WASHINGTON, USA –  Ang three-time cycling world champion at 2016 Rio Olympic runner-up Kelly Catlin ay pumanaw na sa edad na 23, kinumpirma ng USA Cycling nitong Linggo, Marso 10 (Lunes, Marso 11, Philippine time).

Bahagi si Catlin ng American team na nanalo ng 3 straight world championships mula 2016 hanggang 2018 bago siya umalis sa kanyang squad na natalo sa 2019 worlds sa Poland .

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"The US cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin," pahayag ni USA Cycling president Rob DeMartini.

"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."

Ayon sa VeloNews nitong Linggo, Marso 10, nag-suicide si Catlin Huwebes ng gabi mula sa isang e-mail galing sa kanyang tatay na si Mark at sa Facebook post ng kanyang kapatid na si Colin.

Sa pahayag ng Stanford University, kung saan nag-aaral ng Computational and Mathematical Engineering si Caitlin, isang estudyante ang natagpuang patay ng kanyang roommate sa loob ng kanilang campus residence noong Huwebes at walang senyales ng foul play.

Nakakuha rin Catlin ng bronze sa individual pursuit sa 2017 at 2018 worlds, at nagdalamhati din ang kanyang professional team, Rally UHC Cycling.

"The news of Kelly’s passing has hit the team hard," sabi ng kanyang team sa isang Twitter post. "Losing an incredible person at such a young age is very difficult.