USA’s cycling world champ Kelly Catlin dead at 23

WASHINGTON, USA – Three-time cycling world champion and 2016 Rio Olympic runner-up Kelly Catlin has died at 23, USA Cycling confirmed on Sunday, March 10 (Monday, March 11, Philippine time). 

Catline was part of the American team that won 3 straight world championships from 2016 to 2018 before she withdrew from the squad that failed to defend the title in the 2019 worlds in Poland. 

“The US cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin,” USA Cycling president Rob DeMartini said in a statement.

“Kelly was more than an athlete to us and she will always be part of the USA Cycling family.

“The entire cycling community is mourning this immense loss… We are deeply saddened by Kelly’s passing, and we will all miss her dearly.”

A report in VeloNews on Sunday said Catlin committed suicide on Thursday night, citing an e-mail from her father Mark and a Facebook posting from her brother Colin.

A statement by Stanford University, where Catlin was working on a graduate degree in Computational and Mathematical Engineering, said an unnamed student was found dead in her on-campus residence by her roommate Thursday with no signs of foul play.

Catlin, who also took bronze in individual pursuit at the 2017 and 2018 worlds, was also mourned by her professional team, Rally UHC Cycling.

“The news of Kelly’s passing has hit the team hard,” the team said in a Twitter posting. “Losing an incredible person at such a young age is very difficult.

“Kelly was our friend and teammate. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and those who were fortunate enough to know her best.” 

All of us at Rally and @UHC are deeply saddened by the passing of such a talented young woman, Kelly Catlin. We are honored to have had such an exceptional individual as part of @RallyUHCcycling. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones, teammates & friends. https://t.co/NGoDa1MjND

— Rally Health (@rally_health) March 10, 2019

– Rappler.com