Olympic Figure Skater Stabbed to Death

Authorities say thieves killed Denis Ten
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 20, 2018 2:02 AM CDT
Olympic Figure Skater Killed by Thieves
Men's free skate figure skating bronze medalist Kazakhstan's Denis Ten smiles during the medals ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.   (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Kazakhstan is in mourning for a beloved Olympic athlete who was murdered by thieves on a street in the country's biggest city. Authorities in the central Asian country say Denis Ten, a 25-year-old figure skater, was fatally stabbed in Almaty by two men who had been trying to steal the wing mirrors from his car, CNN reports. He was hospitalized but died from his injuries Thursday. Ten, one of Kazakhstan's most famous athletes, won bronze at the 2014 Olympics and earned a silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in 2013, followed by a bronze in 2015, USA Today reports.

American figure skater Adam Rippon was among many people paying tribute to Ten Thursday. "He was so kind to everyone and a huge inspiration to me and so many other people," Rippon tweeted. "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." Ten "was a great athlete and a great ambassador for his sport," International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said in a statement. "Such a tragedy to lose him at such a young age." (More Olympic athletes stories.)

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