This is such a tragedy.
It’s been reported that Olympic fencer Kamara James has died at 29, and the circumstances are still under investigation.
She was found in her apartment on September 20th, and they don’t suspect foul play or suicide as the cause.
James began fencing at the age of 9 and was a world junior bronze medalist by her late teens. She earned a full ride to Princeton because of her skills, and competed in the Athens Olympics.
Sadly, in her 20s, James seemed to fall victim to her schizophrenia. Her trainer and friend Eric Rosenberg explained that friends would sometimes find a delusional James wandering the streets of New York, explaining:
“She was beaten up. She lacked a lot of the energy she had. She was emaciated, unkempt, wearing filthy clothes├óΓé¼┬ª The only positive thing that came out of this for me is maybe people who have this kind of problem can see that there is some potential solution. Making opportunities in the midst of tragedy defined her life.”
Our hearts go out to everyone who knew James, as this must be a very tough time.
[Image via AP Images.]