Olympic cyclist found dead in Las Vegas apartment 'after choking on food'

An Olympic cyclist has been found dead in her apartment after she reportedly choked on her food.

Venezuelan cyclist Daniela Larreal Chirinos, who competed in five Olympic Games between 1992 and 2012, had been living in Las Vegas since retiring from the sport. 

She was working as a waitress at a hotel, but failed to show up for work on Friday August 12.  

According to sources close to the investigation, Larreal, 50, died from asphyxiation.

Daniela Larreal Chirinos (pictured in 2011) was found dead in a Las Vegas apartment 

When former athlete Daniela Larreal Chirinos failed to show up at the hotel where she worked, concerned colleagues alerted the authorities

The post-mortem examination reportedly found solid food remnants in her windpipe, suggesting she’d choked to death.

However, the cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed by police.

Larreal was one of Venezuela’s most distinguished athletes.

She competed in five Olympic Games – Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and London 2012.

She was awarded four diplomas in track cycling, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Larreal was the leading figure in Venezuelan cycling from 1990 to 2012.

She won a silver medal at the 1990 Central American Games in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

She won another two silvers at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

And she won three golds and a silver at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Chirinos was awarded four diplomas in track cycling, as reported by NeedToKnow

The post-mortem reportedly found solid food remnants in her windpipe, suggesting she’d choked to death