Former Olympic silver medallist and Belarusian archery coach Boris Isachenko has died on 13 June, aged 67.
Isachenko finished second behind Finland’s Tomi Poikolainen, representing the Soviet Union, at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, one of the nation’s earliest Olympic archery medals following the sport’s return to the Games in 1972.
He also enjoyed success at continental level, winning individual silver at the 1982 European Championships, as well as indoor European titles individually in 1983 and with the team in 1983 and 1987.
Isachenko competed at the World Archery Championships in 1985, 1993 and 1995, and at the World Archery Indoor Championships in 1993 and 1995.
After retiring from competition, he dedicated himself to coaching and played a key role in the development of archery in Belarus.
From 1997 to 2012, Isachenko served as head coach of the Belarusian national archery team, overseeing a period in which the squad won European titles and regularly reached international podiums.
Widely respected as both a coach and mentor, he helped develop generations of Belarusian archers and contributed significantly to the growth of the sport in the country.
Isachenko was also a qualified national judge and served as a World Archery international judge between 2002 and 2005.