A medical report has sadly revealed that three-time Olympic medalist Tori Bowie was pregnant and in labor at the time of her death.
The two-time world champion in track and field was found dead at her home in Orlando, Florida, on May 2 after the local sheriff’s department carried out "a well-being check of a woman in her 30s who had not been seen or heard from in several days," as reported by The Guardian.
Her management company then confirmed the tragic news on May 4 with an emotional Instagram post that read: "We’re devastated to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away. We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter, and sister.
"Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family, friends, and everyone that loved her," they penned. "As the story continues to develop, we ask that you please respect our privacy."
It has now been revealed via a coroner's report obtained by TMZ that Bowie sadly died from childbirth complications. The Orange County (Florida) Medical Examiner’s Office report - cited by USA Today - further disclosed that she was around eight months pregnant and in active labor at the time of her death.
Officials said potential difficulties the former 100-meter world champion athlete had included respiratory distress and eclampsia - which is when a person develops seizures after a sudden spike in high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to Cleveland Clinic.
The medical report also explained that Eclampsia usually happens after the 20th week of pregnancy, and impacts less than 3% of people with preeclampsia. The rare and serious condition can cause complications during pregnancy and requires emergency medical care.
Broadcaster BET reacted to the autopsy by emphasizing the hardships Black women in America encounter during pregnancy. US-born Black women experience far higher rates of pre-eclampsia than those from other backgrounds, as reported by the outlet.
"Black women die at exceedingly higher rates due to pregnancy-related complications," BET wrote on Twitter. "We face a much higher risk of maternal death due to various reasons including chronic stress and implicit bias from health care providers. There is so much work to be done to properly protect and advocate for Black women's health."
The Olympian was born and raised in Mississippi by her grandmother Bobbie Smith. She played basketball as a youngster before going on to flourish in track. She won state titles in the 100m, 200m, and long jump.
Her sporting success continued at college for which she managed to achieve an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi. At college, she prevailed in national titles in 2011 in the indoor and outdoor long jump, and three years later she decided to put all her energy into sprinting.
Bowie attained three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with her remarkable speed, winning a silver medal in the 100-meters, bronze in the 200-meters, and running the anchor leg on a 4x100 team with Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, and English Gardner to take gold.
In 2017, she won another relay gold at the World Athletics Championships in London and also triumphed individual gold in the 100m, where she beat the likes of Marie-Josée Ta Lou.
The manner of the athlete's death has been ruled natural, according to the medical examiner.
Our thoughts continue to be with Bowie's family, friends, and fans at this time.
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