Tori Bowie death: Olympic sprinter who died alone in childbirth hailed as ‘beacon of light’

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An autopsy into the death of US Olympic sprinter Tori Bowie has revealed that the 32-year-old died from complications related to childbirth.

The pregnant athlete was found dead at her Florida home on 2 May following a welfare check by authorities, after she had not been heard from by friends or family for several days.

Bowie was eight months pregnant at the time of her death and was in active labour when she suffered complications that led to her death.

“We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter and sister,” Icon Management Inc., the agency that represented Bowie, wrote on Twitter. “Tori was a champion … a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken and our prayers are with the family and friends.”

Medical officials said that the athlete suffered possible complications that included eclampsia and respiratory distress, according to USA Today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.”