Track and road cyclist Cristopher Mansilla has died from COVID-19. His family announced his death over social media this morning. He was 30 years old.
COVID-19 claims another: Chilean cyclist and Panamerican medallist Cristopher Mansilla Almonacid, age 30. Mansilla tested positive a few weeks ago, but was admitted into the ICU four days ago due to lung failure and was induced into a coma.
His death was announced this morning by his cousin, who posted on her Facebook profile “tonight is by far one of the saddest, most bitter nights of my life. My cousin Cristopher’s fight against this damn virus is over,” and added “You left today, at only 30 years old, to turn into a beautiful star in an endless sky.”
After his death was announced, many people and organizations connected to the cyclist offered their condolences, such as the Sports Minister Cecilia Pérez, the Chilean Sports Association, Team Chile, and the National Sports Institute.
Lamentamos profundamente la partida de nuestro querido ciclista Cristopher Mansilla, quien nos dejó anoche con solo 30 años.
Un gran abrazo a toda su familia, a sus seres queridos y a su gente en Puerto Natales. Lo recordaremos por siempre con mucho cariño. pic.twitter.com/9Jo3xlNXsF
— Cecilia Pérez Jara (@ceciperez1) May 11, 2021
Mansilla’s accomplishments in cycling are numerous. There were outstanding performances at the Madison race, a second place at Beijing Omnium Flying Lap 2011, an impressive performance at the 2012 Melbourne UCI Track Cycling World Championship, and multiple Pan American Championship Medals between 2008 and 2015 – three gold, two silver, and three bronze.
After his death, a message directly from Mansilla was also released that was published through his social networks, which was written moments before he was induced into a coma to be intubated, as reported by El Dínamo.
“Today I think is the most difficult day for me to face. Mixed feelings, sad, crying …. A new competition in which I never believed I was here, ” reads the text. Mansilla announced that “they are going to induce me to a coma due to the failure of the lungs that afflicts me. Let’s see if this body is not rusty and can wake up one more time.”
“I just have to thank my family: little brother, Mom, Dad, for everything and more. Friends, thank you for your support, with this I say goodbye until the end of this stage,” closed the athlete.
Javiera is from Santiago de Chile, she is studying journalism at Universidad de Chile, since 2017 and doing her internship at Chile Today.