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Athlete found dead after failing to qualify for Olympic team
Los Angeles, Feb 21: A world-class American race walker who was despondent after failing earlier this week to qualify for the US Olympic team was found dead after apparently jumping from a San Diego bridge, police said.
Los Angeles, Feb 21: A world-class American race walker who was despondent after failing earlier this week to qualify for the US Olympic team was found dead after apparently jumping from a San Diego bridge, police said.
The body of Al Heppner was found by authorities and his teammates early on Thursday morning in a canyon some 122 metres below the bridge. His sports utility vehicle had been abandoned at a dirt turn-out off the road.
The 29-year-old athlete, who on Sunday finished fifth in the US Olympic team trials for the 50-kilometer race walk, had been reported missing. His mother and roommate reported him to be suicidal.
''Heppner was despondent over not performing well at the speed walking qualifications,'' San Diego Police Sgt. Kevin Minkel said, reading from an officer's report. ''Sometime around 7 pm, he drove his vehicle over the pine valley bridge and apparently jumped.''
Heppner's body was found in the brush at about 2:30 am on Thursday morning.
Though San Diego county medical examiners were conducting an autopsy on the body yesterday, authorities said there were no signs of foul play and that they expected the death to be officially ruled a suicide.
''Al was a great athlete and a great advocate for the entire sport of track and field, most particularly the race walk,'' Craig Masback, chief executive officer of USA Track and Field, said in a statement. ''The entire track and field community mourns his passing and will miss him. Our sympathies go to his family.''
Though Heppner was not expected to win on Sunday, he started well and held a huge lead two-thirds of the way before faltering near the end of the grueling race. Two-time Olympian Curt Clausen passed him to win the race and qualify for the 2004 games in Athens.
Heppner, who was born in Maryland, competed in his first race walking event in 1989 after a teammate bet him a dollar not to enter. He later attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on a track scholarship, and joined the US Army's world class athlete program.
He had several top finishes in national competitions, including first place at the USA 5-km race walk championships in 2002. Heppner, who was also an aspiring journalist, had been training at the Olympic training center in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista.
Bureau Report
The 29-year-old athlete, who on Sunday finished fifth in the US Olympic team trials for the 50-kilometer race walk, had been reported missing. His mother and roommate reported him to be suicidal.
''Heppner was despondent over not performing well at the speed walking qualifications,'' San Diego Police Sgt. Kevin Minkel said, reading from an officer's report. ''Sometime around 7 pm, he drove his vehicle over the pine valley bridge and apparently jumped.''
Heppner's body was found in the brush at about 2:30 am on Thursday morning.
Though San Diego county medical examiners were conducting an autopsy on the body yesterday, authorities said there were no signs of foul play and that they expected the death to be officially ruled a suicide.
''Al was a great athlete and a great advocate for the entire sport of track and field, most particularly the race walk,'' Craig Masback, chief executive officer of USA Track and Field, said in a statement. ''The entire track and field community mourns his passing and will miss him. Our sympathies go to his family.''
Though Heppner was not expected to win on Sunday, he started well and held a huge lead two-thirds of the way before faltering near the end of the grueling race. Two-time Olympian Curt Clausen passed him to win the race and qualify for the 2004 games in Athens.
Heppner, who was born in Maryland, competed in his first race walking event in 1989 after a teammate bet him a dollar not to enter. He later attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on a track scholarship, and joined the US Army's world class athlete program.
He had several top finishes in national competitions, including first place at the USA 5-km race walk championships in 2002. Heppner, who was also an aspiring journalist, had been training at the Olympic training center in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista.
Bureau Report