World champion short-track speed skater Lara van Ruijven dies at 27
Skating association says death a result of complications from autoimmune reaction
World champion short-track speed skater Lara van Ruijven died on Friday as a result of complications from an autoimmune reaction, the Netherlands skating association said. Van Ruijven was 27.
She died in a hospital in the French city of Perpignan, where she had been in a critical condition for days.
She last year became the first Dutch woman to win a short-track world title when she won the 500-metre title in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Van Ruijven won a short-track world title in 2019, claiming the 500-metre title in Sofia, Bulgaria.
RIP Lara, my condolences to all family, friends and teammates đź–¤ you will be greatly missed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panterlara?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panterlara</a> <a href="https://t.co/QPkfWCs24n">pic.twitter.com/QPkfWCs24n</a>
—@IvanieB"What terrible news we've just received. The loss will be felt in the sport world," national coach Jeroen Otter said.
Herman de Haan, director of the national skating body, added: "It's incomprehensible that she has been taken from us while in the prime of her life."
