Olympian Tori Bowie’s death was announced on May 3, 2023. Icon Management posted about the tragic loss on its social media platforms. Following the announcement of the 32-year-old runner’s death, Florida's Orange County Sheriff's Department also confirmed its validity but could not disclose a cause of death, which caused many to speculate the possibility of suicide.
The autopsy shows this was not the case. It turns out that Tori was around eight months pregnant and in active labor at the time of her death. The report lists “possible complications” that contributed to her death, such as “respiratory distress and eclampsia.” She died of natural causes.
Kimberly Holland, Tori’s agent, is glad the truth is finally out there. "Unfortunately, so many people, including the media, are making speculations that she did something to herself, which is very hurtful," she explained to CBS News. "So hopefully, now knowing the truth, there will be many apologies."
Tori was found dead as a direct result of concerned family and friends who had not heard from her in several days. They asked the police to conduct a wellness check. When they did, they made the sad discovery.
More from LittleThings: A Widower's Friend Secretly Told His Children How Their Mom Really Died & Now He's Furious
Tori’s baby girl was stillborn. Tori leaves behind a legacy of athletic greatness. In the 2016 Olympics, she won gold for the 100-meter relay, silver for the 100-meter sprint, and bronze for the 200-meter race. At the IAAF World Championships, she won more gold for the 100-meter sprint. Perhaps another legacy she will leave behind is drawing attention to the higher rates of pregnancy-related complications facing Black mothers in this country.
