Claudia Heill Dead: Olympic Judo Silver Medalist Commits Suicide

Olympic judo silver medalist Claudia Heill of Austria reportedly committed suicide by jumping out of a sixth-story window in central Vienna.

The Austrian judo federation said that "nobody could foresee this act of desperation" from the 29-year-old.

She won the silver medal in the under-63 kilogram category at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Heill retired one year after the 2008 Beijing Olympics where she finished in fifth place.

More details to come.

Comments

[socialtalker]

03:40 PM on 04/04/2011

i read another article, no one saw her fall, there was no note, she was busy in her studies and career, so far i cant see any reason why they would call it suicide. unless her friends and family knew something more that is not being reported.

[Nicole Dixson]

04:13 PM on 04/02/2011

Horrible. Tragic.

[KC45]

06:51 PM on 04/01/2011

Tragic but thoughtless. Lucky she didn't take anyone out with her.
RIP

[saskatoonie]

04:05 PM on 04/02/2011

For heaven's sake, you don't tend to be thnking straight when committing suicide.

[tnrc75]

03:40 AM on 04/04/2011

That's what you're thinking about on this?

[KC45]

01:41 PM on 04/04/2011

I'm able to have more than one thought at a time.

[valeskas]

11:26 AM on 04/01/2011

Depression is a bee. In Europe people are still believing, when you are depressed and go to a psychiatrist, that other would look at you, like you are crazy. This is so wrong, but it is the truth. When I told a friend of mine to go and see a doctor for her depressions, she said, people will think I am crazy. I told her who cares, what they think, but you need to get better. She still has not gone to see a psychiatrist. In our country, we are a little better, but people still look at you, when you say so. Hopefully people make a choice, its better to see the doctor, then killing yourself.

[anitaj]

02:52 PM on 04/01/2011

The stigma associated with mental illness in our country keeps many people from seeking treatment that could help them.

[Martin Eldred]

03:55 AM on 04/01/2011

Sad. Thanks to those who posted the classic warning signs below. Depression is a real disease and sometimes pushes people beyond even the most primal of instincts--to stay alive.

[bleedingheart9]

01:41 AM on 04/01/2011

Suicide: Don't do it!

[Coupons4Free1]

12:07 AM on 04/01/2011

I have personally experienced this. My father committed suicide on my 10th Birthday. Its a very selfish act. It's something I will never understand. A sense of hopelessnes? desperation? lonliness? regret? Whatever the case may be, my heart goes out to this yound lady and her family. RIP!

[saskatoonie]

12:28 AM on 04/01/2011

Having experienced it happening to my sister and then my father, I honestly don't think they are thinking of other people, they don't think enough of themselves at that point to realize that someone else loves them, it's a desperate act for sure, but yup, it's painful for those left behind!

[LightSnowOvernight]

04:05 AM on 04/01/2011

Thanks for sharing..our thoughts are with you and your family to have gone through so much

[valeskas]

11:31 AM on 04/01/2011

Many of us, have experienced that, when relatives think, death is the only way out. Its not that they do not think of their families, but their despair is so deep, that they forget everything. We can only pick up the pieces and move on, after a tragedy like that.

[keji96]

11:32 AM on 04/01/2011

mental disease is real . Is it selfish if someone dies of cancer. mental illness had symptoms and concequences that are sometimes out of the persons control. The chemical imbalance in your brain that cuases you to take such a drastic action is as much a terminal disease as over production of chemicals in other parts of your body that cause death through heart or lung malfunction.

[lifepanels]

12:31 PM on 04/01/2011

Exactly. Clinical depression is not just feeling sad. It's an illness that takes over your entire body and soul.

I'm sure there are others, but a good song I've heard that describes depression's depth of despair is "The Weather Channel" by Sheryl Crow. She's been there, done that.

Sunny morning
You can hear it
Siren's warning
There is weather on both sides
And I know it's coming
Just like before
There's a black dog
That scratches my door
He's been growling my name saying
You better get to running
Can you make it better for me
Can you make me see the light of day
Because I got no one
Who will bring me a
Big umbrella
So I'm watching the weather channel
And waiting for the storm
It's just sugar
Just a pill to make me happy
I know it may not fix the hinges
But at least the door has stopped it's creaking
I got friends
They're waiting for me to comb out my hair
Come outside and join the human race
But I don't feel so human
Can you make it better for me
Can you make me see the light of day
Because I got lab coats
Who will bring me a panacea
While I'm watching the weather channel
Waiting for the storm
You won't want me
Hanging around the birthday pony
Even though it's just a game
You know we are the same
But you're the better faker.

[Steelsil]

10:41 PM on 03/31/2011

Appearing depressed or sad most of the time.
(Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.)

Talking or writing about death or suicide.

Withdrawing from family and friends.

Feeling hopeless.

Feeling helpless.

Feeling strong anger or rage.

Feeling trapped -- like there is no way out of a situation.

Experiencing dramatic mood changes.

Abusing drugs or alcohol.

Exhibiting a change in personality.

Acting impulsively.

Losing interest in most activities.

Experiencing a change in sleeping habits.

Experiencing a change in eating habits.

Losing interest in most activities.

Performing poorly at work or in school.

Giving away prized possessions.

Writing a will.

Feeling excessive guilt or shame.

Acting recklessly.
It should be noted that some people who die by suicide do not show any suicide warning signs.
But about 75 percent of those who die by suicide do exhibit some suicide warning signs, so we need to be aware of what the suicide warning signs are and try to spot them in people.

[realpragmatist]

11:27 PM on 03/31/2011

Thanks for sharing this with everyone. How true.

You are helping me and others like me, hopefully.

[realpragmatist]

12:12 AM on 04/01/2011

I was referring to the checklist by Mr Steelsil.

Though I would not commit suicide because of the love for my family, especially of my 70 plus years elderly mother, I am amazed that most of these checklist points match and I do not feel weird or lazy anymore. It is a problem that I can now recognize and address.

[RobJames]

01:15 AM on 04/01/2011

75 percent of people reading your post have experienced some your so-called warning signs

[anitaj]

02:50 PM on 04/01/2011

True. In fact, more people should be encouraged to write a will. However, most people experience these issues from time to time in their lives. The real problems come when they linger.

[holyghostie]

10:03 PM on 03/31/2011

Tormented souls wander all around us everyday.

[cplKlyde]

09:03 PM on 03/31/2011

That's a damn shame

[CarlyHope]

09:27 PM on 03/31/2011

Fire the moderator who let that in

[Nica4two]

08:23 PM on 03/31/2011

Omar Little would have survived. Very sad though.

[keji96]

11:35 AM on 04/01/2011

LMAO :)

[cindyperry]

07:54 PM on 03/31/2011

wow sorry to hear that. must be terrible to be in such a bad place.

[Dukedraven]

07:45 PM on 03/31/2011

That's a sad story, God rest her soul.

[lotusgirl]

07:25 PM on 03/31/2011

I knew someone who committed suicide. He was in his mid twenties, highly successful, a volunteer and a great guy. He was a friend's brother. I saw him the night he took his life; it was his birthday. It was so sad, but you never can look at someone from the outside and know what is going on inside their head.

May this lady RIP.