Dimitri De Fauw

{{short description|Belgian cyclist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Dimitri De Fauw

| image = De Fauw Deneef.jpg

| caption = Dimitri De Fauw (right)

| fullname = Dimitri De Fauw

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1981|07|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ghent, Belgium

| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|11|06|1981|07|13|df=y}}

| death_place = Belgium

| height =

| weight =

| currentteam =

| discipline = Road and track

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 2004–2005

| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|QST|2004}}

| proyears2 = 2006–2007

| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|SVB|2006}}

| proyears3 = 2008

| proteam3 = Josan Mercedes-Benz Aalst Cycling Team

| majorwins =

}}

Dimitri De Fauw (13 July 1981 – 6 November 2009) was a Belgian professional road and track bicycle racer. He was born in Ghent. De Fauw competed on both the road and track but is best known for his crash during the 2006 Six Days of Ghent.

On 26 November, De Fauw collided with Spanish cyclist Isaac Gálvez during the madison portion of the Six Days of Ghent cycling event in Belgium. Both riders fell, though Gálvez crashed into the track's upper railing and was knocked unconscious. While medics resuscitated him at the scene, the Spaniard died of his injuries en route to hospital.{{cite web |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/nov06/nov26news2 |title=Spanish sprinter, Isaac Gálvez crashes hard at Gent Six Day, dies on way to hospital |work=Cyclingnews.com |date=26 November 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-09}}

Despite continuing to race as a professional, De Fauw suffered from ongoing depression in the aftermath of Gálvez's death and was haunted by the accident. In an interview the following month, the 25-year-old De Fauw said, "I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. Only time can heal my wounds."{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-fauw-speaks-about-galvez/|title=De Fauw speaks about Gálvez|first=Shane|last=Stokes 2006-12-01T00:00:00Z|website=cyclingnews.com|date=December 2006 }}

De Fauw died by suicide on 6 November 2009 in Belgium, shortly after competing in the Six Days of Grenoble.{{cite web|url=https://www.pezcyclingnews.com/|title=PezCycling News – What's Cool in Road Cycling|website=PezCycling News}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/six-day-rider-takes-his-life?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=news_headlines/ |title=Six-day rider takes his life |publisher=Cyclingnews |date=2019-08-28 |accessdate=2019-10-23}}