A 14-year-old basketball player tragically died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest during training.
Aron Semerninov was the son of Russia’s U20 head coach Roman Semerninov.
He suddenly lost consciousness during a training session on Tuesday (25 August), which was also his father’s 45th birthday.
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Aron was a promising young basketball player who had previously trained at the Lokomotiv-Kuban youth academy in Krasnodar.
In the spring, he moved to the Moscow Region to join a new youth team in Khimki, where he was training when he died.
He had already enjoyed considerable success for his age, helping his U14 team win a bronze medal at the Russian national championships.
He was also named the most valuable player at the Krasnodar regional championships.
The Lokomotiv-Kuban Academy said: “Aron joined the red-and-green club’s system in 2023 and immediately became a reliable teammate and friend.
“At the Academy, he trained under the club’s coaching staff, gaining experience for future victories.
“Just a year later, the basketball player began representing the newly formed Loko-2012 team.
“This talented point guard was one of the key and most promising players on his team, regularly leading the scoring and efficiency charts at national and regional competitions.”
The summer of 2026 has been a particularly tragic one for Russian basketball, as reported by Need To Know.
On 26 June, Sergei Ivanov, honorary president of the VTB United League and one of the most influential figures in Russian basketball over the past three decades, died.
On 28 July, Eduard Sandler, president and head coach of Dynamo Primorye, died at the age of 44.
On 30 July, Olympic champion and legendary basketball player Ivan Edeshko died at the age of 81.
And on Sunday (23 August), 36-year-old basketball agent Sergei Indeikin died after a sudden illness.
Roman, who is also head coach of BC Khimki, wrote: “My heart is broken and there are no more words.
“Darkness has descended, and pain fills every line. You are my beloved, my dear son. I cannot imagine how to go on!
“You will live forever. You are our hero. Fly and play basketball.
“We love you beyond words and believe that you are alive; you have simply flown far away to play basketball.”
Aron is also survived by his mother, Elena.
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