Former Russian handball star Eduard Koksharov is dead. The 2000 Olympic champion died at the age of 50, his club Meshkov Brest announced. The Belarusian club initially did not provide any information about the cause of death. According to media reports, Koksharov was found dead in a hotel room.
Olympic champion and world champion
For many years, Koksharov was one of the defining figures in international handball and one of the best left wingers in the world.
With the Russian national team he won the world championship title in 1997 and Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000. He also won bronze at the 2004 Games in Athens and silver at the 1999 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships. He was elected to the all-star team at tournaments several times. Born in Krasnodar, Koksharov played more than 200 international matches for Russia and scored over 1,000 goals.
National coach of Russia from 2017 to 2020
After the end of his active career, Koksharov worked as a coach and official. He coached the Russian national team from 2017 to January 2020 and resigned after the 2020 European Championships. Since 2023 he has been the head coach of Meschkov Brest.
The club recognized Koksharov as a formative personality and great athlete. “He has had a lasting impact on the club and handball,” the statement said. “We will remember him as a person who left a lasting impression on our team and in the hearts of everyone who knew him.”
