and her guardian proceeded to rob the aide of $400 in cash, police said. Gina Liu had pulled their car over to the edge of the road Tuesday afternoon to repair the flat when a man walking by stopped to help them.
The man and Ms. Liu, 45, changed the tire while the gymnast, 17, sat in the back seat of the car. The man then stood up, dusted off his hands and snatched Ms. Liu's pocketbook from the car's front seat before running away. The purse had $400 in it, along with credit cards.
Police had no suspects.
Sang, a member of the Chinese national gymnastics team, severely injured her neck doing warm-up exercises during the Goodwill Game July 21.
She was paralyzed from the neck down but has regained some strength in her shoulders, elbows and wrists and can raise her arms.
Sang is scheduled to return to China in June. [AP]
Sang Lan Returns to China (1999-05-24)Sang Lan tours UN during U.S. tour (1999-05-23)Paralyzed Gymnast's Aide Robbed in NYC (1999-02-17)Paralyzed Gymnast Gets OK To Go Home (1999-02-03)Gymnast Honored at Times Square (1999-01-04)
