This is so sad...
A few years ago for a few years I was lucky enough to be able to work around something that I enjoy: Bicycling. I worked for 2 different companies in the Bicycling industry. One in Georgia and one in New England.
I got to travel a few times a year to races, events and trade shows. I met some interesting people. I enjoyed it, as much as jobs go.
When I worked for Maxxis tires in Georgia, they had a really strong pro sponsorship program. I got to meet some "famous" people. Well, famous in that industry/ world.
One of the people I met a few times was Steve Larsen. He's been around in US cycling for a long time, road racing, mountain bike National Champion, tri... Really nice guy. I never really got to talk with him more than a few hellos, and helping him do some things at a trade show and a race. I kind of respected and admired him though. At the time he was one of the top US mountain bikers, just missed the Olympics. BUT he also had a wife and children and was genuinely a nice guy. Plus we are the same age within a few months (that might be why this news is very concerning to me!)
I found out a couple of days ago from a Facebook friend I've known since then, that he dropped dead on Tuesday. He was still a competitive athlete as well as father of 5 and ran his own commercial real estate company, and several cycling related businesses. Apparently he was on a training run (tri-athlete) and collapsed and even though medical personnel were nearby and responded quickly, he died.
This is the article written on one of his businesses websites:
" Steve Larsen March 13, 1970 - May 19, 2009
It is with deep sadness we share the news of Steve Larsen's sudden and untimely passing. Steve collapsed during a workout Tuesday evening and despite their immediate attention medical professionals were unable to resuscitate him.
To many of us Steve was an inspiration, a competitor and a mentor who touched and influenced our lives. Though his time here was brief, his accomplishments as a professional cyclist, professional triahtlete, and businessman were not. Steve was a multi time National Champion in Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, and Xterra off road triathlon and an Ironman Triathlon Champion as well. He started and ran a number of businesses including his current ventures at Steve Larsen Properties, a commercial real estate brokerage and WorldTri.com.
Though his athletic ability was extraordinary, his greatest treasure and passion was his wife and five children. The love he shared with them and from them was his greatest gift and accomplishment. "
http://www.worldtri.com/
I'm genuinely sad and a little freaked out by it. He has 5 children; 5. And even though he was the tops in his sport for years, it's not a huge money sport. I doubt he leaves a bazillion dollars for his family.
How crazy and sad is that news. I'm going to send some money next week.
To Steve, thanks for being a nice good person that loved and took care of your wife and kids. Thanks for being an inspirational athlete and someone I could say I respected as an athlete and as a person.
To Carrie Larsen and children, my heart goes out to you in this horribly sad time.
I got to travel a few times a year to races, events and trade shows. I met some interesting people. I enjoyed it, as much as jobs go.
When I worked for Maxxis tires in Georgia, they had a really strong pro sponsorship program. I got to meet some "famous" people. Well, famous in that industry/ world.
One of the people I met a few times was Steve Larsen. He's been around in US cycling for a long time, road racing, mountain bike National Champion, tri... Really nice guy. I never really got to talk with him more than a few hellos, and helping him do some things at a trade show and a race. I kind of respected and admired him though. At the time he was one of the top US mountain bikers, just missed the Olympics. BUT he also had a wife and children and was genuinely a nice guy. Plus we are the same age within a few months (that might be why this news is very concerning to me!)
I found out a couple of days ago from a Facebook friend I've known since then, that he dropped dead on Tuesday. He was still a competitive athlete as well as father of 5 and ran his own commercial real estate company, and several cycling related businesses. Apparently he was on a training run (tri-athlete) and collapsed and even though medical personnel were nearby and responded quickly, he died.
This is the article written on one of his businesses websites:
" Steve Larsen March 13, 1970 - May 19, 2009
It is with deep sadness we share the news of Steve Larsen's sudden and untimely passing. Steve collapsed during a workout Tuesday evening and despite their immediate attention medical professionals were unable to resuscitate him.
To many of us Steve was an inspiration, a competitor and a mentor who touched and influenced our lives. Though his time here was brief, his accomplishments as a professional cyclist, professional triahtlete, and businessman were not. Steve was a multi time National Champion in Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, and Xterra off road triathlon and an Ironman Triathlon Champion as well. He started and ran a number of businesses including his current ventures at Steve Larsen Properties, a commercial real estate brokerage and WorldTri.com.
Though his athletic ability was extraordinary, his greatest treasure and passion was his wife and five children. The love he shared with them and from them was his greatest gift and accomplishment. "
http://www.worldtri.com/
I'm genuinely sad and a little freaked out by it. He has 5 children; 5. And even though he was the tops in his sport for years, it's not a huge money sport. I doubt he leaves a bazillion dollars for his family.
How crazy and sad is that news. I'm going to send some money next week.
To Steve, thanks for being a nice good person that loved and took care of your wife and kids. Thanks for being an inspirational athlete and someone I could say I respected as an athlete and as a person.
To Carrie Larsen and children, my heart goes out to you in this horribly sad time.