Two-time Olympic champion, 25, dies in traffic accident

Russia's Natalia Lavrova, a two-time Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion, has been killed in a traffic accident according to a traffic police spokesman. She was 25.

Vitaly Ivanov said in a televised statement that a car driven by Lavrova's sister collided Friday with another vehicle on a road near Penza, about 330 miles southeast of Moscow. He said Lavrova and her sister died on the spot.

Lavrova is Russia's only rhythmic gymnast to garner two Olympic gold medals, winning in team competitions at the Sydney and Athens Olympics in 2000 and 2004.

Lavrova came into the sport when she was five, joined the Russian team in 1998 and won her first major world title in 1999.

She later coached Dynamo club and helped train Russia's national team.