Oleksiy Korobeinikov

Oleksiy Korobeinikov took up biathlon in 1984 and first competed internationally at the 1998 World Junior Championships representing his native Russia. But a fierce competition inside the Russian national team led Korobeinikov to adopt Ukrainian citizenship in early 2000 and from 2002 until the end of his career in 2009, Korobeinikov represented Ukraine. Korobeinikov competed at the 2006 Olympics and 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 World Championships, his best finish at those major international tournaments a 16th place in the 20 km at the 2008 World Championships. At the European Championships, Korobeinikov won a full set of medals, as the European sprint champion in 2003, winning the relay silver in 2005 and 20 km bronze in 2007. After finishing his sporting career, Korobeinikov moved back to his native Russia, but died rather young due to injuries sustained in a car crash. On 24 March 2014, Korobeinikov lost control of his car in his hometown of Achinsk and rammed into a tree. Korobeinikov sustained a serious head injury and died eight weeks later in a hospital in Krasnoyarsk.