Igor Malinovski passed away.
Igor Malinovski won the Junior World Championship five times in his biathlon career. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
Former biathlete Igor Malinovsky died on Saturday in a helicopter accident in Russia, news among other things isport.blesk news site.
Malinovski was in the helicopter when it fell to the ground. Malinovski had two other people on board, who also died in the accident. Malinovski flew helicopter flights for tourists on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
The helicopter was reported missing on Saturday and the authorities found the burned helicopter on Sunday near the Uzon caldera.
– The radio connection was lost the day before. The helicopter and two passengers were on a private flight in a popular tourist area. The cause of the accident is not yet known. The weather is said to have been unfavorable at the time of the flight, the president of the Russian Biathlon Union Vladimir Solodov said in the press release, according to Bild.
In his biathlon career, Malinovski won five gold medals at the World Junior Championships. The Russian competed countless times against Finns as well.
However, he ended his career last year due to injuries and to focus on flying tourist flights.
– The entire biathlon family mourns the loss of Igor Malinovski. He will always be remembered as a great athlete, we send our condolences to his family, President of the International Biathlon Union Olle Dahlin said.
– He loved biathlon and flying.