Former Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos found dead inside Las Vegas apartment days after choking on her food

Posted on by knews.uk

Venezuelan five-time Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos was found dead in her Las Vegas apartment after she choked to death on her food, police said.

Daniela Larreal of Venezuela reacts after winning the gold medal in the women’s sprint as part of day five of the X South American Games Santiago 2014 at the Penalolen Velodrome. Miguel Tovar/LatinContent via Getty Images

Authorities were called to the 50-year-old former athlete’s apartment on Friday after she failed to show up at the Las Vegas hotel where she had been working all week, It was reported by Fox Sports.

The five-time cyclist was reportedly found dead days after she failed to show up for her hotel job in Las Vegas. Getty Images
Chirinos was 50 years old. Jam Press
After winning the gold medal, Chirinos poses on the podium after the women’s final at the Pan American Games Pan American in the Velodrome. LatinContent via Getty Images

Police determined she died Sunday, Aug. 11, of asphyxiation caused by solid food found in her trachea, according to the report.

It was determined that she died of asphyxiation caused by solid food debris found in her trachea, according to the report. Jam Press

Chirinos was a notable athlete in Venezuela, having participated in the speed cycling event in five Olympic Games, including Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and London 2012.

She won two gold medals in San Salvador in 2002 and two silver medals, one in the 2002 Games and one in Mexico City in 1990. She also won two silver medals at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo in 2003, according to Fox Sports.