Denis Ten, bronze medalist at the Sochi Olympics, dies after stabbing in Kazakhstan

Updated

July 20, 2018 08:54:59

Kazakhstan's first Olympic figure skating champion, Denis Ten, was stabbed to death at age 25, local news agency Kazinform reported. Two unknown people were trying to rob him in the country's largest city, Almaty

"Unfortunately, he is no longer with us," said Ministry of Health spokesman Yernar Akimkulov. Ten said lost three liters of blood and although the doctors were fighting to save him, he died after hanging on for almost three hours.

The Minister of Home Affairs Kalmukhanbet Kbadymov and the Minister of Health Yelzhan Birtanov have promised that the attack would be the subject of a thorough investigation

The President Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said that Ten was "a true patriot".

"His outstanding accomplishments glorified our country and helped to popularize youth sport," said Nazarbayev, quoted by the BBC

"Denis was not only an eminent athlete whose talent was recognized and revered in many countries of the world, but also a man of marked individuality, a true patriot. "

Ten was a world championship medalist twice and a national champion of Kazakhstan five times.

He won a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and finished the 27th edition of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February

The International Skating Union said that Ten was a "true ambbadador of figure skating".

American figure skater Adam Rippon said on Twitter that Ten was "a great source of inspiration for me and so many people." ;other people". Link:

Twitter: "My skating friend, Denis Ten, pbaded away today, he was so kind to everyone and a source of inspiration for me and so many"

Twitter: "I feel so honored and grateful to have shared the ice with Denis Ten"