Ukrainian basketball player Alexander Belostenny dies at age 51

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Ukrainian basketball player Alexander Belostenny has died at the age of 51. Belostenny died in Germany of lung cancer. The death was announced by Ukraine's basketball federation.

Belostenny was a key player in the Soviet Union basketball team and was both a European and Olympic medallist. He won gold in the 1979, 1981 and 1985 European championships and gold in the 1982 FIBA World Championship. He won an Olympic gold medal in 1988.

After retiring in 1994 he ran his own restaurant up in Germany, which he had acquired in 1991.

Following the announcement of his death, the Ukrainian basketball federation released a statement saying that "On behalf of all fans, we want to express our deep condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. The bright memory of Alexander M. Belostenny will always live in our hearts."


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