Sports

Beloved Runner and Peru’s Mile Record-Holder David Torrence Was Found Dead In Arizona Pool

Lead Photo: David Torrence of the United States competes in the Men's 4x1500 metres relay final during day two of the 2014 IAAF World Relays. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF
David Torrence of the United States competes in the Men's 4x1500 metres relay final during day two of the 2014 IAAF World Relays. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF

In tragic news coming out of Arizona this week, Olympic runner David Torrence was found dead in an apartment complex swimming pool in Scottsdale in the early hours of Monday morning. The cause of death is currently unknown, and police are investigating the scene after the runner was found at the bottom of the Center Court Condominiums pool, according to The Arizona Republic.

Torrence, who in the past ran for both the United States and Peru–where his mother is from–competitively, had a host of accomplishments to his name. The 31-year-old still holds the American indoor record for the 1,000 meters, and he won three straight USATF Road Mile titles from 2009 to 2011; e also won silver medals at both the 2014 IAAF World Relay Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games. In a 17-day stretch back in June, the Malibu resident became Peru’s national record holder for both the mile and the 1500-meter category.

After news of his death spread, there has been an outpour of love for Torrence from the running community. “The track world lost a great friend and athlete today,” tweeted USA Track & Field.

A friend and peer, Kyle Merber, also took to Twitter to share his condolences in an emotional thread, where he shared that he was supposed to pick Torrence up from the airport in a few days to prepare for their annual September race, the Hoka One One Long Island Mile. According to Merber, the race will be renamed to honor Torrence, who ran the race twice and is its current record holder for best time.