World champion speed skater Lara van Ruijven dies aged 27
ByReuters
Published 10/07/2020 at 21:01 GMT
World champion Dutch speed skater Lara van Ruijven has died aged 27 after battling with an autoimmune disorder, the Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) said on Friday.
Lara van Ruijven of Netherlands prepares in the Ladies 500m semi-final during day two of the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships at EnergieVerbund Arena on January 13, 2018 in Dresden, Germany.
Image credit: Getty Images
The 27-year-old short track skater, who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympics, was admitted to hospital in Perpignan, France last month after falling ill during a training camp.
She was placed in intensive care and kept in an artificial coma but despite undergoing surgery, her health continued to deteriorate.
"What horrible news we've just received. Her loss will be felt through the whole sporting world," said Dutch short track coach Jeroen Otter.
"It is an enormous blow for a close-knit group. We've missed her over the last two weeks but today's news is so definite and surreal."
Van Ruijven won the 500 metres title at the world championships in Sofia last year, and an Olympic bronze medal in the 3,000m relay at 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
"We feel the pain for her family and the short track team," said KNSB director Herman de Haan. "This is hard to comprehend. On behalf of KNSB I want to wish Lara's friends and family strength with dealing with this great loss."
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