She was Olympic vice-champion in the 100 meters in 2016, then world champion in 2017. The American athlete Tori Bowie died in circumstances still unknown, according to a press release from the agency which represented her published Wednesday, May 3. Information confirmed in stride by World Athletics, the international athletics federation, and by the American federation. The Orange County, Florida Sheriff's Office said the lifeless body of Frentorish 'Tori' Bowie was discovered the day before. She was 32 years old.
"On May 2, 2023, at approximately 1:00 p.m., (sheriff's) deputies went to a house […] to ascertain the condition of a woman in her thirties who had no longer given sign of life for several days," the statement said. "A woman, provisionally identified as Frentorish 'Tori' Bowie (date of birth: 8/27/1990), was found dead in the house. No signs of crime were found," the sheriff's department continued.
Icon Sport Management, which represented Tori Bowie, announced his death earlier today. “We have lost a client, a dear friend, a daughter and a sister. Tori was a champion and a real ray of sunshine, "she wrote on her social networks, without providing details on the circumstances of the death. World Athletics and then the United States Athletics Federation (USATF) confirmed the athlete's death. "Her athletic legacy is immeasurable and will be sorely missed," U.S. Athletics Director Max Siegel said in a statement.
Born August 27, 1990, in Sand Hill, rural Mississippi, raised by her grandmother, Tori Bowie transitioned from long jump to sprint in 2014, setting the world's best performance in the 100 meters that year, in 10.80, during the Monaco meeting. She then forged a big track record in a dazzling fashion, first by winning three Olympic medals in 2016 in Rio with gold in the 4 x 100 meter relay, silver in the 100 meter behind Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah and bronze in the 200 meters.
The following year in London, Tori Bowie became world champion in the straight, winning in 10.85, and also took part in Team USA's golden relay in the 4 x 100 meter relay. After a final feat in 2019 at the Doha Worlds (4th in the long jump), the sprinter from Mississippi (personal best of 10.78 over 100 meters) has never been able to regain her best level. Far from international games, she had only competed in one official competition in 2022 – a 200 meters in Florida.
“My heart is broken thinking of Tori Bowie's family, a superb rival and a solar person. Your energy and smile will be with me forever," Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic 100-meter champion, wrote on her social media.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed in a statement "shock and deep sadness" at the news of his death. “The world of sport, he added, has lost a true champion. »
