Speed Skating Champion and Mom of Five Shot by Fiancé Weeks Before Wedding
Former world speed skating champion Luz Mery Tristan, a mother of five and national sports icon, was tragically killed just two months before she was set to walk down the aisle. A court in Cali, Colombia, has now found her fiancé, Andres Gustavo Ricci Garcia, guilty of her murder in a crime that has shocked the nation.
Tristan, who made history as the first Colombian skater to win a world title in the 5,000m Inline Speed event in 1990, was reportedly found dead in her luxury home in August 2023. The court heard harrowing details of her final moments, revealing that a single gunshot severed her aorta, causing her to bleed out within minutes.
Neighbours had called the police after hearing a violent row inside her home. When officers arrived, they found Garcia heavily intoxicated and still holding a gun. Prosecutors revealed that the relationship had been plagued by explosive arguments, and forensic experts confirmed that Tristan had desperately tried to fight back before she was shot. Her bruised face and grazed knuckles painted a chilling picture of her struggle.
The room where she was found was riddled with bullet holes, suggesting a violent altercation before the fatal shot was fired into her back. Police also discovered a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and three tasers at the scene—none of which Garcia had permits for.
The court found him guilty of aggravated femicide, illegal possession of firearms, and trafficking. Prosecutors are pushing for the maximum sentence of 50 years, and he remains in custody ahead of sentencing.
Tristan’s tragic death has devastated the sporting world, particularly in Colombia, where she was a national hero. Beyond her 1990 world title, she had already made a name for herself at the 1987 Pan American Games in the United States, where she took home gold in the 5,000m and a bronze in the relay.
Her loss has left a deep void, not just in the world of skating but also among her family, friends, and the millions who admired her. What should have been a time of wedding celebrations instead turned into a devastating loss, highlighting the brutal reality of domestic violence.