Who Was Aryna Sabalenka's Boyfriend? What to Know About the Late Konstantin Koltsov

Former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov died of an "apparent suicide" in March 2024

Tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka's "heart is broken."

The Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that Konstantin Koltsov, 42, died by suicide on March 18, 2024, while in Miami. He was reportedly in Florida to support Sabalenka's appearance at the Miami Open. However, according to the tennis player, they "were no longer together" at the time of Koltsov's death.

Related: Konstantin Koltsov, Former Penguins Player and Boyfriend of Aryna Sabalenka, Dead at 42

While Sabalenka and Koltsov kept their romance relatively out of the spotlight, the former ice hockey player was seemingly supportive of the tennis star's career.

Sabalenka, who appeared in Netflix's Break Point tennis docuseries, won her first Grand Slam women's singles title at the Australian Open in 2023. When the athlete won her second-consecutive Australian Open win in January 2024, Koltsov celebrated her on Instagram, writing, "Congratulations again my love."

Koltsov was an ice hockey player who competed in two Olympic Games.

From his professional hockey career to his relationship with Aryna Sabalenka, here's everything to know about the late Konstantin Koltsov.

He was a former professional ice hockey player

Koltsov played professional ice hockey for 18 years, where he competed in the IIHF World Championships and the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010 for Belarus. He also briefly played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons after he was drafted by the team in 1999. Koltsov later played for the Kontinental Hockey League from 2008 to 2016.

He was from Belarus

The ice hockey player was from Minsk, Belarus — the same city Sabalenka was born in, according to her WTA profile.

He and Sabalenka were first linked in June 2021

Sabalenka and Koltsov became Instagram official in June 2021. On June 19, she shared a picture of Koltsov kissing her on the cheek as she smiled at the camera.

"It's good when there is someone who is able to understand my madness😅," the tennis player wrote in the caption, adding, "but you won't get bored with me, right @koltsov2021 ? 🤣❤️."

While Koltsov's Instagram remained private, Sabalenka occasionally posted about her boyfriend on social media.

On April 17, 2023, Sabalenka marked Koltsov's 42nd birthday by sharing a video slideshow on Instagram. The post featured clips and photos of Koltsov, including footage of the pair on a boat and at the gym.

He and Sabalenka frequently traveled together

In May 2022, Sabalenka and Koltsov traveled around Rome, Italy, together. She posted several photos from the trip on Instagram of the couple posing in front of the Coliseum and the Trevi Fountain, as well as eating gelato together.

They also visited Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July 2022. Sabalenka shared a photo of herself in a green bikini holding Koltsov's hand, as he wrapped his other arm around her waist. "Having fun on the beach 🏝," she wrote in their joint Instagram post.

Sabalenka was engaged before him

Before Sabalenka was linked to Koltsov, she was engaged to someone else — though she kept her fiancé's identity private. The tennis player confirmed her engagement news in November 2019, saying, "It's just an engagement. I am little bit against weddings, against it as an event like it is."

She also confirmed that her then-fiancé was not from Belarus nor her former coach Dmitry Tursunov, adding, "It's not Tursunov (laughing). He is not from Belarus."

He was a dad of three

Koltsov reportedly welcomed three children during a previous relationship: sons Daniel, Alexander and Stefan.

In December 2022, Sabalenka participated in a Q&A on her Instagram Story. When a fan asked her "Do you think you'll be an amazing stepmother?" she wrote, "I don't know ... I guess yes" over a photo of a little boy kissing her face. She added, "Stefan loves me."

Sabalenka also tagged Koltsov in the picture of Stefan giving her a kiss.

In April 2023, Sabalenka tagged Koltsov in another picture of her and Stefan, which she posted on her Instagram Story. In the snap, the little boy held the tennis star's hand in what appeared to be a mall. "Dinner was good," Sabalenka wrote over the photo.

He died in March 2024

The KHL team that Koltsov coached for, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, confirmed the news of his death on March 18, 2024. "It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that Salavat Yulaev coach Konstantin Koltsov has passed away," the team said in a statement.

Koltsov's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, also acknowledged his death online, writing on Instagram, "The Penguins extended their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward, Konstantin Koltsov." The team added that Koltsov was the Penguins' first-round draft pick in 1999.

On March 19, the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that Koltsov died by suicide. “According to investigators on Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 12:39 a.m., Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, 9703 Collins Avenue, in reference to a male that jumped from a balcony,” a statement obtained by PEOPLE said.

The statement continued, “The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau, responded and has taken over the investigation of the apparent suicide of Mr. Konstantin Koltsov. No foul play is suspected.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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