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21 July 2018 10:36 AM

Adam Rippon pays tribute to Olympic figure skater who was stabbed to death

25-year-old figure skater Denis Ten was stabbed to death in Kazakhstan earlier this week.

By Fabio Crispim

Adam Rippon and other athletes have paid tribute to Olympic figure skater Denis Ten.

The 25-year-old athlete was stabbed to death in Almaty, Kazakhstan, after trying to stop men from stealing his car mirrors. Ten was taken to a nearby hospital where he died three hours later from his injuries.

Ten, who became Kazakhstan’s first figure-skating Olympic medallist, won bronze at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

Shortly after news of his death broke, many athletes began posting tributes on social media. Adam Rippon, who trained alongside Ten, called him an “inspiration”.

In a tweet, Rippon wrote: “My skating friend, @Tenis_Den, passed away today.

“He was so kind to everyone and a huge inspiration to me and so many other people. 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.”

Former figure skater Johnny Weir also paid tribute to the athlete, writing on Twitter: “Completely devastated by the passing of Denis Ten. He was as bright and kind as he was talented. This is such an incredible loss and tragedy. My heart is with his family and loved ones.”

Canadian skater Eric Radford, who gold in the team event at this year’s Winter Olympics, tweeted: “I am so shocked and saddened by the news of Denis Ten. He was one of the most talented skaters on the planet and such a kind, smart and thoughtful human being.”

He added: “I always felt honoured to share the ice with him.” 

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev described Ten as a “true patriot” in a statement.

He said: “His shining achievements brought glory to our country and helped popularise sport among young people. Denis was not only an excellent athlete, whose talents was recognised and honoured in many countries of the world, but also a remarkable personality and a true patriot of Kazakhstan.”

Meanwhile, a man named Nuraly Kiyasov allegedly confessed to stabbing ten during an interrogation on Thursday (July 19).

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