David Torrence, American-Peruvian former athlete, dies at the age of 31

David Torrence, the American-Peruvian former athlete who represented Peru in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, passed away at the age of 31 after an accident in a swimming pool in Maricopa, Arizona. This is a fatal coincidence as his father also died at the same age due to a cerebral aneurysm, according to the Quo portal.

WRITTEN BY: OMAR JAMES DÁVILA

The body of David Torrence apparently showed no signs of violence, so the autopsy results will reveal the cause of his death.

Could a cerebral aneurysm have also caused David Torrence's death? It would be too much of a coincidence, but until the autopsy results are known, all options are open.

David Torrence, whose father was American and whose mother was from Huancayo, lived with his grandmother - also from Huancayo - after his father, a member of the US Navy, passed away when David was six years old. She instilled in him the customs and love for Peru.

An aneurysm is a protrusion shaped like a balloon that arises in one or more cerebral arteries due to a weakening of the vessel wall. It continues to grow until it ruptures, which can cause the patient's death.

In addition, cerebral aneurysm is the fourth most common cause of sudden death among athletes (specifically the second, after cardiac failure), and it is estimated that half a million people die from it worldwide every year, including non-athletes. Football players and those who participate in contact sports are usually the most affected among athletes.

David Torrence, silver medalist in the 5,000 meters at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, began his career in middle-distance running representing the United States. However, in Rio 2016, it was his second race as a Peruvian athlete.

In his first race as a naturalized citizen, he broke the national record for the 1,500 meters. In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, although he was qualified for both the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters, he decided to only run in the latter race and finished in 13th place. Recently, David Torrence was unable to advance to the semifinals of the 1,500 meters at the 2017 World Championships in London, finishing in 9th place.