Five-time Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos found dead in Las Vegas apartment
Five-time Olympic cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos has been found dead at age 50.
Reports say Chirinos was found in a Las Vegas apartment and authorities believe she choked on food.
Her colleagues alerted police when she failed to show up for work.
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Chirinos competed at five Olympics for Venezuela - the only athlete from the nation to do so.
"The COV board of directors regrets the (death) of Daniela Larreal," the Venezuelan Olympic Committee said in a statement on social media.
Daniela Larreal Chirinos competing at London 2012. Getty
"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."
Chirinos competed at her first Games in Barcelona 1992, then went to Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, and London - missing out on Beijing in 2008 which would have made her a six-time Olympian.
She also won gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2011, as well as gold at the 2005 Pan American Championships.
