Sport Ex-NHL professional Koltsow
Tennis superstar Sabalenka mourns the loss of her partner (†42)
Status: 19.03.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Number two in the tennis world rankings: Aryna Sabalenka
Quelle: picture alliance / Newscom
Konstantin Koltsow dies at the age of just 42. The former NHL professional was most recently a coach and has been in a relationship with Aryna Sabalenka since 2021. For number two in the tennis world rankings, it is the second stroke of fate in her young life.
A terrible blow of fate for Aryna Sabalenka: As those responsible for the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association announced, Konstantin Koltsov has died at the age of 42. Koltsow and the 25-year-old tennis superstar had been a couple for three years.
The KHL club Salawat Yulayev Ufa, where Koltsow had worked as an assistant coach, also announced the early death. The cause of death is currently unknown.
“A strong and cheerful man”
Salawat wrote on Instagram: “He was a strong and cheerful man who was loved and respected by players, colleagues and fans. He is forever etched in the history of our club. Koltsov won the Russian championship together with Salawat Yulayev (2008, d. Red.) and the Gagarin Cup (2011, d. Red.) and did a great job on the team’s coaching staff. Rest in peace.”
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The club also shows a black and white photo of Koltsow in which he has his arms crossed and is smiling very gently. The national association said: “The Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and everyone who knew and worked with Konstantin.”
Konstantin Koltsow (r.) at the 2005 Ice Hockey World Championships
Source: picture-alliance/dpa/dpaweb
Even before he celebrated success with Salawat, Koltsow played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 to 2006. In 144 games he scored twelve goals and 26 assists. He was also with Belarus’ national team at the 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 World Cups, as well as the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Second stroke of fate for Sabalenka
The relationship with tennis player Aryna Sabalenka began almost three years ago, but they rarely showed their love on social networks. It is questionable whether she will play in the Masters tournament in Miami this week.
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It is the second stroke of fate for the number two in the world tennis rankings within a few years: in 2019 she lost her father, who was also an ice hockey player. He was only 43 years old.