The message reads, in part:
“An outstanding athlete, three-time Olympic champion, a talented and driven person has passed away. She was sincerely loved by her teammates and respected by her rivals for her constant winning spirit and remarkable personal qualities.”
Anfisa Reztsova died at the age of 58. She was the only athlete in the world to win Olympic gold in both biathlon and cross-country skiing. Ms Reztsova became the 1988 Olympic champion in cross-country skiing in the relay competition. In 1992, she won Olympic gold in the biathlon sprint event, and two years later won a gold medal in the biathlon relay event. She was also an Olympic silver medallist in cross-country skiing and an Olympic bronze medallist in biathlon. Anfisa Reztsova is a three-time world champion and two-time silver medallist in cross-country skiing, as well as a two-time world silver medallist and two-time winner of the overall World Cup in biathlon.