(Reuters) – Konstantin Koltsov, the former professional ice hockey player from Belarus and boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, has passed away at the age of 42, as announced by Russian club Salavat Yulaev on Tuesday.
Koltsov, who played forward for the Belarus national team in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics, also had stints with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 to 2006.
In a statement, Salavat Yulaev, based in the city of Ufa in Russia, expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of their coach Koltsov, describing him as a beloved and respected individual who left his mark on the club’s history.
Known for his speed on the ice, Koltsov was part of the Salavat Yulaev team that secured the Russian Super League title in 2008. He later returned to the club as an assistant coach.
Aryna Sabalenka and Koltsov became romantically linked in June 2021, with the world number two frequently sharing photos of the couple on her Instagram account.
In one post, Sabalenka expressed her love for Koltsov, calling him her dearest person, best friend, and strongest support, while wishing for peace, strength, patience, and health for him.
Koltsov also praised Sabalenka following her back-to-back Australian Open victories earlier this year.
After Sabalenka’s exit in the last 16 of the Indian Wells tournament, she is set to compete in the Miami Open starting on Friday.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, editing by Peter Rutherford)
