Mark Lenzi Diving: Dies Suddenly Aged 43

Mark Lenzi Diving: Dies Suddenly Aged 43, The last American diver to win gold at the Olympics has died suddenly at the age of 43. Mark Lenzi won gold when he switched from wrestling to diving in the mid-1980s.

Over the next decade, he became the 1992 Olympic three-meter springboard champion, earned a bronze medal four years later in Atlanta and became the first diver to score 100 points on a single dive.

Lenzi, the last American male diver to win Olympic gold, passed away in Greenville, North Carolina on Monday.

Lenzi is survived by his wife Dorothy, his mother, two brothers, one sister and grandmother Mary Cochran.

His alma mater, Indiana University, posted the announcement on its website but did not provide a cause of death.

His mother Ellie told the family’s hometown newspaper, The Free Lance-Star of Fredricksburg in Virginia that her son had been hospitalized the past two weeks because of fainting spells that were caused by low blood pressure.

Former Olympic teammate and current Texas diving coach Matt Scoggin told USA Diving: ‘Mark came from a wrestling background and the goal of any wrestler is to pin you.

‘When Mark got into a contest, he was going to pin you. I remember before his first World Cup, he was going to win 1-meter, I thought there was no way – it was my third World Cup and I was still trying to get on the podium. He won. He was a very confident competitor.’

Lenzi wrestled in high school when he was captivated by diver Greg Louganis’ remarkable Olympics performance in 1984 and immediately changed discipline.

In 1989, he swept the Big Ten college titles in the one-meter, three-meter and platform competitions, then went on to win the first of his back-to-back one-meter national championships in 1989.

Karl Roy Dies

Karl Roy Dies, Pinoy rock icon Karl Roy, 43, died due to cardiac arrest Tuesday morning. His death was announced by his sister Kathryn Roy on her Facebook page.“It is with deepest sadness that I share the news of Karl’s passing. He was called Home today at 1:01 a.m. Manila time (Tuesday, March 13th), surrounded by those who loved him most—mommy, Keith, Kevin, Krys, his daughter Arianna, and our cousin Jack (Roy-Duavit),” Kathryn wrote.

“Please continue to pray for Karl. He brought so much joy to others but, unfortunately, did not have enough of it in this life. He’s in a better place now, with Lolo Pepe, Lola Conching and Daddy,” she added.

Atty. Jose Roy III, a member of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s defense panel, conveyed his family’s appreciation to all who sympathized with them, reported GMA News’ Tina Perez Tuesday. Atty. Roy is Karl’s cousin.