On the death of the Olympic champion in handball Sergei Pogorelov became known on Wednesday morning. Nothing has been reported about the causes of death, as well as about the time and place of farewell to a famous athlete.

According to media reports, Pogorelov did not answer the phone calls. Sergey's mother got worried and decided to visit him, but found her son already dead.

The Federation of handball of Russia expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased.

“On Wednesday, April 24, came the tragic news. It became known that Sydney Olympic champion Sergey Pogorelov passed away. He was only 44 years old. We express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Pogorelov. We mourn with you, ”reads the news posted on the official website of the FGR.

The former head coach of the Russian national team Vladimir Maximov, who is currently on the coaching council of the Handball Federation, responded to the sad news. It was under the leadership of Maximov that the national team with Pogorelov as part of won the Olympic gold - 2000.

“Sergey achieved great success in sports, became an Olympic champion, got into the symbolic European team. I believe that abroad he did not use all the great potential that his parents and coaches laid in him. Very sad that he left so early, ”the TASS coach quoted as saying.

According to Maximov, Pogorelov had tremendous experience and could successfully work with children in handball schools.

“Let not everyone get to work as a coach, but you need to come to sports and secondary schools, talk about the fact that handball is bright, interesting and beautiful. This would greatly help the development of the sport, ”the trainer added.

Successes of the Russian giant

Sergey Pogorelov was born in Volgograd and from childhood he was engaged in various sports. A little later, a tall boy made a choice in favor of handball and literally fell in love with this game. At the same time, he had all the data in order to build a great sports career, and he progressed literally by leaps and bounds.

It is not surprising that at a very young age, Pogorelov, who possesses the most powerful throw from the right hand, was noticed and taken into the adult Volgograd Kaustik team, with which he eventually became the four-time champion of Russia, and won all the titles in a row.

Quite quickly, Sergei drew the attention and coaches of the national team, in which he debuted in 1994.

Then the young handball player with the national team went to the European Championship in Portugal, where Russia took the second place in the final, losing to Sweden in the final.

Two years later, at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, the team with the young Pogorelov in the line-up was fifth.

But one of the main successes came to Sergei in 1997 at the World Championships in Japan. There Maximov wards managed to win gold medals. In the decisive meeting, all the same Sweden was defeated.

Pogorelov vividly declared himself at the 1998 European Championships, where he became the best right welterweight tournament. At the same time, Volgograd was recognized as the best handball player of the continent.

Finally, in 2000, the strongest in the history of the Russian team won the gold medal of the Olympic Games in Sydney. And again in the final, the national team was stronger than the principal rival - 28:26.

Sergey also went to the third Olympic Games in Athens, where the Russian team won bronze medals.

Volgograd handball player, who for anthropometric data was called the Russian giant (height - 197 cm, weight - 110 kg), achieved considerable success at the club level. After four victories in the Russian championship with Kaustik, he continued his career abroad.

After leaving Pogorelov reached the highest point in his career with Spanish “Ciudad-Real”, with which in 2002 he won the second most important European international tournament - Cup Winners' Cup.

Pogorelov himself, despite his successes abroad, always admitted that he misses his native city.

“Wherever I live, I am still a Volgograd in my heart and have not yet met my best city,” the famous handball player admitted.