Body of former Olympic cyclist found in her Las Vegas apartment days after suffocation

Former Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos was found dead in her Las Vegas apartment days after she choked to death, Fox Sports reported. Authorities discovered the Venezuelan athlete's body after being notified of her prolonged absence from a hotel where she was employed. On Friday, police found Chirinos in her apartment, where she is believed to have died on August 11 after choking on her food.

Former Olympic athlete found dead in her Las Vegas apartment

The 50-year-old former Olympian died of asphyxiation caused by solid food particles in her windpipe, according to the report. The Venezuelan Olympic Committee (COV) confirmed the news of Chirinos' death on Friday in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

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“The COV Board regrets the departure of Daniela Larreal. With an outstanding career in track cycling, she managed to represent us with honour at five Olympic Games, collecting four Olympic diplomas and triumphs that have always filled us with great pride,” reads a translation of the tweet.

Chirinos was one of Venezuela's most successful cyclists, winning two gold medals in San Salvador in 2002, two silver medals, one at the 2002 Games and one in Mexico City in 1990, two silver medals at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, and three gold and one silver medals at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, according to the New York Post.

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She represented her country at five Olympic Games: 1992 in Barcelona, ​​1996 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney, 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London. Before moving to the United States, Chirinos earned her degree in physical education in Venezuela. During her decades-long career as a professional track cyclist, usually as a sprinter, she received four Olympic diplomas for her achievements.