Russian double Olympic figure skating champion Dmitriev dies aged 58 / Photo: ADRIAN POPESCU - AFP
Russian double Olympic figure skating champion Dmitriev dies aged 58
Russian two-time Olympic figure skating pairs champion Artur Dmitriev has died aged 58, the country's figure skating federation announced on Tuesday.
"We regret to announce the passing of Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev, a two-time Olympic champion and three-time European champion in pairs figure skating," the federation said in a statement.
"Artur Dmitriev became the first figure skater to win Olympic gold with two different partners," it added.
The cause of his death was not revealed.
Dmitriev was born in Ukraine, south of Kyiv, but was raised in Russia's Arctic city of Norilsk.
He competed for the Soviet Union and for Russia.
Dmitriev won gold with Natalia Mishkutionok at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics and with Oksana Kazakova in the 1998 Nagano Games.
He later became a figure skating coach in Moscow and St Petersburg.
His son, also named Artur Dmitriev, has also dedicated himself to figure skating and currently works as a coach.
W.Stewart--MC-UK
