Olympian From Norge Ski Club Dies In Motorcycle Crash

FOX RIVER GROVE, IL — A local Olympian, who trained at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, died Monday afternoon in a motorcycle crash.

Patrick Gasienica, was driving home from work when his motorcycle crashed in the 1000 block of Cherry Valley Road in Bull Valley, according to the coroner's office and a GoFundMe set up by a friend of the Gasienica family.

He was taken to Northwestern Hospital in McHenry, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy shows he died from blunt force trauma, according to the McHenry County Coroner's Office.

Norge Ski Club issued a statement following Gasienica's death, referring to the 25-year-old athlete as "a fierce competitor, role model and friend to all who knew him.” Gasienica, who trained at Norge, competed at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, placing 49th in the normal hill and 53rd in the large hill individual.

"This devastating loss hits our Norge family hard, and leaves us with deep and profound sadness at his passing. Patrick was a dedicated athlete and beloved member of not only the Norge community, but the ski jumping community at large, and his life and legacy will forever be remembered," according to the statement.

Officials with Norge said Patrick's family, friends, teammates and "the entire ski jumping community" was mourning the loss.

"We ask that you hold Patrick's family, friends and our Norge community in your thoughts and prayers as well as respecting Patrick's family's privacy as they mourn this unimaginable loss," according to the statement. "While this loss is devastating to our community, we will always remember Patrick and hold him close in our hearts and memories."

According to Patrick's bio on the Team USA website, Patrick's father, Wojciech Gasienica, stoked his "love for skiing and motivated his athletic career." He fostered his love for the sport through his involvement with the Norge Ski Club.

A GoFundMe set up by a friend of Patrick's family, Jason Vasconez of Crystal Lake, has brought in more than $5,100 as of Wednesday morning. According to Vasconez, the "sudden and devastating loss" has been hitting his family hard, especially his mother, who Patrick was living with in McHenry at the time of his death.

"Patrick was a specially gifted Olympic athlete and his passing is much too soon. Patrick's mother (Jolanta), his two sisters, and Bob, Jolanta's fiancee, are together grieving. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jolanta and her family in their time of need," Vasconez wrote in the GoFundMe. "Any amount donated will be an expression of our sympathy and love for Patrick and his family. All funds will be directed to Patrick’s mother to ease her burden as we give them time and space to grieve."

Donations can be made on the GoFundMe website.

This is a developing story. Any photos or videos of Patrick Gascienica can be sent to Patch.com senior field editor Amie Schaenzer via text or 847-790-6417 or direst message on Instagram (@amieschaenzer).

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