The AIBA family wishes to express its sadness following the death of French boxer Alexis Vastine who has tragically passed away at the age of 28.
Vastine won the bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and died yesterday after a helicopter crash in La Rioja, Argentina.
Nine other people died as a result of the incident, including decorated Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat, two Argentine pilots and five other French nationals.
Two helicopters involved in the filming of French television show Dropped collided around 1,170km (720 miles) from Buenos Aires.
News of the crash has spread around the world, and French President Francois Hollande issued a statement which read: “The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness.”

Vastine’s career in the ring

Alexis Vastine came from a boxing family, as his elder brother Adriani also fought and competed at various international events.
The younger Vastine secured a silver medal at the French Junior National Championships in 2003, and following that he achieved his real breakthrough at the international level in 2004 when he claimed a bronze medal in the AIBA Junior World Championships on the island of Jeju in Korea, where he lost only to England’s 2004 Olympic Games silver medallist Amir Khan.
One year later the Welterweight (69 kg) star secured a bronze medal at the European Junior Continental Championships, and joined the elite French team in 2005.
Vastine won gold medals in the Francophone Games, the Mediterranean Games, the AIBA President’s Cup and in the World Military Games, but his career highlight was undoubtedly a bronze medal from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
After reaching the quarter-finals of London 2012, his last achievement in our sport was a gold medal at the World Military Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan last June where he won all four of his bouts against strong opponents.
A remarkable athlete, and a tremendous asset to the world of boxing, Vastine will be sorely missed by all involved in the sport and beyond.

Vastine’s personal information

Date of Birth: 17/11/1986
Place of Birth: Pont-Audemer, France
Died: 09/03/2015, La Rioja, Argentina
His weight class: Welterweight (69 kg)
Boxing Club: Boxing Club de Fourmetot, Normandy
Occupation: Soldier

Vastine’s boxing achievements

2004 – AIBA Junior World Championships, Jeju (KOR), Bronze medal
2005 – European Junior Continental Championships, Tallinn (EST), Bronze medal
2005 – Francophone Games, Niamey (NIG), Gold medal
2007 – AIBA World Boxing Championships, Chicago (USA), 5th place
2008 – Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing (CHN), Bronze medal
2009 – Mediterranean Games, Pescara (ITA), Gold medal
2009 – AIBA President’s Cup, Baku (AZE), Gold medal
2010 – EUBC European Continental Championships, Moscow (RUS), Silver medal
2010 – Military World Championships, Camp Lejeune (USA), Gold medal
2011 – World Military Games, Rio de Janeiro (BRA), Gold medal
2011 – AIBA World Boxing Championships, Baku (AZE), 9th place
2012 – London 2012 Olympic Games, London (ENG), 9th place
2014 – Military World Championships, Almaty (KAZ), Gold medal

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