Poland's Kamila Skolimowska, Olympic hammer champion in 2000, died after collapsing in training on Wednesday in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Algarve, south of Portugal. She was 26.

Skolimowska felt unwell and fell unconscious in the gym before she was rushed to the hospital.

The cause of death was not immediately clear, pending an autopsy.

Skolimowska won gold at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000 at the age of 17. It was the first time that the women's hammer throw had been staged at the Olympics.

(Xinhua New Agency February 20, 2009)