1984 Olympic swimmer for Indonesia and nine-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Lukman Niode died Friday in Jakarta at the age of 56, The Jakarta Post reported.
Niode was hospitalized Wednesday with a pulmonary nodule and was put into an induced coma, the Straits Times reported. His brother told Kompas.com that he had also tested positive for COVID-19.
“He underwent a swab test at the hospital on Wednesday and the result came out positive, even though previous two tests [at a different hospital] showed negative results,” Idrus Niode said.
Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry secretary Gatot S. Dewa Broto confirmed the Olympian’s death.
“We are deeply sorry to hear about the death of Lukman Niode, who was one of our prominent athletes in the swimming field,” Gatot said Friday, according to The Jakarta Post.
Three-time Olympian and Arizona State alum Richard Bera tweeted about Niode’s passing.
With heavy heart I give you the news of the passing of our dear friend – my mentor, my inspiration – #Olympian Lukman Niode, this afternoon at Pelni Hospital, Jakarta.
I looked up to him when I was a young swimmer.
I am deeply saddened by his passing.@worldolympians @Olympics pic.twitter.com/L82XofH36D
— Richard Sam Bera OLY (@richardbera) April 17, 2020
Niode’s first SEA Games win came in 1977 in Kuala Lumpur, where he won the 100 and 200 back. He won both events for the next three editions of the meet as well, according to the Straits Times. He competed in the 100 free, 100 back and 200 back at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
I swam against him in 1985. We all thought he was a God. He had competed in the Olympics the year before. Won a bronze at the Asian Games in 1986, had a good career as an architect and was involved in the Olympic Movement. Sad.
Once on the ventilator w covid, recovery rates are quite dismal unfortunately. Rest in Peace!