The ski jumping community is mourning the death of an Olympic ski jumper who represented the United States at the Olympic games in Beijing last year.

Patrick Gasienica, 24, succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on June 12 in Bull Valley, a village in Chicago. The news was confirmed by the Bull Valley Police Department.

USA Nordic mourned the loss of Gasienica, acknowledging his exceptional talent in the sport. In the Beijing Olympics, Gasienica secured the 49th and 53rd spots in individual events and clinched a notable 10th place in the team competition with teammates Casey Larson, Kevin Bickner, and Decker Dean.

In a media interaction last year in China, Gasienica recognized the advancements made in the sport, stating that despite the lack of extensive participation, the game is improving. He also expressed optimism about an increasing number of youngsters joining ski clubs since the pandemic.

A native of Oak Park, Gasienica honed his ski jumping prowess at the Norge Ski Club, located about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. His unwavering dedication to the sport endeared him to the ski jumping community.

The sudden demise of Patrick Gasienica leaves a significant gap in the ski jumping world. His promising potential and steadfast commitment will be deeply missed as the sport seeks to flourish in the United States.