The New Zealand Olympic Committee is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of 24-year-old track cyclist Olivia Podmore, and has announced that it has begun offering support to other athletes and New Zealand Olympic Team staff.

Podmore represented New Zealand at numerous world championships and major competitions, including the 2016 Rio Olympics. She qualified for the most recent Olympics but was not selected and did not compete in Tokyo.

According to Reuters, a New Zealand police spokesman said police attended a sudden death at an estate in Waikato on New Zealand's upper North Island on Monday afternoon.

Podmore's cause of death has not been confirmed by police, but according to Reuters, friends and sports officials said her death had raised concerns about her mental health.

"Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and others in the NZ community who are grieving this loss. We are supporting the wellbeing of her team members and the wider team as they return from Tokyo," the New Zealand Olympic Committee said in a statement.

"Olivia represented New Zealand with honor and pride at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She was a valued team member and her loss will be felt throughout the New Zealand sporting community."

The statement also explained how athletes and other New Zealand team members can receive support through the New Zealand Olympic Team Psychology Team, the Health Team, or sport/NSO psychology or health providers, and in-country counseling.

According to the New Zealand Herald, Podmore had written about the difficulties of life as an elite athlete in an Instagram post earlier Monday, which was later deleted.

According to the New Zealand Herald, she wrote on the social media platform that "sport is a great outlet for many people, it is a struggle, it is a fight, but it is also great fun."

"The joy of winning is unique, but so is the joy of losing, of qualifying but not being selected, of being injured, of not living up to society's expectations of owning a home, getting married, having children, etc.

Podmore's friend, former Olympic rowing champion Eric Murray, who was with her on Monday, told New Zealand media that her death was "shocking and tragic."

"I wish she had said something," the 39-year-old said. 'We lost a sister, we lost a friend, we lost the fighter in her.

"If you had seen her in the last 72 hours, you would not have thought this could happen."

Podmore, born in Christchurch, qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning silver in the team sprint and bronze in the time trial at the 2015 Junior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. He then represented New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Rio and Australia.

Cycling News would like to extend its condolences to Olivia Podmore's family, friends, and teammates.