(ProsperNews.net) – A Venezuelan Olympic cyclist who participated in multiple Olympic Games over the years was found dead in Las Vegas inside her apartment after choking to death while eating.
When Daniela Larreal Chirinos didn’t show up for work on Aug. 12, some of her coworkers became concerned and tried unsuccessfully to reach her. They soon reached out to authorities who sent the Las Vegas Police Department (LBPD) to investigate and conduct a wellness check. When the LVPD arrived at her apartment, they found Chirinos unresponsive. Her cause of death was given as asphyxiation, although the LVPD did not confirm an official cause yet. Investigators believe she died on Aug. 11.
The cyclist competed in five Olympic Games, from 1992 to 2012. She also participated and won accolades in the Pan Am and Central American Games.
The Venezuelan Olympic Committee posted a tribute to Chirinos on social media, remembering her “outstanding career.” The committee said she represented her country “with honor” in the Olympic Games and that her victories filled her people “with great pride.”
Outside of her cycling career, Chirinos was an active participant in the opposition movement against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and she reportedly fled Venezuela as a result of death threats she received for her political views. Although she moved to the US, Chirinos said the threats did “not affect” her, and only made her more “proud” to be Venezuelan and that she would continue to “fight.”
One of the opposition leaders in the movement, Henrique Capriles, posted about the cyclist’s death and said she was a “great figure” in the sport as well as a track specialist. He said aside from “winning medals,” she “stood out” as the only Venezuelan to compete in five Olympics. Capriles said the country was in mourning and gave condolences to the family, friends, and former teammates of Chirinos.
On July 28, Maduro won a third term in a heavily contested election, resulting in widespread opposition protests throughout cities that are still underway. Protesters challenge the election results, while election authorities claim that Maduro gained just under 52% of the vote and was the true winner.
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