Former Olympic cyclist found dead inside Las Vegas apartment days after choking on food: Report

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Five-time Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos of Venezuela was found dead in her Las Vegas apartment after she choked to death, police said.

Authorities were called to her apartment on Friday after she had missed work for the entire week at a Las Vegas hotel where she was a waitress, Fox Sports reported.

Police later determined she died on Aug. 11 from asphyxiation caused by solid food remains found in her trachea, according to the report.

Venezuela’s Olympic committee (COV) posted a tribute to Chirinos on X on Friday, saying she filled the country with “great pride.”

The post read: “With an outstanding career in track cycling, she managed to represent us with honour in five Olympic Games, accumulate four Olympic diplomas and triumphs that always filled us with great pride.”

She was the leading figure in Venezuelan cycling from 1990-2012 and participated in the speed cycling event at five Summer Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and London 2012.

That feat established her as the only Venezuelan to compete at five different Olympic Games.

Her best finish in an Olympic event was in the Team Sprint final in London 2012, where she placed seventh.

While she wasn’t able to bring home any Olympic medals, she won several medals at the Pan An Games – taking home two silvers in 2003, and two golds and a silver in 2011.

She also won two golds at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Chirinos received her degree in physical education in Venezuela before she came to the U.S., according to the report.