Brutally Beaten in Public, Olympian’s Present Condition Confirmed by Authorities

A supposedly normal night out during a holiday evolved into something nobody could’ve ever imagined. A 38-year-old pro kayaker and participant in the 2016 Rio Olympics was attacked right in the heart of Moscow. This shocking news has left people stunned—but the support from fans and his community has been truly heartwarming.

On the night of January 3, Kirill Lyapunov was caught up in a violent altercation in one of the busiest streets of Moscow, Tverskaya, by a bunch of unknown people. Lyapunov could not point out the number of attackers involved, and details of the incident are still unclear. Despite this brutal attack, Lyapunov was able to reach the nearest hospital in order to receive care. At the same time, it turns out that the fight was so brutal that it produced serious injuries, to which Elena Iskhakova, Secretary General of the All-Russian Federation of Kayaking and Canoeing, confirmed through correspondence that Lyapunov, who left the hospital, is now resting at home. 

Iskhakova said, “Kirill has been at home for a long time, he is lying down, recovering. Everything is more or less, at least he is alive and well.”

The synopsis of his injuries is quite bad. Lyapunov was diagnosed with both his cheekbone and eye socket fractured, and face covered with bruises. He was treated in the maxillofacial surgery department of a central hospital in Moscow. Lyapunov is still experiencing significant pain, particularly in his face, and it was too painful for him to speak about the incident in detail. He’s scheduled for a follow-up doctor’s visit on January 9 to get a clearer picture of his recovery.

Evgeny Arkhipov, the president of the Russian Canoe Federation, spoke out to assure everyone that Lyapunov has support: “I understand that the complicated bruises are mostly on his face, but he’s at home. I was in the hospital, they’ve discharged me now. I hope everything will be all right. Now let time pass, he will come to his senses. Of course, we will help you in any way we can, there is no doubt about that, we always do that. I wish Kirill a speedy recovery, everything happens in life, I hope everything will be fine. We will help you in any way we can.”

While the harrowing incident has garnered support from the authorities and people alike, how is the investigation looking so far?

Already on the hunt

As soon as word got out about the attack, a massive wave of support surrounded the Olympian. Fans, athletes, and the whole Russian Canoe Federation are sending good vibes and hoping for his quick recovery. The police have opened a criminal case for this and are working on it with ultimate speed.

“An investigation is underway into what happened to Lyapunov, and a decision will be made in accordance with the law,” the agency’s source said.

As the 38-year-old suffers, we can’t forget who Kirill Lyapunov is. For over 16 years, he’s been a huge part of the Russian national team and has racked amazing accomplishments under his belt in canoeing. He is the silver medalist of the 2016 European Championships. Additionally, Lyapunov has competed at the 2016 Olympics in the 1000m canoe sprint and finished at #9. After Friday’s incident, the strength that he showed depicts his resilience. It’s safe to say that Lyapunov’s not just a kayaker — he’s a fighter in true means.

With the Russian Canoe Federation and so many people behind him, There is no doubt that his strength will pull him through this. Wishing a speedy recovery to Lyapunov, we’ll be keeping an eye on the investigation. What are your views on it? Comment below.