Weightlifter Soraya Jimenez, the first woman in Mexico to win an Olympic gold medal, died on Thursday of a heart attack, Mexico's Olympic Committee confirmed.

Jimenez, 35, had been suffering from health problems and only had one lung, according to Reuters.

She won the gold for weightlifting at the Sydney games in 2000 in the 50 kg category. She lifted 497 pounds, according to the publication.

After her impressive win at the 200 Olympics, Jimenez was accused of doping but the accusation was later cleared. In 2004 she retired.

Jimenez told a Mexican magazine that she had a weakened immune system because she had contracted the flu several times. She also had knee problems; her left knee underwent 14 surgeries.

According to The Associated Press, Jimenez was also a sportscaster after she retired from weightlifting for the Televisa television network.

The Mexican Olympic Committee said in a statement, "La Familia Olímpica lamenta la sensible pérdida de una de las más grandes y queridas atletas de nuestro país y del mundo entero." Translation, "The Olympic family regrets the significant loss of one of the largest and most beloved athletes in our contry and around the world."

Only one other Mexican woman has won an Olympic gold medal. According to the AP, Maria Espinoza won the gold for taekwondo in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Tags: 2000 Soraya Jimenez Mexico