Former Figure Skating Champion John Coughlin Dead At 33

Former figure skating champion John Coughlin died by suicide on Friday, according to a message posted by his sister on Facebook over the weekend.
One day before that, the 33-year-old Kansas City native had been suspended by U.S. Figure Skating and the U.S. Center for SafeSport over a “matter concerning him,” of which details were not immediately disclosed.
Related: The Cranberries Drop Heartbreaking Song On Anniversary Of Dolores O’Riordan’s Death
After news broke of Coughlin’s death, U.S. Figure Skating released a statement on Twitter (below):

We are stunned at the news of the death of two-time U.S. pairs champion John Coughlin. Our heartfelt and deepest sympathies are with his father Mike, sister Angela and the rest of his family. Out of respect to the family, we will have no further comment until a later time.

— U.S. Figure Skating (@USFigureSkating) January 19, 2019

The former champ had won his pairs titles in 2011 with partner Caitlin Yankowskas, and then again in 2012 with Caydee Denney (both of them are pictured skating together, above).
Coughlin had been retired from competitive figure skating for some time, according to reports. More recently, he had been coaching and commentating on the sport at various events around the country.
At some point in December, his “interim suspension” was first announced; though USFS kept things vague at the time, Coughlin released a statement commenting on the suspension and denying whatever the allegations were against him (below):

“While I wish I could speak freely about the unfounded allegations levied against me, the SafeSport rules prevent me from doing so since the case remains pending. I note only that the SafeSport notice of allegation itself stated that an allegation in no way constitutes a finding by SafeSport or that there is any merit to the allegation.”

Wow.
Regardless, Coughlin is gone now — and other figure skaters, like Johnny Weir, struggled to make sense of it as news broke through this weekend (below):

John Coughlin was a person who made things fun. He was a person who was talented, had an incredible laugh & would go out of his way to cheer someone up. His kindness is something I’ll never forget and his light will be missed. My prayers are with his family & friends. pic.twitter.com/0yTnODXppn

— Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) January 19, 2019