Sad news from Ukraine: weightlifting champion first Olympian to die in conflict with Russia

The war in Ukraine spares nothing or no one. Weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko (30), who finished 4th in the weight class up to 85 kg at the Rio Games in 2016, died last Sunday. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee confirmed this on Monday. He is the first Olympian to die in the conflict.

The 30-year-old Pielishenko finished 4th in the weight class up to 85 kg at the Rio Games in 2016. He was also a two-time European champion. His career did have a dark side. For example, he was caught several times for doping and has not been active in competition since 2018.

“Already at the beginning of the war, Pielieshenko joined the Ukrainian army to defend his homeland against the Russian occupiers. Yesterday we received the sad news of his death,” the Ukrainian Olympic Committee wrote.

The Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation also reflected on the death of the weightlifter and posted a photo on Instagram: “With great sadness we announce that the heart of the worthy sports champion and two-time European champion Oleksandr Pielieshenko has stopped beating. We express our sincere condolences to the family and everyone who knew Oleksandr.”

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Another Ukrainian Olympian, Vladyslav Heraskevych, who competes in the Skeleton, said that some 450 Ukrainian professional athletes have now died in the war.

“These people should develop sports in our country and live their lives, but now they are being killed,” the skeleton racer said. “At the same time, Russian athletes who support the war are now competing in international sports. I can’t understand how that is possible. That’s madness.”

For example, Heraskevych once again raises the question of whether the Russian athletes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are allowed to participate as neutral athletes in the Olympic Games in Paris.

The IOC expects between 36 and 54 Russian athletes to qualify for the Games. What is already certain is that Russians who openly support the war in Ukraine will not be allowed to participate in the competition.

The Russians who are welcome in Paris are subject to some restrictions. For example, they are not allowed to attend the opening ceremony, use the flag or the national anthem and participate in team sports. This also applies to Belarusian athletes.