In Mariupol, Olexandr Onoshko, a Master of Sports of Ukraine in cycling and maritime multi-sport, as well as a two-time Ukrainian champion in yacht rowing, lost his life.
In the last years of his life, until the Russian blockade of Mariupol, Olexandr worked at the “Meotida” Youth Sports School.
In March 2022, he suffered a leg injury. Ambulances could not reach him, and due to blood loss, the athlete died.
Dmytro Stepnov, a friend of the deceased, shared that Olexandr also coached at the “Stimul” club, alongside the late powerlifting athlete Arthur Konovka.
“I was on the same team with Olexandr for several years. He was an incredible and wise athlete. He spent a lot of time passing on his knowledge. His main passion was cycling. In recent years, he often participated in competitions to help mentor the younger generation of cyclists. I can say with certainty that had he stayed with us, under his leadership, many more generations of great people would have emerged,” Dmytro Stepnov noted.