Kelly Catlin (November 3, 1995 – March 7, 2019) was an American track cyclist best known for her role on the United States team pursuit squad. She competed at the international level as a professional rider and as a member of national teams, winning multiple world championship titles and an Olympic medal. Her sporting career and untimely death brought attention to athlete mental health and the effects of concussion in elite sport. For information on her professional affiliation see professional profile.

Early life and background

Catlin was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in a family of siblings — she was a triplet. Her early athletic development included both road and track cycling, and she rose quickly through junior and national ranks to reach the international level. Her birthplace is recorded as St. Paul, Minnesota.

Cycling career and achievements

Specializing in track endurance events, Catlin was particularly successful in the team pursuit, an event in which four riders work together over a distance on a velodrome. She helped the United States win gold at three consecutive UCI Track Cycling World Championships and was part of the U.S. squad that won the silver medal in the women's team pursuit at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (2016 Olympics).

  • UCI Track Cycling World Championships: member of gold-medal team in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
  • Olympics: silver medal, team pursuit, 2016.
  • Role: pursuit specialist and valued team rider known for consistency and teamwork.

Education and later life

Alongside her sporting career Catlin pursued higher education. She enrolled in graduate studies at Stanford University and balanced training with academic work while preparing for competitions and life after sport. She was living and studying at Stanford University in Stanford, California at the time of her death.

Death and legacy

Kelly Catlin died on March 7, 2019 at the age of 23. Reports state that she died by suicide; coverage and later discussions emphasized the need for compassion, improved mental-health support for athletes, and careful research into concussion recovery. She had experienced a concussion months before her death, an issue that received attention in subsequent commentary about athlete safety and care (concussion). News and remembrance pieces about her passing used sensitive language when describing the circumstances (news coverage).

Catlin is remembered both for her accomplishments on the track and for the conversations her death helped catalyze about athlete well-being, concussion management, and the pressures faced by elite competitors. Her achievements remain part of the record of American track cycling and she is frequently cited in discussions about support systems for student-athletes and professional cyclists.