Spenser Mango's shoes sit on the center of the mat after losing to Jesse Thielke in their 59-kilogram Greco Roman match at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials, Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Martial Arts Champ Irina Rybnikova Dies at Age 15 After Being Electrocuted

Mike ChiariDec 11, 2018

Teenage martial arts champion Irina Rybnikova died Saturday due to electrocution after her cellphone fell into the bathtub while charging.

According to Laura Forsyth and Will Stewart of the Mirror, the 15-year-old died instantly and was later found in the bath by her family.

Rybnikova was a member of Russia's national team in the boxing-wrestling hybrid sport of pankration.

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The Russian pankration federation released a statement following Rybnikova's death: "A tragic accident has taken the life of our champion, friend, mate and student Irina Rybnikova, 15. She was a candidate for Master of Sports in pankration, our beloved girl. Rest in peace."

While Rybnikova had won events nationally in Russia, one of her friends told Forsyth and Stewart that Rybnikova was "dreaming of becoming a world champion."

Rybnikova's older sister, Tatiana, called her a "beautiful girl" with "many friends," and noted, "She always dreamed of success in sports."