A New Zealand athlete who collapsed after winning a race in Tahiti this week has died in hospital.
Lesley Cantwell, 26, has been in critical condition in hospital in Papeete since Tuesday when she collapsed after winning the 5000m race walking title at the Oceania Area Track & Field Championships.
Athletics New Zealand confirmed her death and said it would release a statement this afternoon.
Cantwell's family flew to Papeete yesterday to be with her.
In a show of support to their team-mate, the other 50 athletes in the New Zealand team continued in the championships, which finished last night.
Team manager Craig Motley said the athletes decided to wear arm bands and competed with Cantwell's number written on their arms.
Lesley's mother Jude was the New Zealand women's 1500m champion in 1989, while father Shaun is the deputy principal at Fiordland College and a leading athletics coach.
Athletics NZ chief executive Scott Newman said Cantwell felt unwell two hours after the race and collapsed while she was waiting for the medal ceremony.
She was taken to the hospital where she remained on life support until she died at 9am today.
It was understood she suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, although a post-mortem examination would be conducted to confirm this, Mr Newman said.
Winning the Oceania title was the biggest result in her career and was a significant step in her goal to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games he said.
"This is a very sad time for Lesley's family, friends and the team.
"She will be sorely missed by all who knew her in the athletics world, but particularly the close-knit race walking community."
Cantwell, a member of Fiordland Athletic Club, was one of New Zealand's top race walkers, having won numerous honours at New Zealand championships during her career, including two medals at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in March and four medals at New Zealand Championship events in 2012.
She won the New Zealand junior championship 3000 metres race walk title in 2006 and represented New Zealand in a transtasman test match with Australia in Hobart in 2011.
Athletics NZ, the New Zealand team management, Oceania Athletics Association and the Honorary Consul in Papeete had been providing support to Cantwell's family both in New Zealand and in Tahiti, Mr Newman said.
Cantwell leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter, Brooke.
A fund has been set up for Brooke and donations could be made through the ASB Bank to account 12-3192-0002433-05.