Denis Ten at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. | Photo: Facebook/Denis Ten
The figure skating world is in mourning after thieves murdered 25-year-old Olympic figure skater, Denis Ten.
The Olympic medallist was stabbed to death in Almaty, Kazakhstan after reportedly trying to stop men from stealing his car mirrors. He was taken to hospital with severe bleeding where he died three hours later from his injuries.
Ten became Kazakhstan’s first figure skating Olympic medallist when he won bronze at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic games. He was also a five-time national champion and two-time world medallist. In 2013, he began producing his own ice show called Denis Ten and Friends. It had just finished its latest run of shows.
Ten: ‘an inspiration and a champion’
Tributes poured in for the young skater, including from his fellow skaters Adam Rippon and Johnny Weir. Rippon had trained with Ten alongside other US skaters, Gracie Gold and Mirai Nagasu.
Rippon said Ten was a champion and an inspiration.
‘He was so kind to everyone and a huge inspiration to me and so many other people,’ Rippon wrote on Twitter.
‘Murdered in the streets of Kazakhstan. Denis, thank you for showing us how to be a champion. Your time with us was way too short. Love you forever.’
My skating friend, @Tenis_Den, passed away today. He was so kind to everyone and a huge inspiration to me and so many other people. Murdered in the streets of Kazakhstan. Denis, thank you for showing us how to be a champion. Your time with us was way too short. Love you forever.
— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) July 19, 2018
Retired figure skater Johnny Weir said he was ‘devastated’ at the news of Ten’s murder.
‘He was as bright and kind as he was talented. This is such an incredible loss and tragedy. My heart is with his family and loved ones,’ Weir wrote on Twitter.
Completely devastated by the passing of Denis Ten. He was as bright and kind as he was talented. This is such an incredible loss and tragedy. My heart is with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/pXGB2OdvYg
— Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) July 19, 2018
More tributes
Figure skating officials and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev also paid tribute to Ten.
‘His shining achievements brought glory to our country and helped popularise sport among young people,’ Nazarbayev said.
‘Denis was not only an excellent athlete, whose talents was recognised and honoured in many countries of the world, but also a remarkable personality and a true patriot of Kazakhstan.’
International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, called Ten’s murder a ‘tragedy’.
‘Denis Ten was a great athlete and a great ambassador for his sport. A warm personality and a charming man. Such a tragedy to lose him at such a young age,’ Bach said.
Watch some of Ten’s career highlights:
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