A public post on the evening of July 24 reported the death of Ahmed Zhiletezhev, a 19-year-old wrestler, who was at a training camp in Kabardino-Balkaria. The young athlete had joined a freestyle wrestling program in the republic and, sadly, died after a fall during a mountain excursion in the Elbrus region. Initial details surfaced on the morning of July 25, with confirmation from the Petersburg Wrestling Federation that the incident involved a fall during a parade-like activity while in the mountains.
Authorities and officials confirmed the news, noting that the body had been recovered and a funeral would soon follow. A representative with the regional federation stated that the group had been hiking near the sustenance line when the accident occurred, and lamented the loss of a promising competitor. The Ministry of Sports for the region also acknowledged the passing of a talented freestyle wrestler from Kabardino-Balkaria, praising his potential and reputation within the republic.
Investigators from the Regional Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that Zhiletezhev was part of a small hiking party that chose a route outside the main trekking path. The group consisted of nine travelers who did not file a specific itinerary, did not inform a guide of their plan, and did not receive the usual safety instructions. Rescue teams were dispatched to the area after the fall, with approximately 15 personnel and two units deployed to the site. The body of the athlete was located during the night, transported to the nearest village of Elbrus, and handed over to the investigative team on duty. Social networks later carried messages about a funeral scheduled for that same day, while reports also indicated that two other group members required assistance to descend from the mountain due to the challenging terrain. Access to the area remained difficult, though no immediate danger to remaining group members was reported.
Ahmed Zhiletezhev, a student at a local Olympic reserve school in Kabardino-Balkaria, trained with the St. Petersburg national team and had been honored in 2019 by a government award for outstanding sports achievements in official international and national competitions. He had earned recognition as a top performer in Russian junior freestyle wrestling, including a bronze medal at the Russian junior championships in the 70-kilogram weight category in the spring season, and had previously secured wins and laurels at national events.
In a separate but related report, a week earlier another tragedy unfolded in Russia. Biathlon world with a young legacy saw Igor Malinovsky, a star who switched careers to aviation after his sports days, perish when a helicopter he piloted disappeared from radar near the Semyachkov Pass. The rescue operation faced weather constraints, but eventually located a downed Robinson helicopter in the vicinity of the Uzon volcano, about 13 kilometers away. The two passengers aboard, Zoya Kaigorodova and Sergey Kolesnik, also perished. The helicopter belonged to a private company headquartered by the father of the former biathlete, Vladimir Malinovsky. Malinovsky himself held a pilot license and had trained at the Omsk Flight Technical College as well as continuing studies in Vladivostok before turning professional in aviation.
Igor Malinovsky had established himself as a five-time world junior biathlon champion, a record that drew condolences from the Russian Biathlon Union. The federation expressed its grief over his passing, noting his love for both biathlon and aviation and commemorating his life in Kamchatka where he had pursued his post-sport career. The burden of loss was carried by the broader biathlon community, with messages of sympathy highlighting his achievements and the impact he left on teammates and supporters alike.