Konstantin Kolstsov, a former ice hockey player and the boyfriend of two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, passed away at the age of 42. In addition to spending portions of three seasons with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 to 2006, Koltsov represented the Belarus national team in the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010.
Koltsov is believed to have accompanied Sabalenka in Florida prior to his unexpected death. Sabalenka is currently in Miami getting ready for the Miami Open, where she is seeded second. Koltsov’s former team Salavat Yulaev Ufa confirmed the death of the athlete on the social messaging platform Telegram.
“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” Salavat Yulaev 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 statement added.
According to People magazine, Sabalenka and Koltsov were first connected in June 2021. The world number two had regularly shared pictures of the two of them on her Instagram account.
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