Austrian Olympic judo medalist Heill reportedly commits suicide

[News_Editor]

Austrian Olympic judo medalist Heill reportedly commits suicide

2011-03-31 22:04:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (BNO NEWS) -- An Austrian judo fighter who won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics fell to her death from a sixth floor in Vienna on Thursday, Die Presse newspaper reported.

Claudia Heill, 29, allegedly jumped from a sixth story into a Vienna highway. No suicide note was left and police are investigating the cause of the apparent suicide in order to rule out any foul play.

"Claudia was a happy person, who had many visions, and her whole live devoted to the sport (judo). Our thoughts are with her family," said Judo Association President Paul Hans Kutschera.

Heill was the first Austrian female judoka to win an Olympic medal after finishing in second place in the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. She also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finished fifth.

In 2009, Heill decided to end her judo career after suffering a severe injury that left her sidelined from the European Championships in Vienna in 2010. After that, she worked at the National Sports Centre South City as a trainer.

In addition, the Olympic silver medalist was studying in the School of Training and Sports in Wiener Neustadt. Other awards she won in her career were two silver medals in the 2001 and 2005 European Championships.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-31

[geriatrickid]

If this had been in Thailand the conspiracy theorists alleging a mysterious murder would be piling on with comments.

RIP old girl.