Daniela Larreal Chirinos, a Venezuelan cyclist who represented her country in five Olympic Games, was found dead in her Las Vegas apartment, according to police reports. The 50-year-old former athlete reportedly choked to death on food. Authorities were alerted to her absence when she failed to report to her job at a Las Vegas hotel for an entire week.
Larreal Chirinos was a prominent figure in Venezuelan cycling from 1990 to 2012. She competed in the speed cycling event in five Olympic Games, including Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and London 2012. Her athletic prowess was not limited to the Olympics; she also won numerous medals in other international competitions.
The former athlete’s accomplishments include two gold medals at the 2002 games in San Salvador and two silver medals, one from the same games and another from a competition in Mexico City in 1990. She also won two silver medals at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo in 2003.
In addition to her Olympic and Pan American Games achievements, Larreal Chirinos was awarded three golds and a silver at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador. Her athletic career was marked by consistent success and a dedication to her sport that made her a leading figure in Venezuelan cycling.
Before moving to the United States, Larreal Chirinos earned a degree in physical education in her home country of Venezuela. Her death has been ruled as asphyxiation caused by solid food remains found in her trachea, according to the police report.
The loss of Larreal Chirinos is a significant blow to the world of cycling, particularly in Venezuela where she was a celebrated athlete. Her legacy in the sport will continue to inspire future generations of cyclists.