‘Forever missed’: US Olympian Patrick Gasienica dead at 24

A US Olympian has died in tragic circumstances with the youngster’s death sending shockwaves through the sporting community.

Patrick Gasienica died in a motorcycle accident. Photo: Instagram

US ski jumper Patrick Gasienica, who competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics, died Monday at the age of 24, USA Nordic announced Tuesday.

Local reports from Gasienica’s native Illinois reported the athlete was involved in a motorcycle accident Monday while heading back to his McHenry, Illinois home from work, according to The Daily Herald.

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The McHenry County coroner’s office via the Chicago Tribune revealed Gasienica died of blunt force trauma.

“Patrick was an incredible competitor, teammate and friend,” USA Nordic posted to its Twitter account Tuesday. “He will be dearly missed.”

“USA Nordic Sport’s thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and the Ski Jumping community,” the statement read.

Gasienica trained at the Norge Ski Club and went on to make his FIS Ski Jumping debut in 2015.

Gasienica represented the US at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The club posted a tribute to Instagram.

“Patrick was a fierce competitor, role model, and friend to all who knew him,” the post read. “While this loss is devastating to our community, we will always remember Patrick and hold him close in our hearts and memories.”

From there, he took part in the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in 2016 and 2017, and later, the 2019 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Gasienica made his Olympics debut at last year’s Winter Games in Beijing.

He placed 49th on the normal hill and 53rd on the large hill.

The team finished 10th at the Olympics.

Gasienica placed 37th in the Continental Cup in Iron Mountain, Michigan, this past March, according to NBC Sports.

“Patrick was a very well-liked ski jumper in the jumping community,” Norge coach Scott Smith told the Daily Herald. “Our hearts are truly broken, and Patrick will be forever missed.”

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.