Wladimir Klitschko has paid tribute to his former fiancée Hayden Panettiere, who died Sunday at 36.
Klitschko shared a family photo on Instagram as he reflected on Panettiere’s place in their lives and vowed to preserve her memory for their daughter, Kaya.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” the former heavyweight boxing champion wrote. “She left this world far too soon. I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”
The couple began dating in 2009, became engaged in 2013, and welcomed Kaya in 2014 before separating in 2018.
Panettiere, known for Heroes and Nashville, earned two Golden Globe nominations during her career. An autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, but the official cause and manner remain under investigation.
Klitschko concluded his statement by requesting privacy and thanking those who had offered condolences.
“Rest easy, Hayden,” he wrote. “May you find eternal peace.”