US Olympic ski jumper Patrick Gasienica has died in a motorcycle accident in Bull Valley, IL at the age of 24

BULL VALLEY, III. — Olympic ski jumper Patrick Gasienica, who competed for the United States last year at the Beijing Olympics, has died. He is 24 years old.

Gasienica died after being involved in a motorcycle accident Monday night in the village of Bull Valley, located in Chicago's far northwest suburbs, according to the Bull Valley Police Department.

“Patrick is an amazing competitor, teammate and friend,” USA Nordic wrote on Twitter.

Gasienica finished 49th and 53rd in the individual events at the Beijing Olympics, and 10th in the team competition with Casey Larson, Kevin Bickner and Decker Dean.

“We don't really have a lot of jumpers, but they are getting better,” said Gasienica last year in China. “Especially since the pandemic, lots of different kids joining different clubs across America. Hopefully in a few years – five, 10, maybe – we'll have a really, really great team.”

Gasienica, who was born in Oak Park, grew up as a young ski jumper at the Norge Ski Club about 40 miles northwest of Chicago.