Tori Bowie was a world champion sprinter and an Olympic gold medalist who died at the age of 32 in May 2023. Her death shocked the sports world and raised questions about the risks of pregnancy and childbirth for Black women in the US. Here are some of the most common questions and answers about Tori Bowie’s cause of death.
Who Was Tori Bowie?
Tori Bowie was an American track and field athlete who specialized in sprinting and long jump. She was born and raised in Sandhill, Mississippi, where she showed her talent for running and jumping from an early age. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she became a three-time All-American.
Bowie made her international debut in 2012 when she competed in the long jump at the World Indoor Championships. She switched to sprinting in 2014, and quickly rose to the top of the sport. She won three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro: gold in the 4x100m relay, silver in the 100m, and bronze in the 200m. She became the first American woman to win medals in all three sprint events at a single Olympics since Florence Griffith Joyner in 1988.
In 2017, Bowie achieved her greatest success at the World Championships in London, where she won gold in both the 100m and the 4x100m relay. She also finished fourth in the long jump, narrowly missing out on another medal. She was hailed as one of the best sprinters of her generation and a potential star for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Bowie’s last official competition was in June 2022, when she ran at a meet in Florida. Her last appearance on the world stage was in 2019, when she competed in the long jump at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
What Was the Cause of Death of Tory Bowie?
Tori Bowie died from complications of childbirth, according to an autopsy report released by the Orange County, Florida, medical examiner’s office. She was found deceased in bed on May 2, 2023, at her home in Orlando, Florida. She was estimated to be eight months pregnant, and there was evidence she had been in labor.
The autopsy report stated that there had been “possible complications,” including “respiratory distress and eclampsia”. Eclampsia is a rare but serious condition that occurs when a pregnant woman with high blood pressure develops seizures or coma. It can cause brain damage, organ failure, or death for both the mother and the baby.
The report ruled Bowie’s manner of death as natural. It is unclear if she had any prenatal care or if anyone knew she was pregnant. Her online obituary said she was predeceased by a daughter, Ariana.
We’re very sad to hear that Tori Bowie, who won Olympic medals and was a world champion sprinter, has passed away:
We are deeply saddened to learn the cause of death of Olympic medalist and world champion sprinter, Tori Bowie.
Black women die at exceedingly higher rates due to pregnancy-related complications. We face a much higher risk of maternal death due to various reasons including… pic.twitter.com/ltsx5RDzGQ
— BET (@BET) June 12, 2023
Did Anyone Know She Was Pregnant?
It is unclear if Bowie’s friends or family knew she was pregnant. Her online obituary said she was predeceased by a daughter, Ariana. However, no details about the father or the delivery were given. Bowie’s last official competition was in June 2022, and her last appearance on the world stage was in 2019 at the world championships in Doha, where she finished fourth in the long jump.
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How Did the Sports World React to Her Death?
Bowie’s death shocked and saddened the sports world, especially the track and field community. Many of her fellow athletes, coaches, and fans paid tribute to her on social media and expressed their condolences to her family. Some also highlighted the issue of maternal mortality among Black women in America, who face a much higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications than women of other races. They called for more awareness and action to protect and advocate for Black women’s health.
What Were Her Achievements as a Sprinter?
Bowie was one of the most successful American sprinters of her generation. She won three medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio: gold in the 4x100m relay, silver in the 100m, and bronze in the 200m. She also won two gold medals at the 2017 world championships in London: in the 100m and the 4x100m relay. She was known for her explosive speed and her dramatic finishes, often edging out her rivals by a fraction of a second.
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