Former British national champion and Team GB rider Sharon Laws dies after treatment for cervical cancer
Sharon Laws died on Saturday, December 16, at the age of 43. The former Team GB rider and British national champion announced that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2016 and has been receiving treatment over the past year.
Voxwomen’s Twitter account issued a brief statement on Laws’s death on Saturday.
“This morning the cycling world lost a champion, a friend, a rider with a huge smile and a fantastic laugh. Sharon Laws passed away early this morning after her fight with cancer.
“Her mum Joy and her family have asked for privacy at this time. RIP Sharon Laws 1974 – 2017.”
Laws was British road race champion in 2012 and national time trial champion in 2008, having switched to road disciplines from mountain biking.
She represented Great Britain in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, riding the women’s road race in support of Nicole Cooke who went on to claim the gold medal.
Laws rode for several international teams in a road career spanning from 2008 to 2016, including Garmin-Cervélo, Lotto-Belisol, UnitedHealthcare and Bigla.
Laws discovered she had cervical cancer after having some lumps in her neck examined. While having chemotherapy, Laws continued to ride when she could and also commentated on television coverage of the 2017 Road World Championships.
So sad to hear Sharon Laws passed away today. Such a wonderful person, an inspration on and off the bike and a great friend. She will be greatly missed.
— Nicole Cooke (@NicoleCooke2012) December 16, 2017
A beautiful person inside and out. Rest in peace Sharon! X https://t.co/xbypzM7er5
— Lucy Garner (@Lucygarner94) December 16, 2017
We’re sad to hear the news of Sharon Laws passing. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/pVmBwyyXz2
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) December 16, 2017
RIP Sharon. I had the honour of racing Sharon on the mtb and she was an amazing athlete and person on the bike and off it. So very sad.
— Jenny Copnall (@JennyCopnall) December 16, 2017
Tributes have been paid to Laws from across the cycling community.
Nicole Cooke said: “So sad to hear Sharon Laws passed away today. Such a wonderful person, an inspiration on and off the bike and a great friend. She will be greatly missed.”