Former Olympic champion Yurij Gavrilov passes away

An Olympic champion in 1992 with the Unified Team and an IHF Men’s World Championship runner-up in 1990, former right wing Yurij Gavrilov passed away unexpectedly on 6 May, at the age of 54.

Born in Kiev, Gavrilov started handball at Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, moving to VMF Kiev in his youth. His talent was then on display at the Olympic Games in 1992, where he was an integral part of the Unified Team, who won the gold medal in Barcelona. 

Following the gold medal at the Olympics, where he scored 19 goals in seven games, a move to Spain followed, where the right wing spent two years at SB Teucro Pontevedra.

Gavrilov moved to Luxembourg in 1996, where he played for HB Dudelange between 1996 and 2001, winning the Luxembourg Cup once. He acted both as a player and as the women’s team coach, with whom he also won the domestic Cup once, in 1998.

After halting his stint at HB Dudelange, Gavrilov continued playing for four more years, at HB Kaerjeng and HB Peiteng. Since 2005, Gavrilov was staying and working in Luxembourg, until his untimely passing on 6 May.

A kind and avid handball player who loved the sport, Gavrilov will be sorely missed. 

On behalf of the International Handball Federation, IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa offers his sincerest condolences to Mr Gavrilov’s family and friends.

Photos courtesy of Kristina Gavrilova