Russian judoka commits suicide

Moscow, June 18 (IANS)

Elena Ivashchenko of Russia (white) and Idalys Ortiz of Cuba compete in the Women’s +78 kg Judo on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL on August 3, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Russian judo champion Elena Ivashchenko committed suicide because of her failure during the London Olympics.

Russian judo officials said Monday that Elena Ivashchenko, 28, a four-time European champion (in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012), jumped from a 15th floor in the Siberian city of Tyumen, Saturday, reports Xinhua.

“Her depression started after her defeat at the Olympic Games. She really punished herself for it. She had beaten several times before those athletes she lost to (in London),” Vyacheslav Yurlov, director of the Tyumen Judo Olympic training center told local media.

He added that Elena has also suffered a leg injury which would require a surgery.

Last summer, Cuban judoka Idalys Ortiz dumped Ivashchenko out of the competition and subsequently won a gold medal. Ivashchenko finished only seventh in London.

“It seems that she couldn’t cope with the emotional pressure of it all, and so opted for suicide,” Yurlov said.

The European Judo Union called her “one of the strong pillars of the Russian women’s team and in her category.”

“Her performances and her personality will be forever in our minds,” the union said in a statement.