World biathlon champion Gennady Kovalev died

Olympic participant and 1973 world champion in biathlon Gennady Kovalev died at the age of 79. This is reported on Monday, December 30, on the website of the Russian Biathlon Union.

Kovalev was born in 1945 in the Chita region and began his sports career in 1964. From 1970 to 1975 he was a member of the USSR national team.

In 1972 he participated in the Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan, and at the 1973 World Championships in Lake Placid he won the relay and took silver in the individual race.

Kovalev is also a master of sports of the USSR. In recent years, he has served as president of the Biathlon Federation of the Transbaikal Territory.

The Biathlon Union expressed condolences to the family and friends of the athlete.