He wrote his name in the history of world sport and in the history of Ukraine’s struggle for independence. Oleksandr Peleshenko, a two-time European weightlifting champion, was killed in the war with the Russian invaders.
He was born on 7 January 1994 in Luhansk region. However, in 2014, when the Russian invasion began, he had to leave his home. At that time, Oleksandr was already seriously involved in sports, namely weightlifting. And the head coach of the Ukrainian men’s national team, Mykhailo Matskoha, offered him to train in Khmelnytskyi region, to which he agreed and moved.
From 2015 to 2017, Oleksandr actively participated in international competitions. He competed at the World Championships, twice became the European champion, and took part in the 2016 Olympic Games, where he took 4th place.
Oleksandr studied at the Faculty of Physical Education of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University. In 2018, he was suspended from competitions due to a positive doping test. But this did not make him quit the sport. He created his own team, the “AVC team”, worked as a coach, organised competitions and held seminars. One of his students was Vladyslav Chekan, the 2021 World Junior Modern Pentathlon Champion. Oleksandr was his physical training coach.
In September 2021, one of the most important and enjoyable events in the athlete’s life took place – a wedding. Oleksandr married his beloved Diana, but less than a year later, the full-scale Russian invasion began. He joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and they were unable to celebrate their first wedding anniversary together. On that day, he was at the frontline in Donetsk region, and she was waiting for him at home. Oleksandr dreamed of returning to professional sports, wanted to raise the flag of Ukraine at major international tournaments and glorify his homeland. But first, he wanted to raise the national flag and congratulate everyone on the victory over the enemy. But, unfortunately, on 6 May 2024, the athlete’s family received the sad news: 30-year-old Oleksandr Peleshenko was killed during a combat operation…