When he was young, he was one of the best athletes ever.
This weekend, Igor Malinovsky embarked on a fateful helicopter flight in Kamchatka.
Few of our female athletes can boast of such results and talent, world champion Evan Gerzof tells RBC Sport.
Igor Malinovsky celebrated great victories as an athletic athlete during his childhood time. He earned a total of six gold medals in the junior water course between 2016 and 2018, making him one of the most successful juniors of all time.
His career ended prematurely due to injuries and now the Russian athlete has passed away at the age of 25.
Three dead
Malinovsky spent the last years of his life as a helicopter pilot in his native region of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and on Saturday he made his last flight.
Malinovsky crashed into a helicopter carrying two passengers, and none of them survived.
“The entire biathlon family is in mourning. The Russian Biathlon Federation expresses its deepest condolences to Igor’s family and friends ”writes the Russian Biathlon Federation on its website.
– It is a tragedy for our sport and our country. Igor Malinovsky was extraordinarily talented, says union leader Vladimir Dratgiev.
“beautiful smile”
Ivan Cherzhov also mourns the three-time world champion, Malinovsky.
– He was an open, intelligent man with a beautiful smile. In my opinion, he was the best world champion. Few of our biology players can boast of such results and this talent. He was the best junior, Cherzoff tells RBC Sport.
When Igor Malonovsky was an active athlete, he said he was inspired by the Norwegian brotherhood.
– I really like the Bö brothers, these guys fight to the end. In addition, it is very positive. He told ASM59 I always cheered them up.