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Olympics rocked by shocking death of 19-year-old youth athlete

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·2-min read
Alegna Osorio, pictured here in action at the 2018 Youth Olympics.
Alegna Osorio died after being hit on the head in a training accident. Image: Twitter

The Olympics community is mourning the shocking death of 19-year-old hammer thrower Alegna Osorio.

The Cuban national sports institute announced on Thursday that Osorio, who represented Cuba at the 2018 Youth Olympics, died from head injuries sustained in a training accident.

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The 19-year-old was struck by a hammer at a track and field stadium in Cuba in April.

“We share this unbearable pain with her family,” said Osvaldo Vento, the president of Cuba’s national sports institute.

Cuban sports director Reynaldo Varona Martínez said: "Cuban athletics are in mourning.

"After an accident during training and a tough battle for her life, athlete Alegna Osorio passed away.

"Our condolences reach out to family, friends and colleagues and that of the Provincial Sports Directorate in Camagüey.

"From Deporcuba we send the most sincere message of support to her family, friends and the great family of Cuban athletics in this difficult hour.

"Rest in Peace, Lots of light for your soul."

Alegna Osorio, pictured here after winning bronze at the Pan-American under-20 championships in 2019.
Alegna Osorio (R) won bronze at the 2019 Pan-American under-20 championships.

Olympics community rocked by shocking death

Osorio finished fourth in the girls event at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

She won bronze at the Pan-American under-20 championships two years ago and had aspired to represent her country at the Olympic Games.

The teenager’s death was noted at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday by American hammer thrower Gwen Berry.

“Sending love to her family during this time. This is so sad,” Berry wrote on Twitter.

Tributes also flooded in on social media.

with Associated Press

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