Tori Bowie was a great athlete and a godfearing woman

This is a memorial to Tori Bowie, gold, silver, bronze Olympic medalist, 2 gold, silver, and 2 bronze medals in the World Championships, who died, on 3 May 2023, way too early, at the age of 32. This memorial is written by Stuart Weir.

Tori Bowie was a great athlete and a godfearing woman

I’m struggling to come to terms with the terrible news of Tori Bowie’s death, aged 32. 

I don’t know any of the details beyond the statement from Icon Management.

 “We’re devastated to share the very sad news that Tori Bowie has passed away. We’ve lost a client, dear friend, daughter, and sister. Tori was a champion…a beacon of light that shined so bright! We’re truly heartbroken, and our prayers are with the family and friends.”

From 2015-2017, she was on top of the world. Who will ever forget that iconic picture of her lunge for the line at the end of the 2017 London World Championships? Her medal record is:

2015 World Championships, Beijing 100m bronze

2016 Olympics 100m silver, 200m bronze, 4 by 100m gold

2017 World Championships, London, 100m gold, 4 by 100m gold

In 2019 she came fourth in the long jump in the World Championship final. Her PRs were

100m  10.78

200m  21.77

Long jump 6.91

I was privileged to see all those events and also to talk through her career with her in 2017.  I started with her name, Frentorish. She told me: “I don’t even know what my name means.  I asked my Dad: ‘Why did you name me Frentorish?’.  He said: ‘I wanted you to have a name that no one else had’.  But I’m not sure what the meaning is. I go by the name of Tori because it is easier to pronounce”.

She also told me she got into the track by accident! “I was kind of forced to do track.  In high school, I remember playing basketball.  And my high school basketball coach had the bright idea that we should start a track team.  But it was a small school, and we didn’t have many people – not enough for a basketball team and a track team, so she forced us to do it, making it mandatory. It was a struggle at the beginning, and I remember being kicked off the team for about two weeks because my coach and I had this argument because I was uncomfortable in the track gear.  I was a little tomboy and felt really uncomfortable putting on…