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Olivia Podmore, who competed in the sprint events on the track for New Zealand at the Rio Olympics and at multiple World Cups and World Championships, died on Monday at the age of 24.
“Olivia was a much loved and respected rider in our Cycling New Zealand squad,” Cycling New Zealand said in a statement.
“At this time we are providing support to our staff and riders, the cycling community and those that were close to Olivia.”
According to the New Zealand Herald, Podmore passed away in Cambridge, New Zealand. She had reportedly written about the challenges of life as an elite athlete in an Instagram post earlier on Monday that was later deleted.
“Sport is an amazing outlet for so many people, it’s a struggle, it’s a fight but it’s so joyous,” she had written, according to the New Zealand Herald.
“The feeling when you win is unlike any other, but the feeling when you lose, when you don’t get selected even when you qualify, when [you’re] injured, when you don’t meet society’s expectations such [as] owning a house, marriage, kids all because [you’re] trying to give everything to your sport is also unlike any other.”
If you are in need of support, contact:
NZ: Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354 or lifeline.org.nz
Australia: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org
UK: Samaritans: 116 123 or samaritans.org