List of athletics competitors who died during their careers explained

A number of athletics competitors have died during their careers. Sometimes, the deaths came during competition or practice, while other times deaths occurred due to road accidents or other non-sports-related reasons.

The list does not include athletes who died during World War I or during World War II, when international athletics competitions were largely put on pause.

List

The following is an incomplete list of athletics competitors who died or disappeared during their professional or amateur careers.

Date Image Name Nationality Age Events Cause
24 Collapsed during the 1912 Olympic marathon due to dehydration and high body temperature.
25 Drowning.[1]
23 Car crash.[2]
57 Died while racewalking during a race held in his honor.
27 Murder-suicide of his wife.[3]
26 Car crash.[4]
35-36 Suffered heart failure while running the 1951 Swiss Marathon Championships.[5]
25 Car accident.[6]
34 Car crash.[7]
27 Suicide.[8]
23 Car crash.[9]
24 Car accident.[10]
23 Disappearance after capture by Pakistani army.[11]
25 Car accident.[12]
24 Car accident.[13]
24 Car accident.
21 Car accident.[14]
31 Car accident.[15]
24 Killed by a Nigerian police officer following an argument.[16]
30 Car accident.[17]
36 Murdered by a sniper.[18]
27 Motorcycle accident.[19]
30 Car crash.[20]
29 Marathon
20 Struck by a pickup truck, ruled a suicide.[21]
24 Motorcycle accident.[22]
28 Died from hit-and-run injuries.[23]
26 Car crash.[24]
28 Car accident.[25]
33 Fell from the Corno Stella mountain.[26]
22 Car crash.[27]
39 Sudden cardiac death during a training run.[28]
29 Car accident.[29]
28 Drowning after car accident.[30]
28 Murder-suicide of his wife.[31]
33 Car accident.[32]
25 Car accident along with two other Slovak athletes, Patrik Cvetan (23) and Nejc Lipnik (17).[33]
25 Car crash.[34]
29 Car accident.[35]
28 Collapsed during the U.S. marathon trials for the 2008 Olympics, died due to heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia.[36]
32 Car accident.[37]
29 Suicide.[38]
27 Boat accident.[39]
24 Fall from balcony.[40]
31 Car crash.[41]
35 Car crash.[42]
36 Car crash; died one year into his doping ban.[43]
20 Car crash.[44]
25 Car crash.[45]
31 Murdered by boyfriend.[46]
31 Drowning.[47]
28 Car accident.[48]
25 Acute heart failure while jogging.[49]
32-33 Car accident.[50]
26 Motorcycle crash.[51]
19 Suicide.[52]
18 Car crash.[53]
31 Gansu ultramarathon disaster.[54]
33-34
24 Car accident.[55]
26 Suicide.[56]
25 Stabbing.[57]
51 Lung cancer.[58]
32 Murdered outside a shopping centre.[59]
29 Car crash.[60]
28 Murdered.[61]
26 Suicide.[62]
27 Unspecified illness.[63]
32 Complications of childbirth.[64]
37 Road accident.[65]
24 Car accident.[66]

Former athletics competitors who died during other sporting careers

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search . 2024-05-11 . news.google.com.
  2. News: 1933-04-16 . SALING, HURDLER, DIES AFTER CRASH; Athlete Receives Fatal Hurts as Car Strikes Stalled Truck on Road Near Troy, Mo. AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION Iowan Was the Joint Holder of the World Record of 14.4 Seconds for 110 Meters. . 2024-03-17 . . en-US . 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: Kanerva . Juha . 2023-12-23 . Jaakko, 27, ampui 24-vuotiaan vaimonsa ja itsensä keskellä kaupunkia – syy takavuosien hirmuteolle paljastui taskusta löytyneistä kirjeistä . 2024-03-13 . Ilta-Sanomat . fi.
  4. Web site: 2020-12-03 . Les McKeand: Olympic Veterinarian . 2024-03-17 . Scone Vet Dynasty . en-AU.
  5. Web site: In memoriam Jakob Jutz. German.
  6. Web site: Bob Gutowski, Track Star, Killed in Auto Crash; He Held the World's Record for the Pole Vault. New York Times. 3 Aug 1960.
  7. Web site: 2022-09-04 . Urheilutähti Jorma Valkaman taru päättyi saattomatkalla pikkujouluissa – ”Kun isä kuoli, äiti ei sanonut hänestä pahaa sanaa” . 2024-03-17 . Ilta-Sanomat . fi.
  8. News: Belson . Ken . 2021-07-18 . Elegy for a Heartbroken Medalist . 2024-03-14 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  9. News: 1968-11-18 . Javelin Champ Dies In Mishap . 2024-03-17 . The Times-News . 12.
  10. News: 1969-12-25 . Rolf Hoppe Is Killed . 2024-03-17 . The Times Leader . 22.
  11. Web site: Nannu . Saifuddin Ahmed . 27 December 2011 . বিস্মৃতির অতলে মানিকগঞ্জের শহীদ মিরাজ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200425103301/https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/77259.details . 25 April 2020 . 11 July 2022 . . bn.
  12. News: 1973-02-18 . Driver Dies In Accident . 2024-03-16 . The News and Observer . 30.
  13. Web site: A FINAL DRIVE TO THE FINISH . Sports Illustrated . 23 October 2023.
  14. News: 1977-06-09 . Ottawa Olympian dies in auto accident . 2024-03-16 . The Ottawa Journal . 22.
  15. News: Wydarzenia. . 2. 1978. 124. pl.
  16. Web site: Former Missouri track star Dele Udo, a three-time NCAA... - UPI Archives . 2024-03-17 . UPI . en.
  17. Web site: SPORTS PEOPLE; Death on the Highway . New York Times . 23 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Olympic runner killed by sniper remembered - UPI Archives . 2024-03-17 . UPI . en.
  19. Web site: 2010-12-05 . A sprint cut short . Twice fastest man of South Asia Shah Alam lost his life in a motorbike accident on the Kushtia highway in 1989 ... . 2024-03-16 . The Daily Star . en.
  20. Web site: Japan's top long-distance runners killed in car accident - UPI Archives . 2024-03-17 . UPI . en.
  21. Web site: Lee . Kirby . 1992-09-11 . Tragic Course : Desta Asgedom, a Top Running Prospect From Ethiopia, Is Hit and Killed by a Pickup Truck in Pico Rivera; Friends Can't Believe It Was Suicide . 2024-03-16 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  22. Web site: Miguel Angel Gómez Campuzano . 2024-03-17 . www.mayrena.com.
  23. News: 1994-08-16 . Injuries prove fatal to marathoner Naali . 2024-03-17 . The Honolulu Advertiser . 23.
  24. Web site: Sad tale of 76-yr-old mother of late Nigerian hero abandoned to fate . The Nation. Nigeria . 2015-05-09 . 2018-05-22.
  25. News: Thomsen . Ian . Tribune . International Herald . 1996-08-30 . Athletics : Bulgaria'a High-Jump Star Overcomes Adversity and the Odds . 2024-03-16 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  26. Web site: Walter Merlo cade e muore in montagna . 19 July 2024 . it.
  27. News: Nigerian Runner Killed in Accident . ABC News . American Broadcasting Company . 8 September 2000.
  28. Web site: In Memoriam Diego Garcia NEWS World Athletics . 2024-03-12 . worldathletics.org.
  29. Web site: Tragic death for Norwegian Javelin record holder NEWS World Athletics . 2024-03-16 . worldathletics.org.
  30. Web site: Marathon runner Ian Syster dies in car accident NEWS World Athletics . 2024-03-17 . worldathletics.org.
  31. Web site: 2004-08-16 . Ex-Olympian kills wife, self . 2024-03-13 . ESPN.com . en.
  32. Web site: 2005-05-29 . Maratończyk z Gdańska Piotr Gładki nie żyje . 2024-03-17 . Sport.pl . pl.
  33. Web site: Črn dan za slovensko atletiko 24ur.com . 2024-03-17 . www.24ur.com . sl.
  34. Web site: Olympian Emilie Mondor dies. 10 September 2006. Canadian Broadcasting Company.
  35. Web site: 2007-01-21 . Olympic medalist runner Cioncan dies in car accident . 2024-03-16 . ESPN.com . en.
  36. News: Shipley . Amy . 2007-11-04 . Death Casts a Pall Over Trials . 2024-03-12 . en-US . 0190-8286.
  37. Web site: Belgian 5000m runner Compernolle dies in car accident NEWS World Athletics . 2024-03-16 . worldathletics.org.
  38. Web site: ETHIOPIAN RUNNER BERHANU TOOK HIS OWN LIFE . 2024-03-14 . www.letsrun.com.
  39. Web site: 2010-09-11 . Kuulitõukaja Taavi Peetre uppus Tamula järve . 2024-03-17 . Sport . et.
  40. Web site: Kenya Olympic marathon star Sammy Wanjiru dies in fall . BBC News . 23 October 2023 . 16 May 2011.
  41. Web site: Williams . Jacqueline . 2012-06-26 . Athlete Batman killed in car rollover . 2024-03-16 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  42. Web site: 2012-12-05 . French shot putter Niare dies in road crash . 2024-03-17 . ESPN.com . en.
  43. Web site: 2013-01-20 . Abderrahim Goumri nie żyje . 2024-03-17 . Bieganie.pl . pl.
  44. Web site: Youth Olympic steeplechase champion Peter Mutuku dies News . 2024-03-17 . worldathletics.org . en.
  45. Web site: U.S. 400m runner Torrin Lawrence dies in car accident. NBC Sports.
  46. Web site: Verschueren . Gianni . Yulia Balykina, Former Olympic Sprinter, Found Dead at Age 31 . 2024-03-12 . Bleacher Report . en.
  47. Web site: sport . Guardian . David Torrence, Olympic 5,000m finalist, found dead at age of 31 . The Guardian . 23 October 2023 . 29 August 2017.
  48. Web site: Shock, grief as ex-World champ Nicholas Bett dies in tragic accident . Nation . 23 October 2023 . en . 4 July 2020.
  49. Web site: Russian athlete and model Margarita Plavunova dies while training . . 5 July 2024.
  50. Web site: Tributes pour in for fallen Kenyan steeplechase runner . Nation . 12 November 2023 . en . 4 July 2020.
  51. Web site: Javelin thrower Braian Toledo killed in bike accident 5 months before his 3rd Olympic appearance . 2024-03-17 . India Today . en.
  52. News: Jilemnický . Miroslav S. . 2020-09-26 . Smutná zpráva! Nadějný atlet spáchal v 19 letech sebevraždu . 2024-03-13 . Deník.cz . cs.
  53. Web site: Hundreds attend funeral for Bermudian sprinter Lodge-Bean Loop Caribbean News . 2024-03-17 . Loop News . en.
  54. Web site: China marathon: Fans mourn top runners killed in deadly race . . 5 July 2024.
  55. Web site: 2021-06-26 . Qatari Sprinter Abdalelah Haroun, 400m World Bronze Medalist, Dies in Car Crash . 2024-03-17 . News18 . en.
  56. News: Duarte . Joseph . UH track star Cameron Burrell's death ruled a suicide . 14 August 2021 . Houston Chronicle . 13 August 2021 . August 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210814135050/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Cameron-Burrell-Houston-death-ruled-suicide-16385977.php . live .
  57. Web site: Okeowo . Alexis . Why Were Two Female Running Champions Killed in Kenya? . The New Yorker . 2 November 2023 . 10 April 2023.
  58. Web site: Jason Carty: 1969-2021 . England Athletics . 23 July 2024.
  59. News: 2021-10-23 . Alex Quiñónez: Ecuador sprinter shot dead . 2024-03-17 . en-GB.
  60. News: 2022-01-12 . Deon Lendore: Trinidad and Tobago Olympic relay medallist dies in car crash at age 29 . 2024-03-17 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  61. News: 2022-04-20 . Damaris Muthee Mutua: Kenya police launch manhunt after athlete killed . 2024-03-17 . en-GB.
  62. Web site: Sri Lankan athlete Kaushalya Madushani dies by suicide . 2024-03-16 . www.adaderana.lk . en.
  63. Web site: 2023-01-25 . LONG DISTANCE RUNNER EDRISSA MARONG DIES – The Standard Newspaper Gambia . 2024-03-19 . en-US.
  64. Web site: Olympic sprint champion Tori Bowie dies at 32 . NBC Sports . 23 October 2023 . 3 May 2023.
  65. Web site: Tuwei, Gebrselassie lead Kenyans in mourning the late Kosgei . 2024-03-19 . The Star . en-KE.
  66. Web site: Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum has died in a car crash . 2024-02-12 . ABC News . en.