– Three of the four of us – the second fastest relay team in history and Olympic champions from 2016 – have either died or almost died during childbirth. This is how American Tianna Madison introduces an emotional post on Instagram. It was written shortly after the cause of death of teammate Tori Bowie became clear. SKAKA: news’s athletics expert Christina Vukicevic Demidov. Photo: NTB According to the autopsy report, she lost her life as a result of birth complications and was found in her own bed. The baby did not survive either. – This is as tragic as you can get, says news’s athletics expert Christina Vukicevic Demidov. Follow Bislett Games on news 1 Thursday from 18. Tough on the media She says that she was shocked when she read about the cause of death. In recent weeks, in the time after the former world champion passed away, there has been intense speculation about the cause of death. Some American media have claimed that it was suicide. – Many suggested that she had done this to herself. It’s very hurtful, says her agent Kimberly Holland to CBS News. Bowie was eight months pregnant when she died of the complications. – Now that we know the truth, I expect that many will say sorry, says the agent. RELAY TEAM: Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Tori Bowie. Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP – I think about her legacy. That people have gone around thinking that she has taken her own life with a child in her belly. It is rare that I read such tragic things in sport, says Vukicevic Demidov. The news hit her close, as she is both a mother herself and has met Bowie before. – If what we read is correct, that she died alone at home, pregnant and with a baby who could soon breathe with her lungs. It is absolutely terrible, says the news expert. Pointing to racism Back to Madison’s emotional post. She claims that three times as many African-American women in the United States die during pregnancy and childbirth, compared to white women. CRITICAL: Tianna Madison believes that the American health care system is racist. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP Madison believes that there is structural racism in the American healthcare system, and says that she had to have an uncomfortable conversation with her husband before giving birth herself. – We had to agree on who should be rescued if that problem arose. I wasn’t sure if I was going to come home, she writes. During the birth, things continued to go badly for Madison, who writes that her husband had to argue that both mother and child should survive while she herself fought for her life. – He did not accept a no from the doctors. It saved both me and the baby. Allyson Felix, one of the best athletes in history, was also part of the gold team from 2016. She gives Madison full support. – It is heartbreaking. There is still a crisis linked to death during pregnancy in this country. Black women are at risk. That is why we must not stop fighting for this cause, writes Felix, with seven Olympic golds and 14 WC golds on his track record. – It is striking that three out of four on that team have had a lot of trouble with pregnancy and childbirth. If they are aware of an injustice, it is important that they raise this topic, says Vukicevic.
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