Tori Bowie Cause of Death, Passed Away, 32
Tori Bowie, an American sprinter who won three Olympic medals and was a world champion in the 100 metres, has died. She was 32 years old, according to her management company, Icon Management Inc.
Bowie’s death was announced by her management company on Twitter, and condolences have flooded in from fellow Olympians. “Tori was a beautiful, young woman who brought a light to so many,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said on social media. She added: “A great competitor and source of light.”
Born in Sandhill, Mississippi, Bowie was adopted by her grandmother as an infant after she was removed from a foster home. She was initially hesitant to show up for track, but she turned in an electric performance at the 2016 Olympics, winning silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200. She then ran the anchor leg on a 4×100 relay team with Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix and English Gardner to take gold.
Her coach, Dave Anderson, told USA Today that Bowie’s death is a “huge loss to our sport.”
She was a former student at Southern Mississippi, where she won NCAA championships both indoors and outdoors as a long jumper, and she was a member of the school’s state 4100 relay team.
In 2016, Bowie was part of the gold-winning 4100 meter relay at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and earned a silver and bronze in the 100 and 200 meters. She also won the 100 metres at the 2017 world championships in London.
Her first race came while she was a member of the USA’s 4100 relay squad, and her success continued in 2017 with her gold medal in the 100 metres at the world championships.
As a teenager, she coaxed herself into track and won several state high school titles in the 100, 200 and long jump. She attended Pisgah High School in Sandhill and became a standout at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was a four-time All-American and won an NCAA title in both indoor and outdoor competitions in 2011 as a long jumper.
She was also a member of the women’s basketball team at Southern Miss, and she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
The cause of her death has yet to be revealed, but some speculate she may have committed suicide or suffered a stroke. She had not been in contact with her family or friends since Tuesday, when she was discovered dead at a Florida home.
Tributes have poured in from other athletes, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Noah Lyles. Brittney Reese, who competed for the US in Beijing, said: “I have been following Tori’s career, and she has been a joy to watch.”
Her family is devastated at her passing, and she will be deeply missed. “Tori was a wonderful person, a great athlete and a friend,” her mother, Lisa Bowie, told USA Today.
Despite her success, she was a humble girl, always smiling and telling people she loved them. She had a strong faith, and was known for her generosity.
