SPORTS

Mexican Olympic weightlifter Soraya Jimenez dies at 35

The Associated Press Published Friday, March 29, 2013 9:09AM EDT

In this Sept. 18, 2000 file photo, gold medalist Soraya Jimenez of Mexico, center, is flanked by silver medalist Song Hui Ri of North Korea, left, and bronze medalist Khassaraporn Suta of Thailand in the podium of the women's 58 kg weightlifting competition of the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)

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MEXICO CITY -- Soraya Jimenez, the weightlifter who won a gold medal in 2000 in Sydney to become Mexico's first female Olympic champion, has died of a heart attack. She was 35.

The Mexican Olympic Committee released a statement on Thursday saying it was "in mourning" following Jimenez's death.

After retiring from weightlifting because of various injuries, Jimenez became a sportscaster for the Televisa television network.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Maria Espinoza won a gold medal in taekwondo, the only other Mexican woman to win an Olympic gold.