, “He died a hero defending Ukraine. War takes the best of us. This is a very heavy loss for the entire weightlifting community of Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Olympic Committee also paid tribute to Pielieshenko, noting that he had joined the Ukrainian army in February 2022 immediately following the Russian invasion. Pielieshenko’s death has been mourned nationwide, with tributes pouring in from across the sports and national community, echoing the sentiment, “Heroes don’t die!”
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