Mexican gymnast Jaime Romero killed in Mexico

Shocking news reached the international Gymnastics community at the beginning of the year when Mexican Artistic Gymnastics national team member Jaime Romero was reported killed.

Romero and a friend had been seen arguing with a group of men early on the morning of January 3 outside Lienzo Charro Zermeño in Guadalajara, Jalisco (MEX), before they were shot. The motive for the murder remains unknown. Romero was 22 years old.

Jaime Romero helped the Mexican team to a record 23rd place at the 2014 World Championships in Nanning (CHN), in turn qualifying a full team to this year's World Championships, which is the first Olympic qualifier for Rio 2016. Romero, who had been training under national team coach Óscar Aguirre in 2009 and 2010, was preparing for the 2015 Worlds in Glasgow (GBR) and the Pan American Games in Toronto (CAN).

"He was a healthy boy with dreams, who always sought a better Mexico and to find it through sport," his mother said.

The FIG family mourns the loss of this talented young gymnast and expresses their sincere condolences to his family and friends, the Mexican Gymnastics Federation and the Mexican Olympic Committee.