Olympic cyclist found dead in her apartment days after her death

An Olympic cyclist was tragically found dead in her apartment allegedly after choking on her food.

Daniela Larreal Chirinos , 50, didn't turn up for work at the hotel where she was employed, leading to concerned colleagues notifying the authorities. Police officers discovered her body in her Las Vegas flat last Friday.

It's believed she had been dead since Aug. 11, with her colleagues contacting authorities the following day.

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According to sources close to the investigation, Larreal, 50, died from asphyxiation. The post-mortem 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 and was awarded four diplomas in track cycling.

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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.

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