Denis Ten, a Kazakh figure skater who won a bronze medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics, died Thursday after being stabbed in Almaty, the nation’s capital. He was 25.
According to Kazakh police, Ten was stabbed after an altercation with two unknown men, who were attempting to steal the mirrors from Ten’s car. Ten was taken to the hospital, where he died hours later.
Kazakh media reported Friday that one suspect had been detained in Ten’s killing and “confessed his guilt in the presence of an attorney,” while another suspect has been identified.
Ten, who was of Korean descent, won a silver medal in the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships. He became Kazakhstan's first ever medalist in figure skating the following year. While he participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics earlier this year, he struggled with injuries and finished 27th.
“His shining achievements brought glory to our country and helped popularize sport among young people,” Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said. “Denis was not only an excellent athlete, whose talents were recognized and honored in many countries of the world, but also a remarkable personality and a true patriot of Kazakhstan.”
