Tori Bowie, American sprint sensation and Olympic medalist in sudden death

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

American female sprinter and three-time Olympic medalist Tori Bowie has died at the age of 32, throwing the Athletics world into mourning.

Bowie reportedly died at her home in Florida, United States.

Born on 27 August, 1990, Bowie was an American track and field athlete, who primarily competed in the long jump, 100m, and 200m.

She had a personal record of 6.95 m (22 ft 9+1⁄2 in) for the long jump, set in 2014. Bowie was the 2017 100m world champion, a 2016 Olympian, and a three-time Olympic medalist.

Mourning her death, the World Athletics, on its Instagram page on Wednesday said it was deeply saddened by the passing of Bowie.

“World Athletics is deeply saddened by the passing of Tori Bowie, the 2017 world 100m champion and multiple Olympic medalist. Condolences go out to her family and friends,” it said.

One of the greatest sprinter of all time, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce mourned the death of her colleague.

“My heart breaks for the family of Tori Bowie. A great competitor and source of light. Your energy and smile will always be with me. Rest in peace,” she mourned.

Bowie competed collegiately for the University of Southern Mississippi and was a two-time NCAA long jump champion, winning indoors and outdoors in 2011.

She held the school records for the long jump and was also NCAA runner-up outdoors in 2012. Bowie came runner-up in the long jump at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and represented her country at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

After winning Diamond League races in Eugene, Rome, New York, and Monaco in 2014, Bowie shifted her focus to the sprints beginning in 2015.

She held personal bests of 10.78 seconds for the 100-meter dash, 21.77 seconds for the 200-meter dash, and 7.14 seconds for the 60-meter dash, as well as having a triple jump best of 13.09 m (42 ft 11+1⁄4 in).