Two-time Olympic biathlon champion and State Duma deputy dies in Russia (photo)

At the age of 59 years, decorated Soviet and Russian biathlete, two-time Olympic champion and State Duma deputy of Russia Sergei Chepikov has died, reports RIA Novosti. Earlier, the 53-year-old Olympic biathlon champion who became a professor in Russia passed away. A native of Khabarovsk Krai, Chepikov competed in six Olympic Games over his career (five as a biathlete and one as a cross-country skier), winning six medals — two golds, three silvers and a bronze. Sergei Chepikov, Valery Medvedtsev, Alexander Popov, Dmitry Vasilyev after winning the gold in the relay at the Olympic Games in Calgary in 1988 In Chepikov’s collection are 13 World Championship medals, two of which are gold. He was the first Soviet biathlete to win the overall World Cup standings (twice). After retiring from his athletic career, the biathlete went into politics and from 2016 served as a deputy of the State Duma of Russia. Chepikov supported the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces and was placed under international sanctions. Sergei Chepikov is survived by his wife and six children from two marriages. With biathlete Elena Melnikova he had a son, Prokhor, who is now 32 years old. In his second marriage to Elena Chepikova he had three daughters and two sons; the youngest of them is 8 years old. Sergei Chepikov with his second wife and children Previously, FAKTY reported that legendary biathlete Laura Dahlmeier died while climbing a mountain in Pakistan. Photo from social networks