Suspended US Pairs Skating Champion Dies at 33
John Coughlin, a two-time U.S. pairs champion recently suspended from figure skating, has died.
He was 33.
U.S. Figure Skating released a statement Saturday and cited his sister, Angela Laune.
The sister said in a Facebook post that her “wonderful, strong, amazingly compassionate brother John Coughlin took his own life. … I have no words.”
https://www.facebook.com/angela.laune/posts/10157035609913011
There were no further details.
Coughlin received an interim suspension from the U.S. Center for SafeSport and USFS on Thursday for unspecified conduct.
He was barred from any activities sanctioned by the skating body or the U.S. Olympic Committee.
This is awful. We have lost a champion and a friend. @JohnCoughlinUSA rest and be with your dad, to his skating family and his family I send my love and condolences. I will always remember John as a friend and a beautiful skater. I will miss you my friend. Rest easy.
— Sarah Lorton (@tietinkerbell) January 19, 2019
USA Today first reported the death in Kansas City, Missouri.
Police there did not immediately respond to email and phone messages from The Associated Press.
Coughlin won national pairs championships with two partners.
He teamed with Caitlin Yankowskas in 2011 and with Caydee Denney the next year.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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