Ukrainian weightlifter dies on front line

Ukrainian weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who represented his country at the Rio 2016 Olympics, has tragically lost his life during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Pielieshenko, a two-time European champion at the age of 30, joined the armed forces shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

Expressing profound sorrow, Viktor Slobodianiuk, a weightlifting coach and board member of the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation (UWF), remarked,

“War takes the best of us… heroes do not die.” The UWF revealed that Pielieshenko passed away on the front line.

Pielieshenko had achieved notable success in his weightlifting career, securing a fourth-place ranking in the 85kg category at the Rio Games and clinching gold medals at the European championships in both 2016 and 2017.

However, his career faced a setback when he was banned from competition after failing a drugs test in 2018.

In a solemn announcement on Facebook, the UWF conveyed the devastating news: “It is with great sadness that we inform you that the heart of merited master of sports of Ukraine… Oleksandr Pielieshenko has stopped beating today.”

The federation extended heartfelt condolences to Pielieshenko’s family and all those who knew him.

Pielieshenko’s untimely demise serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll inflicted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and his legacy as a dedicated athlete turned soldier will be remembered with reverence and respect.