Former USA Olympic ski star Patrick Gasienica dead at 24 after ‘crashing his motorcycle while driving home’
Former Olympic ski jumper Patrick Gasienica died on Monday night at the age of 24, USA Nordic announced.
According to The Daily Herald out of suburban Chicago, Gasienica was driving a motorcycle after work Monday afternoon when he crashed.
He was returning to his McHenry, Illinois home when the accident occurred.
‘USA Nordic Sport’s thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and the Ski Jumping community,’ a statement from the organization read.
Gasienica represented the United States the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Patrick Gasienica competes during the Men’s Team Ski jumping Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Gasienica, seen before a wedding last year, was just 24 years old at the time of his death
He finished 49th on the normal hill and 53rd on the large hill.
Gasienica also represented the USA at two Junior World Championships in 2016 and 2017, and the 2019 Nordic World Championships.
‘Patrick was a very well-liked ski jumper in the jumping community,’ his coach Scott Smith from Norge Ski Club said to the Daily Herald.
‘Our hearts are truly broken, and Patrick will be forever missed.’
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