Ukrainian weightlifter dies at age 30 in war against Russia | weightlifting

Weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko died last Sunday in combat over the war between Ukraine and Russia. The news was confirmed by the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, which stated that the 30-year-old athlete had died representing his country’s armed forces in the war. The Ukrainian took 4th place at the 2016 Rio Games in the under-85kg category, but has stopped competing since 2018, when he was banned for doping.

The Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation issued a statement mourning the athlete’s death:

– It is with great sadness that we inform you that the heart of the honored master of sports of Ukraine, two-time European champion in weightlifting, Oleksandr Pielieshenko, has stopped beating. We express our deepest condolences to the family and everyone who knew Oleksandr.

The death of the Ukrainian reignites the controversy over the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as a neutral team in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Around 54 Russian athletes are expected in the competition, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but they will not be able to participate in the ceremony. opening, nor carrying the flag or singing the national anthem. The same prohibitions apply to representatives of Belarus.

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