Olympic ski jumper from Chicago area killed in motorcycle accident

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Patrick Gasienica competes during the Men's Large Hill Individual Trial Round for Qualification on day 7 of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at National Ski Jumping Centre on February 11, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. Photo credit Al Bello/Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An Olympic ski jumper from the Chicago area was killed in a traffic crash this week.

Patrick Gasienica was 24-years old and represented the United States as an Olympic ski jumper at last year’s winter Games in China.

Gasienica was killed while riding his motorcycle home to McHenry from work on Monday afternoon, according to a GoFundMe page. He was living with his mother in McHenry.

"Patrick was a specially gifted Olympic athlete and his passing is much too soon," wrote Jason Vasconez, organizer of the GoFundMe.

Gasienica was a member of the Norge Ski Club and finished 49th on the normal hill and 53rd on the large hill in Beijing. He came from a family of ski jumpers, including his father, grandfather and uncle.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images