Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the late Olympic champion Anfisa Reztsova in biathlon and cross-country skiing. He acknowledged that the bright memory of the athlete will remain in the hearts of those who admired her talent. The Kremlin’s website published the President’s message on Twitter.

Anfisa Reztsova passed away on Thursday, October 19, at the age of 58. The exact cause of her death is yet to be determined. Earlier this year, she was hospitalized due to a heart attack.

Anfisa Reztsova achieved remarkable success in her sports career. She won the gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary as part of the USSR national team in the ski relay and also secured the silver medal in the 20 km race. In the following years, she transitioned to biathlon and won gold medals at the Olympic Games in Albertville (1992) and Lillehammer (1994). Additionally, she became a three-time world champion in cross-country skiing, triumphing in 1985, 1987, and 1999.