Bowie, a former 100-meter world champion who won gold in the 4×100 relay at the Rio Games alongside Allyson Felix, died at age 32 while approximately eight months pregnant and experiencing labour, according to an autopsy report.
Felix, 37 revealed that she also experienced life threatening complications during her pregnancy in 2018. He wrote in an essay published on Thursday about the emergency C-section.
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Tianna Madison Bartoletta, a member of the 2016 US Olympic relay team wrote on social media how she almost died during childbirth.
According to Preeclampsia foundation, the rate of preeclampsia is 60% higher among Black women than white women, and Black women are more likely to develop severe preeclampsia.
Allyson Felix in her statement about maternal deaths said,
”That needs to change, now, especially in light of Tori’s tragic passing. Awareness is huge. Serena Williams had near-death complications during her pregnancy. Beyoncé developed preeclampsia. I hate that it takes Tori’s situation to put this back on the map and to get people to pay attention to it. But oftentimes, we need that wake-up call.”
Despite having one of the world’s most advanced health care systems, the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed nations and the rate has steadily risen for nearly 40 years.
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