Death of Aryna Sabalenka's companion: what we know about the death of former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov

Le compagnon de la Bélarusse est décédé mardi. Instagram Aryna Sabalenka

Former Belarusian professional hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, companion of tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka, died “probably by suicide”, police in Miami-Dade County, Florida announced on Tuesday March 19 .

The police were sent to a Miami Beach hotel the night before because "a man had jumped from a balcony", the door said in an email – police spokesperson, Argemis Colome. "No foul play is suspected" in this investigation, he added.

Konstantin Koltsov, whose death was announced earlier by the Belarusian ice hockey federation, was 42 years old. His partner Aryna Sabalenka, world number 2 in tennis and double title holder of the Australian Open, did not immediately make a statement.

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka in mourning after the brutal death of her companion, former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov

The 25-year-old player, also Belarusian, must play this week in the Masters 1000 in Miami. Konstantin Koltsov “died suddenly”, the Belarusian federation said, without specifying the cause or place of his death.

140 games in NHL

During his career, this right winger played more than 140 matches in the NHL, the North American ice hockey championship, with the Pittsburgh Penguins team. "The Penguins extend their sincere condolences to family and friends" by Konstantin Kolstov, the Pittsburgh team said in a statement.

The ex-striker had played in two Olympic Games with Belarus, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver in 2010, as well as nine editions of the world championships. Konstantin Koltsov had three children with his wife Julia, from whom he divorced in 2020 before starting a relationship with Aryna Sabalenka.