Oleksandr Pielieshenko dead at 30: Former European champion and Olympic weightlifter killed fighting in Ukraine

OLYMPIC weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko has tragically died at the age of 30.

Pielieshenko was killed in combat while fighting for his country in Ukraine.

GettyOleksandr Pielieshenko has died[/caption]

AFPThe weightlifter competed at the 2016 Olympics[/caption]

He is the first Olympian to have died in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The news was confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine today.

A statement read: “From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. Yesterday we received the sad news of his death.”

The Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation also paid tribute to the 30-year-old with a statement that read: “It is with great sadness that we inform you that today 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!”

Pielieshenko became European champion in 2016 and retained his title the following year.

He also competed at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio and finished fourth, just outside the medal places.

The Ukrainian had not competed in weightlifting since failing a drugs test in 2018.

He tested positive for chlorthalidone, a medication used to treat high blood pressure.

Another Olympian, Vladyslav Heraskevych, revealed around 450 Ukrainians related to professional sports have now died in the war.

He said: “These people should be developing sports in our country and living their lives, but now they are being killed.

“At the same time Russian athletes who support the war are now competing in international sports. I can’t understand how that is possible. This is madness.”

Some Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at this year’s Olympics in Paris as “neutral” despite opposition from Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee anticipates up to 54 Russian athletes will qualify for the Games.

But they will not be allowed to attend the opening ceremony, use their country’s flag or anthem, or participate in team sports.