Konstantin Koltsov, the Belarusian former pro ice hockey player and boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has died at the age of 42, the Russian club Salavat Yulaev announced on Tuesday in a statement.
Koltsov played for the Belarus national team in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics and spent parts of three seasons with the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 and 2006.
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“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” Salavat Yulaev, which is based in the city of Ufa, said in the statement. “He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club. May he rest in peace.”
The Miami-Dade police department told CNN: “According to investigators on Monday 18 March 2024, at 12:39am, Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort. The Miami-Dade police department, homicide bureau, responded and has taken over the investigation … no foul play is suspected.”
Renowned for his speed on the ice, Koltsov won the Russian Super League title with Salavat Yulaev in 2008 and more recently returned to the club as an assistant coach.
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Sabalenka and Koltsov were first linked in June 2021, according to People magazine, and the world No 2 has frequently posted photos of them together on her Instagram account. “I love you @koltsov2021,” she wrote in one post that included heart and other emojis. “Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest person, my best friend and my strongest support. Peace be with you, strength, patience and health. I hope we will have everything we planned I love you.”
Koltsov also applauded Sabalenka after the Belarusian won her second consecutive Australian Open title in January. Sabalenka lost in the last 16 at Indian Wells last week and is scheduled to play her first match at the Miami Open on Friday.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
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