Former Belarus and Pittsburgh Pirates ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, who was also the boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has died at the age of 42.
Koltsov was believed to be in Florida preparing to watch Sabalenka in the Miami Open which gets underway later this week when he was found dead. Belarussian media claimed he had suffered a detached blood clot.
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He was a coach at Russian club Salavat Yulaev, who released a statement this morning confirming his passing.
It read: “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away.
“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.”
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Koltsov played for Belarus at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and was contracted to the Penguins between 2002 and 2006.
World number two Sabalenka has frequently posted pictures of the pair together on Instagram after they reportedly got together three years ago.
