Olympic finalist David Torrence dies at 31
The Olympic finalist and Pan Am Games medallist was found dead in a swimming pool in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Monday morning
Olympic finalist and Pan Am Games medallist David Torrence was found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Monday, according to 3TV/CBS 5. He was 31.
Born in Japan, the middle- and long-distance runner competed internationally for the United States before transferring eligibility to Peru, a nation he represented at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He held dual-citizenship. He set the Peruvian 5,000m record in the Olympic final in Rio, finishing 15th in 13:23.20. He ran professionally for Hoka One One.
He won a silver medal over 5,000m, representing the United States, at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. “Detectives learned that there were no obvious signs of foul play,” police said. The report adds that Torrence had been in Arizona “for a few weeks to train.”
Torrence was found in the Center Court Condominiums pool at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 28.
David Torrence @David_Torrence @HOKAONEONE 2nd 13:30.35 5Km @Cal_Track #GoBears #PTF15 14 Jun 2015 pic.twitter.com/b9R7zzmm24
— T&F Photo #Tokyo2021 #Tokyo2020 #東京2020 (@TaFphoto) June 15, 2015
“The track world lost a great friend and athlete today,” the United States Track and Field Association tweeted.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYXIMwjBXNk/
Torrence raced as recently as the Birmingham Diamond League in the men’s mile, where he finished one spot ahead of Canadian Mohammed Ahmed in 3:56.10. He regularly was among the best runners in the world at global championships with a 1,500m personal best of 3:33.23.
In complete shock to hear of the passing of David Torrence. Great guy and friend. He will be deeply missed.
— Nate Brannen, OLY (@natebrannen) August 29, 2017
Today we lost an amazing athlete and an even greater friend pic.twitter.com/TDrD0mLkUn
— Kyle Merber (@TheRealMerb) August 29, 2017
He holds the American indoor 1,000m record. In 2015, Torrence ran a leg of the indoor 4×800m world-record-setting relay in Boston, a mark which still stands.