Former world figure skating tag team champion Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya died mysteriously on Friday, marking the second death to hit the Australian Olympic community this month.
Alexandrovskaya, 20, died in his native Russia on Friday, although details of his death were not immediately known, the International Skating Union confirmed.
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“It is with deep sadness that the ISU learned of the sudden and unexpected death of skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya (AUS) in Moscow,” a statement posted on its website read.
“The ISU is shocked by the news of Ekaterina’s death,” ISU President Jan Dijkema said in a statement. “She was a talented skater and the figure skating community will miss her. We offer our sincere condolences to her family, friends and teammates and we regret this tragic loss. ”
Australians Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya and Harley Windsor perform during their tag team short skating program of the 51st Nebelhorn Trophy figure skating competition in Oberstdorf, southern Germany on September 26, 2019. (Getty Images)
Alexandrovskaya was born in Russia, but obtained his Australian citizenship in 2016 and represented the country at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with his partner Harley Windsor.
The duo took home the junior world title in 2017, but Alexandrovskaya was forced to retire last February after suffering various injuries.
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“Words cannot describe how I feel right now, I am devastated and sick to the core by Katia’s sudden and sad death,” Windsor wrote in an Instagram post. “The amount that we had achieved during our association is something that I can never forget and that I will always keep close to my heart. This news is something you can never prepare for. Rest in peace Katia.
Alexandrovskaya’s death comes just weeks after two-time world snowboard champion Alex Pullin drowned while spearfishing on Australia’s Gold Coast. The 2014 Winter Olympics was discovered by a diver near an artificial reef earlier this month.
“Katia’s death is another blow to our winter sports community that is still recovering from our loss of ‘Chumpy’ Pullin,” Ian Chesterman, mission chief of the Australian team in Pyeongchang said on Friday.
Chesterman said Alexandrovskaya appeared to be in trouble after the 2018 Winter Olympics, though he did not say with what.
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“Life since the Games has not been easy for her and this is another timely reminder of how fragile life is.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
