advertisement

Suspended pairs skating champion John Coughlin dies at 33

John Coughlin, a two-time U.S. pairs champion recently suspended from figure skating, died by suicide in Kansas City, Missouri. 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." There were no further details from her.

The Kansas City Police Department said in an email Saturday that officers responded to a call of a suicide at a house in the Country Lanes Estates neighborhood in Kansas City just before 5 p.m. Friday and found Coughlin's body. Sgt. Jacob Becchina declined to give specifics on the death.

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.

USA Today first reported the death.

USFS said it was "stunned' by the news and extended "heartfelt and deepest sympathies" to the family. The organization said it would have no further comment "until a later time."

The International Skating Union also said it was "shocked" and offered "kindest thoughts" in this "time of sorrow." Coughlin was chair of the ISU athletes commission and a member of a technical committee."

Coughlin won national pairs championships with two partners. He teamed with Caitlin Yankowskas in 2011 and with Caydee Denney the next year.

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2014, file photo, bronze medalists Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, of the United States, smile during an award ceremony at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston. 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, Jan. 19, 2019, 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." There were no further details. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) The Associated Press
FILE - In this an Oct. 1, 2013, file photo, U.S. figure skating pairs Caydee Denney and John Coughlin speak with reporters during a news conference in Park City, Utah. . 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, Jan. 19, 2019, 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." There were no further details. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.