Olympic medalist, 29, commits suicide

VIENNA (AP)

The Austrian judo federation says Olympic judo silver medalist Claudia Heill of Austria has committed suicide by jumping out of a sixth-story window in Vienna. She was 29.

TRAGIC SPORTS DEATHS

Remembering the many athletes sports lost way too soon.

The federation said in a statement that “nobody could foresee this act of desperation.” It did not provide more details.

Federation president Hans Paul Kutschera told national broadcaster ORF on Thursday that Heill “was a very active person. Everyone who knew her is devastated.”

Heill won silver in the under-63 kilogram category at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Heill also won silver at the European championships in 2001 and 2005. She retired one year after finishing fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games. She had been working as a coach of juniors.