Natalia Lavrova of Russia, a two-time rhythmic gymnastics Olympic champion, died in a car crash on Friday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Citing Russian authorities, the report said that the car driven by Lavrova's sister collided with another vehicle near her home town of Penza, some 600 kilometres south-east of Moscow. Her sister reportedly died in the crash as well while the driver of the other car was injured.
Lavrova, 25, won Olympic gold 2000 and 2004 in the rhythmic gymnastics team event and later was a team coach, DPA reported.