Speed skating: World champion Van Ruijven dies aged 27

Lara van Ruijven of Netherlands celebrates winning the women's 500 meter final A during the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships Day 2 at Armeec Arena in Sofia, Bulgaria, March 9, 2019. /CFP

World champion Dutch speed skater Lara van Ruijven has died aged 27 after battling with an autoimmune disorder, the Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) said on Friday.

The 27-year-old short track skater, who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympics, was admitted to hospital in Perpignan, France last month after falling ill during a training camp.

Lara Van Ruijven of Dutch Olympic Team speed skating short track squad participates in her indoor circuit training session at Thialf Ice Arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands, June 17, 2020. /CFP

She was placed in intensive care and kept in an artificial coma but despite undergoing surgery, her health continued to deteriorate.

"What horrible news we've just received. Her loss will be felt through the whole sporting world," said Dutch short track coach Jeroen Otter.

"It is an enormous blow for a close-knit group. We've missed her over the last two weeks but today's news is so definite and surreal."

Lara van Ruijven of the Netherlands during the ISU World Cup Short Track at the Sportboulevard in Dordrecht, Netherlands, February 14, 2020. /CFP

Van Ruijven won the 500 metres title at the world championships in Sofia last year, and an Olympic bronze medal in the 3,000m relay at 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

"We feel the pain for her family and the short track team," said KNSB director Herman de Haan. "This is hard to comprehend. On behalf of KNSB I want to wish Lara's friends and family strength with dealing with this great loss."

Source(s): Reuters