"We couldn't save him". Kamil Stoch reacted to his death

"We couldn't save him." This phrase echoes amidst the sorrow of the ski jumping community as they reflect on the tragic loss of Paweł Karelin, who was seen as a hopeful prospect for Russian ski jumping ahead of the Sochi Olympics. Karelin died in a car accident on October 9, 2011, reportedly involving alcohol, and was affected by conflicts with sports officials that some say contributed to his struggles with alcohol. Kamil Stoch shared a heartfelt tribute highlighting how he knew Karelin well and remembered him as a fantastic athlete and wonderful person.

Karelin's career was marked by potential; he achieved his first podium finish in the Winter Cup shortly before his untimely death, prompting speculation on what could have been. His absence in subsequent events was a noticeable gap in the Russian team.

Denis Korniłow, a fellow athlete, recounted the shock of learning about the accident. Experts pointed to how Karelin's training and competitive progress were also undermined by the turmoil surrounding his relationship with the sport's federation, complicating his ambition for Olympic success.

Karelin's personal struggles and the tragic context of his accident serve as a painful reminder of the pressures athletes face, making the loss deeply felt across the sporting community, as expressed in various tributes from both peers and fans.