Three months ago, Belarusian tennis player Arina Sabalenka released an emotional video showing moments from her relationship with former ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, who died on Monday, March 18, the Daily Mail reports.
According to Miami law enforcement officers, Konstantin Koltsov would have committed suicide by jumping from the balcony. The former ice hockey player was 42 years old. He was with the athlete in the most important moments of her career.
World number two and two-time Australian Open title winner Sabalenka, 25, has decided not to withdraw from the Miami Open. What's more, he trained on Tuesday afternoon on the courts in Miami. Being exempted from the first round, Sabalenka will face the Spaniard Paula Badosa on Thursday.
In the video, which was made public by the athlete just three months before the death of her lover, the most memorable moments of the year 2023 that she spent with Konstantin Koltsov can be seen. They can be seen kissing at a hockey game, working out in a gym and dancing on a boat.
Arina Sabalenka and Konstantin Koltsov have been a couple since 2021. Instagram photo
The video material is accompanied by the following message: “Thank you 2023! See you soon 2024″.
The two have been a couple since 2021. They announced their relationship through a post on Instagram. The photo was accompanied by the following message: “It's good when I have someone who is able to understand my craziness. But you won't get bored of me, will you @Koltsov2021?”'.
The Belarusian hockey player played in 144 games in the North American professional league (NHL), with the Pittsburgh Penguins, from 2003 to 2006. With the Belarusian national team, he was present at two Olympic Games, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010, and at nine editions of the World Championships.
Koltsov was assistant coach at Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the past two seasons. He was also an assistant in the staff of the Belarusian men's national team.
National team coach Dmitri Baskov called Koltsov's death “a regrettable loss”.
“Konstantin was one of the indisputable leaders of our team, a talented and progressive coach, a brilliant playerBaskov said.
Sabalenka won the Australian Open in January for her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park.
