Up-and-coming US boxer Hannah Rapp, 26, died Saturday in Texas after being struck by a car while riding her bike. Around 10 AM, the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a cyclist being struck by a vehicle on the 23000 block of Farm to Market Road. Rapp, who challenged for the World Boxing Championship women’s featherweight championship in June, was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
31-year-old Charles Medina was arrested and charged with manslaughter. According to the Guardian, jail records show prior arrests for reckless driving, deadly conduct by discharging a firearm, and assault causing bodily injury, though dispositions for those arrests are not available. Medina is being held at the Brazos County Detention Center. Further details on the crime have not been released, and the sheriff’s office says the investigation is active and ongoing.
According to initial reports, “After passing the bicyclists, Mr. Medina stopped his vehicle, reversed, and struck one of the cyclists,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that “at this time, investigators believe this was an isolated incident.”
Rapp’s star was on the rise in the world of professional boxing, having registered eight victories, five by knockout. Although Rapp lost her challenge to Tiara Brown for the WBC featherweight title in June by unanimous decision, Brown called her "the best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro."
In a statement, WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán said Rapp’s untimely death has left them heartbroken: “She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family. We join in the grief that overwhelms her loved ones, her team, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and supporting her throughout her brilliant career.”
Jenny Catlin is a sports and pop culture writer in the square states. She’s a contributing writer to The Athletic, a Lighthouse Writers Book Project Fellow, and an award-winning essayist obsessed with obsession. You can find her on Instagram or Substack.