By: Niran Zuo
(Niran, well done covering such a tragic topic. You’ve provided a lot of good and pertinent information on Magnus White from his parents, friends, and fellow cyclists. One thing to consider in your revisions is constructing a paragraph structure for the article. Particularly in the beginning, there are a lot of stand-alone sentences – how can you weave the sentences together to create cohesive paragraphs? Great start!)
Last Saturday, teen cyclist Magnus White died after being hit by a car while cycling on the side of a highway in his hometown, Boulder, Colorado. White had been cycling along the shoulder of Highway 119, preparing to compete in the Junior Men’s Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championship at Glasgow, Scotland when he was suddenly struck from behind by a Toyota. The vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old woman. She had hit White after she crossed from the right-hand lane into the highway’s shoulder. Shortly after, the driver collided with a fence. White was badly hurt and was soon transferred to a hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead. The driver, though, was unharmed. The state authorities claim that neither drinking, drugs, nor speeding were factors in the fatal accident.
His parents, Jill and Michael White, said they were grief-stricken as they mourned the terrible death of their beloved son. They said that Magnus was a devoted individual when it came to his family and friends and that he enjoyed filling their lives with happiness and humor. White’s parents also said that his smile was truly remarkable and could light up any room, spreading delight to everyone in his presence. In the wake of White’s death, family friends have set up a GoFundMe to help support White’s parents and brother, Eero White. “Magnus has taken from us while doing what he loved most, riding his bike,” wrote Christine Lipson, the organizer of the GoFundMe. Lipson’s son was one of White’s close friends and teammates.
As a crew member of the USA Cycling’s junior men’s national team, White unequivocally represented the USA in his first Cyclocross world championship last year and again this year. White’s passion for cycling began at the age of two when he started riding a strider bike. By the time he was eight, he had begun racing and trained with Boulder Junior Cycling. According to his website, White was also an excellent student and enjoyed skiing. His plans included attending business school after graduating high school a semester early to focus on international competitions.
USA Cycling said that White was a rising star in cycling and that they could see how much he loved cycling through his effort and racing. “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time,” the organization added. “We ride for Magnus.”