Athletes are speaking out and passing on their condolences in the wake of fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s passing.
The 41-year-old fashion designer, who was the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection and CEO of Off-White, passed away on Sunday after a private, multi-year battle with cancer.
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“I’m devastated by the passing of Virgil Abloh,” Venus Williams wrote on social media. “I love him so much. I always watched everything he did so closely and it inspired me to be better in everything I do.
“His collections literally brought me to tears because they were so connected so beautiful and so inspiring.”
Abloh had a hand in designing many of Serena Williams’ looks both on and off the court, which Venus highlighted in her post.
USWNT star Megan Rapinoe also paid tribute, sending love to Abloh’s family while saying that the designer “changed the world.”
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Orlando Pride and USWNT goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who has long been a fan of Abloh’s, called the news “heartbreaking.”
“Thank you for showing us what is possible and bringing us along the ride with you,” she wrote. “You have inspired us all greatly.”
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