Former Olympian and crew time trial world champion Danute ‘Bunki’ Bankaitis-Davis died on January 29, 2021 at 63 after a seven-year battle with most cancers.
Bankaitis-Davis represented america in 5 world championships, taking residence the crew time trial title in 1992 together with teammates Jan Bolland, Jeanne Golay, and Eve Stephenson, and within the Olympic Video games in Seoul, South Korea in 1988 and was first alternate for the subsequent Video games in Barcelona.
Her athletic profession started in NCAA volleyball and he or she turned to biking on the street and observe whereas incomes a PhD in Artificial Natural Chemistry on the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bankaitis-Davis competed with the 7-Eleven, Centurion and Look groups in home and European races, making the rostrum within the Tour de France Feminin, Tour of Molenheike, Put up Giro World Cup, European Spring Classics, Coors Traditional and the US Olympic Trials.
After her racing profession, Bankaitis-Davis remained concerned within the sport whereas having fun with a profitable scientific profession that included co-founding the molecular diagnostics firm Supply MDx. She served on the USA Biking Board of Administrators, america Olympic Committee Athletes Advisory Council and Sport, Science & Know-how Committee, and the USA Biking Athlete Choice Committee.
Former teammate Deirdre Barry remembered Bankaitis-Davis on Fb, writing, “Bunki had a profoundly constructive affect on me each on and off the bike, as we had been teammates for 4 years on 7-Eleven and the US Nationwide Crew. Clever, witty and an excellent mentor. She might be missed.”
Bankaitis-Davis leaves behind her husband Chip and son Armen. “Bunki made a behavior of tackling each stage in life and sport with spirit, willpower, excellence, kindness and good humor. She stays well-loved by teammates, colleagues, family and friends alike, and might be profoundly missed,” her obituary learn.
