Five-Time Olympian Dies After Choking On Food In US

Daniela Larreal Chirinos, Venezuela’s five-time Olympian cyclist, died at her Las Vegas apartment after choking on her food.

When the 50-year-old Olympian did not turn up at the Las Vegas hotel where she worked, she was checked on and her body was found at her apartment, reported FOX Sports.

According to police sources, she is believed to have died after choking on her food on August 11.

Daniela Larreal Chirinos is a two-time gold medalist in the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships. She participated in five Olympics – Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and London (2012).

She was also active in Venezuelan politics and a critic of former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez.

She was forced into exile and banned from entering Venezuela. Before moving to Las Vegas where she worked as a food server, and was an Uber driver in Miami.

Although the cause of her death is being investigated, police suspected she died from asphyxiation as remains of solid food were found her windpipe, The Guardian reported.