Russian Olympic champion stabbed to death on New Year's night

Dmitry Nelyubin was the youngest Olympic champion among male cyclists

Olympic cycling champion Dmitry Nelyubin died in the very beginning of the new year on January 1st, in St.Petersburg. The 33-year-old athlete was killed on New Year's night. Nelyubin was the youngest Olympic champion among male cyclists. He clutched his gold medal in Seoul at the age of 17.

Dmitry Nelyubin became the Olympic champion in 1988. He also became the world champion and won many other titles afterwards. The athlete finished his cycling career seven years ago at the age of 26.

The tragedy occurred on New Year's night, at about 5 o'clock a.m. in St.Petersburg. Dmitry Nelyubin was celebrating the New Year in a company of friends. They went outside to let off fireworks – Dmitry's wife stayed indoors with her baby. The woman was watching her husband in the window.

A group of young men approached Dmitry and his friends soon after that. They did not like the noisy party and were very rude in their expressions. A fight broke out, someone of the assaulters pulled out a knife and stabbed Dmitry in the stomach. When criminals saw blood on the snow, they escaped.

Athlete's friends said that it took them about 30 minutes to wait for ER doctors to arrive. Medics took life saving efforts on the scene of the crime and then hospitalized the wounded athlete. The operation at the hospital lasted for four hours, but specialists failed to save the man's life: Dmitry Nelyubin died from blood loss.

A local Office of the Public Prosecutor is currently investigating the incident. The criminals have not been identified yet. Dmitry Nelyubin was buried on January 4th in St.Petersburg.