Former Olympic champion tells how she tried to revive bike owner Rab Wardell

Scottish Biking confirmed on Tuesday night that Rab Wardell had died in his sleep aged 37.

His associate, Katie Archibald, mentioned the bike owner had gone into cardiac arrest whereas they had been mendacity in mattress collectively, as she mentioned she “can’t describe” the ache of his loss of life.

In an emotional assertion, posted on Twitter, Archibald, who received gold medals at each the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, mentioned: “I nonetheless don’t perceive what’s occurred; if that is actual; why he’d be taken now – so wholesome and joyful.

“He went into cardiac arrest whereas we had been mendacity in mattress. I attempted and tried, and the paramedics arrived inside minutes, however his coronary heart stopped they usually couldn’t deliver him again.

“Mine stopped with it. I like him a lot and want him right here with me. I want him right here so badly, however he’s gone. I can’t describe this ache.”

Ms Archibald added: “Thanks to these making tributes. I can’t bear to speak about him previously tense to say something myself.

“You imply every little thing to me, Rab. I like you.”

Her feedback got here after Scottish Biking mentioned it was “devastated to substantiate the information that worldwide mountain biker & former worker, Rab Wardell, has handed away”.

The sporting physique added: “We’ve got little or no info at this stage, however we ship our love & help to his household, buddies and all these in our group who knew him.

“We ask that you simply respect Rab’s household’s privateness at this extremely unhappy time.”

Wardell had received the elite males’s title on the Scottish MTB XC Championships on Sunday overcoming a number of punctures to win on the ultimate lap.

He appeared on BBC Scotland’s The 9 programme on Monday night to speak about his victory however died later that evening.