U.S. Olympic medalist Kelly Catlin dies at age 23

[March 11, 2019]    (Reuters) - Olympian Kelly Catlin, who helped the United States win the women's pursuit team silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games, has died, USA Cycling said on Sunday. The three-time world champion was 23.

Sarah Hammer (USA) of USA, Kelly Catlin (USA) of USA, Chloe Dygert (USA) of USA and Jennifer Valente (USA) of USA on podium with the silver medals. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

"The U.S. cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin," USA Cycling President and Chief Executive 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."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Catlin family. This is an incredibly difficult time and we want to respect their privacy," the statement added. "The entire cycling community is mourning this immense loss."

VeloNews reported that Catlin's father, Mark, said in a letter to the publication that she died on Friday night at her home in California. Her father told the publication that she died by suicide.

Catlin won gold medals with the U.S. women's team pursuit team at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 world championships.

She was a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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