South Korean figure skaters on Friday mourned the death of Denis Ten, a Kazakh star of Korean descent, taking to social media to express their condolences.

Ten, the 2014 Olympic men's singles bronze medalist and a great-great-grandson of a Korean-born independence fighter Min Keung-ho, was stabbed to death in Almaty on Thursday at age 25.

South Korean icon Kim Yu-na wrote on her Instagram page that she was "traumatized" by the news of Ten's death, while also posting a photo of herself and Ten together. The two were both represented by Kim's own management company, All That Sports.

Olympic figure skating medallist Kazakstan's Denis Ten (AFP)
Olympic figure skating medallist Kazakstan's Denis Ten (AFP)

"Denis Ten was a great athlete and a huge inspiration to everyone," Kim, the 2010 Olympic champion, wrote in her English message. "It is such a tragedy, and (I'm) saddened to lose a great and passionate skater like him. I am sorry for your loss and express my deepest condolences to the deceased."

Another female skater, Choi Da-bin, also paid her condolences on Instagram. The 2017 Asian Winter Games gold medalist wrote in

English: "I can't believe this news. When I was in Kazakhstan, you really cared about me and cheered me up. I miss you... Rest in peace."

Lee June-hyoung, a three-time national champion in the men's singles, uploaded a picture he took with Ten and wrote on his social media page: "I am happy to have spent time with you. Rest in peace." (Yonhap)