The sports community has been rocked by the untimely passing of Konstantin Koltsov, a former professional ice hockey player from Belarus and the partner of tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka. According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the 42-year-old died by “apparent suicide.”
The tragedy unfolded on Monday when authorities were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami, Florida, at approximately 12:39 a.m. The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau subsequently took over the investigation, confirming Koltsov’s “apparent suicide” while ruling out any foul play.
Konstantin Koltsov, who played at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010, had a notable career on the ice, including a three-season stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL from 2003 to 2006.
In recent years, he had transitioned into coaching, working with Salavat Yulaev, an ice hockey team based in Ufa that he had previously played for and helped clinch their first Russian championship title in 2008.
In a heartfelt statement, Salavat Yulaev paid tribute to their former coach, describing him as “a strong and cheerful person, loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans.” The club acknowledged that Koltsov had forever etched his name in their history, leaving an unforgettable mark on the organization.
