Five-time Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos has tragically passed away after reportedly choking on food. The Venezuelan athlete was discovered deceased by Las Vegas police on Friday, August 16. She was 51 years old.
Authorities determined that Chirinos’ cause of death was “asphyxiation caused by solid food remains found in her trachea.” It is believed that Chirinos passed away on August 11.
Chirinos, who worked at a hotel in Las Vegas, had not reported to work since August 12. Concerned coworkers contacted the police, who performed a welfare check at Chirinos’ apartment, where they found her body.
The Clark County Office of the Coroner has not yet officially released a cause and manner of death.
Chirinos was a prominent figure in Venezuelan cycling, having competed in five Olympic Games, with her most recent appearance in London in 2012.
She also participated in the Summer Games in Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004.
Her best Olympic performance was in 2012 when she placed seventh in the team sprint finals.
Following the announcement of her death, the Venezuelan Olympic Committee honored Chirinos’ “great career” in a tribute shared on social media.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the committee expressed that her numerous accomplishments “always filled us with great pride.”
Chirinos also had a distinguished cycling career outside the Olympics. She was a two-time gold medalist in the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships, as well as a four-time silver medalist at the Pan American Games.
Additionally, she earned three golds and a silver at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Chirinos also held a degree in Physical Education and was a member of political parties in her home country before relocating to the United States.
In the comment section of Chirinos’ recent Instagram posts, fans and admirers have been paying tribute to the late cyclist.
“Rest in peace Daniela. You were always a warrior, an excellent athlete.,” one person wrote on a recent post.
Another commented, “You were an example and a source of great admiration. You remain in our hearts. Strength to your family and loved ones.”
