Olympic track and field champion Tori Bowie has passed away. The heartbreaking news was confirmed through a social media statement from her management company on Wednesday morning. She was 32.
“We’re devasted to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away,” the company, Icon Management, tweeted. “We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter and sister. Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family and friends.”
According to TMZ, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida told them that the Olympic star was found dead inside her home.
Officials said that her loved ones were concerned after they hadn’t heard from her for several days.
Officers conducted a well-being check at Bowie’s home Tuesday afternoon. When authorities arrived at the residence, they made entry … and found the three-time Olympic medalist deceased. A preliminary investigation showed no foul play was involved.
The cause of death is still unknown and the case is still under investigation.
USA Track and Field also mourned Bowie’s death in a post, sharing an image of the Mississippi native smiling and holding up an American flag.
“USATF is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tori Bowie, a three-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion,” the organization tweeted. “Her impact on the sport is immeasurable, and she will be greatly missed.”
Bowie helped the U.S. win gold in the 100-meter relay at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She also won silver in the 100-meter sprint and bronze in the 200-meter at the 2016 Games.
Bowie didn’t stop there. She also won gold in the 100-meter race at the IAAF World Championships the following year, while also helping the U.S. retain gold in the 100-meter relay.
Bowie was raised by her grandmother in the small town of Sandhill, Mississippi after she was left at a foster home, according to The Associated Press. She envisioned herself playing basketball before she was persuaded to try track, quickly excelling at the sport, winning state championships in the 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump events.
She later attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she became a three-time All-American and won two long jump titles in both indoor and outdoor events in 2011.
After winning her three medals at the 2016 Games, Mississippi made November 25 “Tori Bowie Day,” an honor she called “special” and “humbling.”
“I’ve never even thought about anything like this,” Bowie told The Hattiesburg American then. “It’s like back in Sandhill, they have a sign right when you turn inside [the campus at Pisgah High, her alma mater], they actually have a sign, it says ‘Tori Bowie Lane.’ To see things like that and like this, it’s just like miracles, I guess.”
Bowie last competed in an event in June 2022.
Sending condolences to Bowie;s loved ones.
RIP.
