Former Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos has passed away at the age of 50 following an unfortunate incident. According to reports, Chirinos had choked on her food while eating in her Las Vegas apartment.
On Friday, August 16, 2024, Chirinos was discovered by the police after she was reported missing. The former Olympic cyclist was reported missing by colleagues after she failed to report to work at a Las Vegas hotel on Monday, August 12, 2024.
What Happened to Daniela Larreal Chirinos?
According to the police complaint, Daniela Larreal Chirinos was discovered dead at her Las Vegas home on August 15, 2024. The discovery, which took place in the afternoon, came as the police were making a welfare check. A friend had called the police about her non-appearance, which was unusual for Chirinos.
According to reports gathered by Fox Sports, the police are yet to receive an official cause of death. However, from preliminary investigation, it was concluded that Chirinos had suffocated, given the food remnants in her trachea.
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The Clark County Coroner’s Office is carrying out the autopsy, and an official cause of death is to be released. According to the police, although Chirinos was discovered on Friday, August 16, 2024, her estimated date of death would be on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Also, police department spokesman Luis Vidal said homicide investigators were not contacted to conduct an investigation.
The Venezuela Olympic Committee Confirmed Daniela Larreal Chirinos’ Death via a Tribute
After police confirmed Daniela Larreal Chirinos’ death, the Venezuela Olympic Committee took to its X account to post a tribute. On Friday, August 16, 2024, the Venezuela Olympic Committee shared an image of Chirinos holding up a medal with her eyes closed and a flag draped around her shoulders.
The tribute read, “The COV Board of Directors regrets the departure of Daniela Larreal. With an outstanding career in track cycling, she managed to represent us with honor in five Olympic Games and accumulate four Olympic diplomas and triumphs that always filled us with great pride.”
Chirinos participated in five Olympics, from 1992 in Barcelona, Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, and London in 2012. However, she did not participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At the time of her passing, Daniela Larreal Chirinos was employed as a housekeeper at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the newest casino on the strip. In a statement, Fontainebleau described Chirinos as a beloved member of its workforce.
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Who Is Daniela Larreal Chirinos?
Daniela Greluis Larreal Chirinos was born on October 2, 1973, in Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela. She is the daughter of cyclist Daniel Larreal, who won a silver medal at the Pan American Games in 1971.
Applauded as one of Venezuela’s most important sportspeople, Daniela Larreal Chirinos has been a five-time Olympian and a leading Venezuelan cyclist for over twenty years. Throughout her career, which spanned 24 years, she competed mostly in American events.
However, Chirinos also won over 35 foreign medals. She competed in the UCI Track Cycling World Cup, winning several stages of medals. Later in her career, Daniela Larreal Chirinos became critical of corruption in sports organizations as Venezuela descended into a crisis.
Nicolás Maduro’s administration increased Chirinos’ criticism of her nation’s governance. Due to her activities, Chirinos was driven into exile in the United States, where she joined the political opposition in Venezuela.
Her greatest performance was in seventh position during the London Team Sprint final. In the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships, Chirinos also won a gold medal.
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Daniela Larreal Chirinos Burial and Funeral Plan
On August 17, 2024, the 2024 Vuelta de España got underway. Víctor Hugo Peña, a former cyclist from Colombia, presented the tour to ESPN and paid homage to the late cyclist during its start.
The Teo Capriles Velodrome in Caracas will host a memorial for her. Daniela Larreal Chirinos’ body will be sent back to Venezuela, and along the way, the process is expected to be time-consuming.
Gladis Teresa, Daniela Larreal Chirinos’ mother, had passed away years prior and was buried in Caracas in the Cementerio del Este [es]. Her father revealed that he intends to have Chirinos buried close to her mother when she passed away, as she requested when she purchased the spot.
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