27. Februar 2008  
San Juan / Puerto Rico  
Artistic Gymnastics

Diego LIZARDI died in a car accident ...

Diego LIZARDI (PUR)

Diego LIZARDI (32), a gymnast who represented Puerto Rico in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, died in a car accident.  He was driving on a winding stretch of highway last week when his car collided with a cement truck, killing him instantly, police said.

The governor and athletes from across the island are expected to attend a ceremony last Saturday in San Juan honoring Lizardi.
The cause of the accident was under investigation....

After retiring Diego LIZARDI worked as a gymnastics coach and owned a chain of children's gyms.
He also organized a competition, ''Lizardi's Gymnastics Invitational,'' which was held most recently in San Juan three weeks ago and draws athletes from around the world.
Puerto Rico's Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila said to the press, that the island mourned ''a young man who was a model of perseverance and discipline in his athletic career and of service and commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.''