Winter Sports: A Drunken Driver Took the Legend to His Death

Exemplary Athlete with a Tragic Ending

Aleksej Prokurorow was a prominent athlete in Russian winter sports. Sixteen years ago today, he was tragically taken from life due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Aleksej Prokurorow

© IMAGO/Camera 4

Prokurorow was a textbook athlete of Russian winter sports: an Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and flag bearer for his country, he was honored both nationally and internationally.

In 1988, Prokurorow was the Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing for the then-Soviet Union in Calgary. Nine years later, he won another gold medal at the World Championships in Trondheim. After his competitive career, he continued to play a significant role as a coach and official before his life was tragically cut short.

Prokurorow Killed by Drunken Driver

On October 10, 2008, sixteen years ago today: Prokurorow, 44 years old, had a meeting in the city of Vladimir, about 200 kilometers east of Moscow. The National Olympic Committee was having a session, and Prokurorow was supposed to attend but never arrived at his destination.

While crossing a road, the cross-country skiing legend was struck by a car traveling at high speed. Prokurorow was hit with such force that he had no chance of survival and died at the scene of the accident.

It later emerged that the 23-year-old driver was intoxicated and driving without a license. He was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.

Honorary Orders from Russia and Norway

With Prokurorow's passing, one of the most successful winter sports athletes in his country was taken from life. The later national coach of the Russian women's team won a total of six World Championship medals, nine World Cup races, and in Calgary, he also earned silver in the relay.

In 1998 in Nagano and 2002 in Salt Lake City, Prokurorow carried the Russian flag at the Olympics and received several honorary awards, including the Holmenkollen Medal from the competing nation Norway in 1998 for his contributions to skiing.