Cape Town - The South African cycling community has been rocked by the tragic death of one of the country's foremost athletes, Carla Swart.

Swart was killed after being hit by a truck while training in the Free State on Wednesday morning. She was 23.

Swart represented South Africa at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi where she finished as the highest-placed SA rider in eighth position in the women's road race.

"Carla was undoubtedly South Africa's leading prospect for a medal at the Olympics," Douglas Ryder, former manager of MTN Qhubekha, told cyclenation.co.za.

"She had achieved great results for us on the World Cup circuit and in the two years with us had improved from 32nd at the World Champs to 10th at the last World Champs. It was clear she was on her way to the top," said Ryder.

"She was an amazing, strong, mature and driven women who was a definite medal hope. She rode her bike to support her family, put herself through university and chased her dreams. The ramifications of today affect not only her family but cycling as a whole in South Africa," said Ryder.

Born in Graaff-Reinet, Swart rode for the HTC-Highroad women's team.

Renowned SA cyclist and SuperSport's Super Cycling host, Andrew Mclean, expressed his shock at the news on his social networking Twitter page, writing: A another Sad Day for SA Cycling: RIP Carla Swart. Condolences to her family and friends.