List of sportspeople who have died during their playing career

This is a list of sportspeople who have died either during their playing career, or due to career-ending injury or disease at an age when they could still have been playing. It includes both on-the-field and off-the-field deaths. But people that announced retirement from sport despite still being in age when they could still been playing are not listed.

Air sport

Does not include those who died in aircraft sport crashes such as aerobatics and air racing. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to List of people who died in aviation-related incidents.

Carl Boenish
Patrick de Gayardon
Rob Harris, American skydiver
Roger Nelson

American football

Pro Football

Arena Football League

Al Lucas, Los Angeles Avengers, fatal neck injury

National Football League

Stan Mauldin, Arizona Cardinals, tackle, heart attack
David Croudip, Atlanta Falcons, defensive back, [...] overdose
Ralph Norwood, Atlanta Falcons, offensive lineman, car accident
Brad Beckman, Atlanta Falcons, tight end, car accident
Wayne Simmons, Buffalo Bills, linebacker, car accident
Bob Kalsu, Buffalo Bills, offensive lineman, casualty in Vietnam War
Fred Lane, Carolina Panthers, running back, [...]
Willie Galimore, Chicago Bears, running back, car accident
Brian Piccolo, Chicago Bears, running back, embryonal cell carcinoma
Don Rogers, Cleveland Browns, free safety, [...] overdose
Damien Nash, Denver Broncos, running back, collapsed and died after a charity basketball game
Darrent Williams, Denver Broncos, Cornerback, [...]
Chuck Hughes, Detroit Lions, wide receiver , suffered heart attack during game vs. Chicago Bears
Eric Andolsek, Detroit Lions, offensive lineman, car accident
Brandon Burlsworth, Indianapolis Colts, offensive lineman, car accident
Shane Curry, Indianapolis Colts, defensive lineman, [...]
Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in a car accident
Joe Delaney, Kansas City Chiefs, running back, drowned
Mack Lee Hill, Kansas City Chiefs, Fullback, pulmonary embolism
Stone Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs,running back fatal neck injured vs Oakland Raiders
Korey Stringer, Minnesota Vikings, offensive tackle, heat stroke
Marquise Hill, New England Patriots, defensive end, drowned
Al Blozis, New York Giants, offensive tackle, died in World War II
Howard Glenn, New York Titans, offensive tackle, neck injury
Eric Turner, Oakland Raiders, defensive back, stomach cancer
Leon Bender, Oakland Raiders, defensive lineman, died of a seizure just weeks following the 1998 NFL Draft
Stacey Toran, Oakland Raiders, defensive back, car accident
Jerome Brown, Philadelphia Eagles, defensive tackle, car accident
Eugene Lipscomb, Pittsburgh Steelers, defensive lineman, [...] overdose
David Griggs, San Diego Chargers, linebacker, car accident
Ralph Anderson, San Diego Chargers, wide receiver, diabetic reaction
Rodney Culver, San Diego Chargers, running back, plane crash
Thomas Herrion, San Francisco 49ers, guard, heart failure
Demetrius DuBose, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, linebacker, shot by police
Ricky Bell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, running back, heart failure caused by dermatomyositis
Jeff Alm, Tennessee Titans, defensive tackle, [...]
Dan Turk, Washington Redskins, center, testicular cancer
Dave Sparks, Washington Redskins, tackle, heart attack
Justin Skaggs, Washington Redskins, wide receiver, brain cancer
Sean Taylor, Washington Redskins, free safety, [...]

NFL Europa

Donald Sellers, Scottish Claymores, wide receiver, road accident

XFL

Troy Stark, New York/New Jersey Hitmen, offensive lineman, complications from surgery

College Football

NCAA football

Shannon Smith, University of Hawaii kicker, drowned
Jack Trice, Iowa State University, lung hemorrhage and internal bleeding due to injuries sustained in game against the University of Minnesota
Bryan Pata, University of Miami, [...]
Taylor Bradford, Memphis Tigers, defensive tackle, [...] victim
Chucky Mullins, University of Mississippi, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision
Brook Berringer, Nebraska Cornhuskers, quarterback, plane crash
Knute Rockne (coach), Notre Dame, plane crash
George Gipp, Notre Dame, infection
Ernie Davis, Syracuse running back, leukemia
Joe Morrison University of South Carolina football coach, heart attack
Keeley Dorsey, University of South Florida, running back
Bo Rein, (head coach of), Louisiana State University, plane crash
Mario Danelo, USC kicker, fell off cliff as a result of being drunk
Curtis Williams, University of Washington, complications from a spinal cord injury suffered in an on-field collision

Canadian Football

Travis Claridge, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Offensive Guard, acute pneumonia

Athletics

Abebe Bikila, Ethiopian long distance runner, complications from spinal cord injury suffered in a car crash
Ivo Van Damme, Belgian middle distance runner, car accident
Pål Arne Fagernes, Norwegian javelin thrower, car accident
Ryan Shay, American long-distance runner, collapsed during the US Olympic marathon trials
Steve Prefontaine, American long distance runner, car crash
Maria Cioncan, Romanian middle distance runner, car accident

Australian Rules Football

Darren Millane, Australian football, car accident
Troy Broadbridge, Australian football, swept out to sea and drowned in the 2004 Asian Tsunami

Baseball

Addie Joss, Cincinnati Reds pitcher, meningitis
Austin McHenry, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, brain tumor
Bob Moose, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, car crash
Bob Neighbors, St. Louis Browns, died in Korean War
Brian Cole, New York Mets, outfielder, car crash
Charlie Peete, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, plane crash
Cliff Young, Cleveland Indians pitcher, car accident
Cory Lidle, New York Yankees pitcher, plane crash
Dan McGann, New York Giants first baseman, [...]
Danny Thompson, Texas Rangers infielder, leukemia
Darryl Kile, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, heart defect
Don Wilson, Houston Astros pitcher, [...] by carbon monoxide poisoning
Donnie Moore, closer for several teams, ending with the California Angels, [...] by gunshot
Ed Delahanty, Washington Senators outfielder, swept over Niagara Falls
Eddie Grant, New York Giants second baseman, lost in World War I
Elmer Gedeon, Washington Senators, outfielder, died in World War II
Hal Carlson, Chicago Cubs, pitcher stomach hemorrhage
Harry Agganis, Boston Red Sox first baseman, blood clot
Harry O'Neill, Philadelphia Athletics, died in World War II
Herm Hill, Minnesota Twins, drowned
Jake Daubert, Cincinnati first baseman, appendicitis
Jim Umbricht, Houston Colt .45's relief pitcher, lymphoma
Joe Kennedy, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, brain aneurysm
John McSherry, Major League umpire, heart attack
Josh Hancock, St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher, car accident
Ken Hubbs, Chicago Cubs second baseman, plane crash
Len Koenecke, Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder, hit with a fire extinguisher while trying to hijack a plane
Lyman Bostock, California Angels outfielder, [...]
Doc Powers, Philadelphia Athletics catcher, gangrene caused by internal injuries after crashing into a wall during the first ever game played at the Shibe Park in Philadelphia
Mike Coolbaugh, minor-league baseball coach, struck by a ball in the neck
Mike Darr, San Diego Padres outfielder, car accident
Mike Sharperson, San Diego Padres infielder, one-car accident
Nestor Chavez, San Francisco Giants, pitcher, plane crash
Paul Edmondson, Chicago White Sox pitcher, car accident
Peck Lerian, Philadelphia Phillies catcher, car accident
Ray Chapman, Cleveland Indians, shortstop, stricken by a ball in the head by Carl Mays
Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder, plane crash
Steve Bechler, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, complications from Ephedra
Steve Olin, Cleveland Indians, closer, boat accident
Thurman Munson, New York Yankees catcher, plane crash
Tim Crews, Cleveland Indians, relief pitcher boat accident
Tiny Bonham, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher, appendicitis
Tom Gastall, Baltimore Orioles catcher, plane crash
Tony Boeckel, Boston Braves third baseman, car crash
Urban Shocker, New York Yankees pitcher, pneumonia
Willard Hershberger, Cincinnati Reds catcher, [...]

Basketball

USA

NBA

Jason Collier, Atlanta Hawks, cardiac arrest
Len Bias, Boston Celtics, [...] overdose
Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtics, NBA, heart failure
Eddie Griffin, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident
Malik Sealy, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident
Dražen Petrović, New Jersey Nets, car accident
Wendell Ladner, New Jersey Nets, ABA, airplane crash
Bobby Phills, Charlotte Hornets, car accident
Conrad McRae, Orlando Magic (summer league), collapsed and died
Ricky Berry, Sacramento Kings, [...]
Nick Vanos, Phoenix Suns, airplane crash
Terry Furlow, Utah Jazz, car accident

NBA D-League

Dennis Johnson, coach of Austin Toros, heart attack

NCAA {men)

Hank Gathers, Loyola Marymount Lions, cardiac arrest
Ryan Francis, USC Trojans, [...]
Skip Prosser, head coach of Wake Forest University, heart attack
Patrick Dennehy, Baylor Bears, [...]

WNBA

Kim Perrot, Houston Comets, cancer

NCAA {women)

Maggie Dixon, women's coach of the United States Military Academy, heart attack

International

Alphonso Ford, Olympiacos, A1 Ethniki (Greece) and Euroleague, leukemia

Boxing

Deaths in the Ring

Pedro Alcazar, Panamenian super flyweight, injuries sustained in a bout against Fernando Montiel.
Simon Byrne, bareknuckle boxer, injuries sustained in a bout with James Burke.
Leavander Johnson, American lightweight, died after a bout with Jesús Chávez.
Duk Koo Kim, Korean lightweight killed in a bout with Ray Mancini.
Alexander McKay, bareknuckle boxer, died of a brain haemorrhage after fighting Simon Byrne.
Davey Moore, American featherweight, died after a bout with Sugar Ramos.
James Murray, British bantamweight, died after a bout with Drew Docherty.
Johnny Owen - British bantamweight, died as a result of injuries sustained seven weeks earlier in a fight with Lupe Pintor.
Kevin Payne, American welterweight, died after an eight-round bout with Ryan Maraldo.
Benny "Kid" Paret, Cuban welterweight, died as a result of injuries sustained in a fight with Emile Griffith.
Martín Sánchez, Mexican super featherweight, died after being knocked out by Rustam Nugaev.
Hayes Edward “Big Ed” Sanders, American Olympic champion, died during a heavyweight bout with Willie James.
Angelito Sisnorio, Filipino lightweight, sustained injuries after a 3 fights from January to his death on March
Robert Wangila, Kenyan welterweight, died from injuries sustained in a bout with David Gonzales.

Deaths outside the Ring

Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena, Argentinian heavyweight, [...].
Marcel Cerdan, French middleweight champion, killed in plane crash.
Diego Corrales, American super featherweight and lightweight champion, motorcycle accident
Carlos Cruz, Dominican lightweight champion, killed in plane crash.
Jay Newby - British and International Middleweight champion, died of an AIDS related illness
Salvador Sánchez, Mexican featherweight world champion, car accident.
Mzukisi Sikali, South African flyweight, [...]

Bullfighting

Juanito Apinani, Spanish bullfighter, gored to death by a bull.
José Falcón, Portugese bullfighter, injuries sustained after being gored by a bull named Cucharero.
José Gómez Ortega, Spanish bullfighter, gored to death by a bull.
Felix Guzman, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained when gored by a bull named "Reventón" during a bullfight.
Manolete, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained when following a goring in the right upper leg by a bull named "Islero" during a bullfight in Linares, Jaén.
Nimeño II, French bullfighter, [...]
Paquirri, Spanish bullfighter, injuries sustained after being gored by a bull named "Avispado" in Pozoblanco.
Ernesto Pastor, Puerto Rican bullfighter, injuries sustained by a bull during a bullfight.
Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, Spanish bullfighter, gored to death by a bull.

Cricket

Cyril Christiani, West Indies, malaria.
Stanley de Silva, Sri Lanka, motorcycle accident.
Ian Folley, English cricketer, heart attack after being hit in the face by a ball during a game
Fred Grace, pneumonia
Sajjadul Hasan. Bangladesh, motorcycle accident.
Ben Hollioake, England, car accident.
Archie Jackson, Australia, tuberculosis.
Graham Kersey, Surrey, car accident.
Raman Lamba, India, died of internal haemorrhage suffered after being hit by a ball during a game.
Trevor Madondo, Zimbabwe, malaria.
Scott Mason, Tasmania, heart attack while training.
Manjural Islam Rana, Bangladesh, motorcycle accident.
Umer Rashid, Sussex, drowned in Grenada.
Sadashiv Shinde, India, typhoid.
Wilf Slack, England, collapsed and died while playing cricket in Gambia.
Collie Smith, West Indies, car accident.
Ken Wadsworth, New Zealand, skin cancer.

Football (soccer)

Does not include footballer that who died on the pitch during a game or practice. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to list of footballers who died while playing

Aaron Flahavan, English goalkeeper, car accident
Alan Davies, Welsh winger, [...]
Alan Nicholls, English goalkeeper, motorcycle accident
Alessio Ferramosca, Italian Youth player, drowned
Alfredo Tomassini, Peruvian midfielder, drowned
Andrea Fortunato, Italian defender, leukemia
Andrés Escobar, Colombian defender, [...]
Angus Douglas, Scottish defender, pneumonia
Antonio Puerta, Spanish defender, multiple organ failure, stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest
Austin Hayes, English winger, lung cancer
Avi Ran, Israeli goalkeeper, hit by speed boat
Conrad Hendricks, South African goalkeeper, car accident
Craig Gowans, Scottish Youth Team player, electrocution
Dave Clement, English defender, [...]
David Efford Chabala, Gabon goalkeeper, Gabon air disaster
David Di Tommaso, French midfielder, heart attack
David Longhurst, English striker, heart attack
David Pegg, English winger, Munich air disaster
Davie Cooper, Scottish winger, brain haemorrhage
Dean Horrix, English striker, car accident
Derby Makinka, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
Duncan Edwards, English midfielder, Munich air disaster
Eddie Colman, English midfielder, Munich air disaster
Edivaldo, Brazilian striker
Edy Vasquez, Honduran midfielder, car accident
Elson Becerra, Colombian striker, [...]
Emiliano Molina, Argentine goalkeeper, car accident
Eston Mulenga, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
Federico Crescentini, San Marinese defender, drowned
Federico Pisani, Italian striker, car accident
Gary Bownes, Irish striker, [...]
Gábor Zavadsky, Hungarian midfielder, embolism
Geoff Bent, English defender, Munich air disaster
George Allan, Scottish forward, tuberculosis
George Smith, English defender/striker, heart attack
Georgi Asparuhov, Bulgarian striker, car accident
Gift Leremi, South African midfielder, car accident
Godfrey Kangwa, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
Grenville Hair, English defender and manager, heart attack
Hicham Zerouali, Moroccan striker, car accident
Ian Porterfield, veteran Scottish coach for the Armenia national football team, cancer
Ihab Kareem, Iraqi midfielder, injuries from bombing
James Collins, Scottish striker, tetanus
James Logan, Scottish striker, pneumonia
Jason Mayélé, Congolese striker, car accident
Jimmy Davis, English winger, car accident
Jimmy Thorpe, English goalkeeper, diabetic coma following an onfield collision
Jock Stein, Scotland national team coach, heart attack
Joe Powell, English defender, blood poisoning and tetanus
John Soko, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
John White, Scottish midfielder, hit by lightning
José Martínez González, Mexican midfielder, team coach struck by a trailer
Kazimierz Deyna, Polish midfielder, car accident
Kelvin Mutale, Zambian forward, Gabon air disaster
Kenan Simambe, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
Kiyan Prince, English youth team midfielder, [...]
Laurie Cunningham, English striker, car accident
Lenar Gilmullin, Russian defender, motorcycle accident
Lesley Manyathela, South African striker, car accident
Lester Morgan, Costa Rican goalkeeper, [...]
Liam Whelan, Irish striker, Munich air disaster
Luc Borrelli, French goalkeeper, car accident
Luciano Re Cecconi, Italian midfielder, shot during practical joke
Ludo Coeck, Belgian midfielder, car accident
Marek Krejčí, Slovak striker, car accident
Mark Jones, English defender, Munich air disaster
Mark Philo, English defender, car accident
Martin Aldridge, English forward, car accident
Maurice Banach, German striker, car accident
Mel Rees, Welsh goalkeeper, cancer
Michael Maidens, English midfielder, car accident
Michael Millett, English defender, car accident
Mikhail Yeremin, Soviet goalkeeper, car accident
Milton Flores, Honduran goalkeeper, [...]
Mohamed Abdelwahab, Egyptian defender, heart defect
Moses Chikwalakwala, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
Moses Masuwa, Zambian forward, Gabon air disaster
Niccolò Galli, Italian defender, motorbike accident
Nikola Kotkov, Bulgarian striker, car accident
Norrie McCathie, Scottish defender, carbon monoxide poisioning (accident)
Numba Mwila, Zambian midfielder, Gabon air disaster
Otilino Tenorio, Ecuadorian striker, car accident
Patrick Banda, Zambian forward, Gabon air disaster
Paul Sykes, English striker, heart defect
Peter Dubovský, Slovakian striker, diving accident
Peter Houseman, English midfielder, car accident
Ralph Hunt, English striker, car accident
Ramiro Castillo, Bolivian midfielder, [...]
Ray Jones, English striker, car accident
Riccardo Neri, Italian Youth player, drowned
Richard Mwanza, Zambian goalkeeper, Gabon air disaster
Robert Watiyakeni, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
Roger Byrne, English defender, Munich air disaster
Rogério Oliveira da Costa, Brazilian striker, heart attack
Romeo Menti, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
Rommel Fernandez, Panamanian striker, car accident
Samuel Chomba, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
Simon Patterson, English striker, car accident
Stephen Malcolm, Jamaican midfielder, car accident
Timothy Mwitwa, Zambian forward, Gabon air disaster
Tommy Taylor, English striker, Munich air disaster
Valentino Mazzola, Italian striker, Superga air disaster
Vitaly Daraselia, Soviet striker, car accident
Vittorio Mero, Italian defender, car accident
Vladimir Dimitrijević, Serbian defender, heart attack
Whayne Wilson, Costa Rican striker, car accident
Whiteson Changwe, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
Winter Mumba, Zambian defender, Gabon air disaster
Wisdom Mumba Chansa, Zambian striker, Gabon air disaster

Horse Racing (Jockey)

Does not include those who died in riding accident such as equestrian or horse racing, as there is a separate list for such, please refer to List of horse accidents.

Chris Antley, American jockey, [...] overdose
Silvio Coucci, American jockey, [...]
Ron Hansen, American jockey, car accident
Frank Hayes, American jockey, died from a heart attack while riding his horse Sweet Kiss to victory at Belmont Park
Don MacBeth, Canadian jockey, cancer

Ice Hockey

Don Ashby, NHL, car accident
Bill Barilko, Hockey, plane crash
Jeff Batters, NHL, car accident
Stefan Blaho, OHL, car accident
Michel Briere, NHL, car accident
Steve Chiasson, NHL, car accident/drunk driving
Graham Christie, SJHL, heart failure after being hit in the chest with a puck
Yanick Dupre, NHL, leukemia
Michael Fogolin, WHL, heart failure
Bob Gassoff, Hockey, alcohol-related motorcycle accident
Joe Hall, NHL, pneumonia related to influenza
Tim Horton, NHL, car accident
Valery Kharlamov, Soviet Hockey player, car accident
John Kordic, Hockey, [...] overdose
Trent Kresse, WHL, team bus accident
Scott Kruger, WHL, team bus accident
Pelle Lindbergh, Hockey, car accident
Roman Lyashenko, NHL, [...]
Duncan MacPherson, Hockey, snowboarding accident in Austria
Wayne Maki, Hockey, brain cancer
Chris Mantyka, WHL, team bus accident
Bill Masterton, Hockey, on-ice accident
Howie Morenz, Hockey, blood clot from broken leg
Stephane Morin, Hockey, heart attack
Darcy Robinson, Hockey, cardiac arrest
Brent Ruff, WHL, team bus accident
Terry Sawchuk, NHL, heart failure from blood clot
Babe Siebert, Hockey, drowning accident
Dan Snyder, NHL, car accident, passenger in speeding car
Dmitri Tertyshny, NHL, boating accident
Georges Vézina, Hockey, advanced tuberculosis
B.J. Young, Hockey, single-car accident
Sergei Zholtok, Hockey, cardiac arrest from cardiac arrhythmia

Motorsport

Auto racing

Does not include race car drivers who died in race or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to List of racing drivers who died in racing crashes.

Davey Allison, NASCAR driver, helicopter crash at Talledega Superspeedway
Georges Boillot, Grand Prix motor racing driver, military action during World War I
Tony Brise, Formula One driver, plane crash
Richard Burns, World Rally Champion in 2001, brain tumour
Colin Chapman, founder of Team Lotus, heart attack
Peter Gregg, sportscar racer, [...]
Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR driver, cancer
Mike Hawthorn, 1958 Formula One World Champion, car crash just months after winning the title
Ricky Hendrick, owner affiliated to Hendrick Motorsports owned by his father Rick Hendrick, plane crash
Graham Hill, team boss of Embassy Racing and two-time Formula One World Champion as a driver in 1962 and 1968, plane crash
Denny Hulme, New Zealand racing driver, heart attack whilst competing in Bathurst 1000
Camille Jenatzy, Belgian racing driver, shot while impersonating a wild boar
Erwin Kremer, founder/owner of Kremer Racing, stroke
Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR driver, plane crash in Tennessee
Elmo Langley, NASCAR pace car driver, heart attack during an evaluation run at a NASCAR exhibition race in Suzuka Circuit
Willy Mairesse, Belgian sportscar racer, [...]
Gerry Marshall, British racing driver, heart attack whilst test driving Richard Petty's IROC Camaro
Colin McRae, World Rally Champion in 1995, helicopter accident
Rob Moroso, NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1990, car accident
Carlos Pace, Formula One driver, plane crash
Didier Pironi, Formula One driver recovering from horrendous leg injuries, powerboating accident
Harvey Postlethwaite, F1 engineer and Technical Director, heart attack whilst supervising a testing session for Honda
Tim Richmond, NASCAR driver, AIDS
Dean Roper, ARCA stock racer, heart attack whilst competing.
Thierry Sabine, founder and main organizer of Paris Dakar, helicopter crash
Ryoji Takada, D1GP driver, truck loading accident
Bob Wollek, sportscar driver, cycling accident

Motorboat racing

Craig Arfons, accident during water speed record attempt, on board
Donald Campbell, accident during water speed record attempt in Coniston Water
Stefano Casiraghi, offshore powerboating accident in Monaco
Dean Chenoweth, accident during a APBA Unlimited Hydroplane race in Kennewick, Washington
John Cobb, accident during water speed record attempt in Loch Ness
Bernie Little, team owner, complications related to pneumonia.
Bill Muncey, accident during a APBA Unlimited Hydroplane race in Acapulco
Henry Seagrave, accident during water speed record attempt in Lake Windermere
Lee Taylor, accident during water speed record attempt in Lake Tahoe
Mario Verga, accident during water speed record attempt in Lago d'Iseo

Motorcycle sport

Does not include motorcycle riders who died in race or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to List of deaths by motorcycle accidents.

Norifumi "Norick" Abe, Moto GP rider, scooter accident
Steve Hislop, British Superbike rider, helicopter crash
Kenny Carter, British motorcycle speedway rider, [...]

Professional Wrestling

Gary Albright, UWF International and All Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler, heart attack during World Xtreme Wrestling show
Chris Benoit, WWE wrestler, [...] by hanging.
The Big Boss Man, WWE wrestler, heart attack
Bruiser Brody, WWC wrestler, murdered
Chris Candido, TNA wrestler, complications following a leg injury
Bobby Duncum Jr., WCW wrestler, accidental prescription [...] overdose
Eddie Guerrero, WWE wrestler, acute heart failure
Owen Hart, WWF wrestler, stunt accident during live pay-per-view event
Curt Hennig, WWF, acute [...] intoxication (allergic reaction)
Crash Holly, WWF, apparent [...] overdose
Malice, All Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler, heart attack
Brian Pillman, WWF wrestler, arteriosclerotic heart disease
Rikidozan, Japanese wrestler, murdered
Road Warrior Hawk, WWE wrestler, heart attack
Ravishing Rick Rude, WCW wrestler, heart failure
Davey Boy Smith, last TV appearance was on SmackDown!, heart attack
Michael DiBiase, heart attack in the ring, triggered by high cholesterol
Chris Von Erich, WCCW, [...]
David Von Erich, NWA, heart attack triggered by acute enteritis (rumors persist that the death was [...]-related, despite considerable evidence supporting the official cause)
Kerry Von Erich, WWF, [...] by gunshot
Mike Von Erich, WCCW, [...]
Yokozuna, died on an independent wrestling tour in Liverpool, England, heart attack

Tennis

Menno Oosting, Dutch tennis-player, car accident
Rafael Osuna, Mexican tennis player, plane crash

Watersports

Sergei Chalibashvili, professional diver, accident during the World University Games
Iss Lajos, Romanian water polo player, massive stroke
Loïc Leferme, French free-diver, drowned
Audrey Mestre, French free-diver, drowned

Surfing

Eddie Aikau, drowning
Mark Foo, surfing accident
George Freeth, the "Father of Modern Surfing", influenza
Nick Gabaldon, surfing pioneer, surfing accident
Malik Joyeux, surfing accident
Zeca Scheffer, Brazilian surfer, car accident
Robert Wilson Simmons, drowning

Winter sports

Bobsleigh

Reto Capadrutt, Swiss bobsledder, crashed during the four-man event of the 1939 FIBT World Championships
Yvonne Cernota, German bobsled driver, crashed during practice run
Felix Endrich, Swiss bobsled driver, crashed during 1953 FIBT World Championships
Max Houben, Belgian bobsledder, crashed during practice run prior to the 1949 FIBT World Championships.
Anton Pensperger, German bobsled driver, race crash during 1966 FIBT World Championships
Sergio Zardini, Italian bobsled driver, slid into retaining wall

Skiing/Snowboarding

Does not include skiiers and snowboarders who died in competition or practice crashes. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to List of skiing deaths below.

Richard Kröll, Austrian alpine skier, car accident
Rudolf Nierlich, Austrian alpine skier, car accident
Spider Sabich, American skier, [...]

Others

Sergei Grinkov, Russian pairs figure skater, heart attack
Robert McCall, Canadian ice dance figure skater, AIDS
Sandra Schmirler, Canadian curler, oesophageal cancer

Other Sports

Does not include those who died in wheeled sports such as cycling accident, as there is a separate list for such, please refer to "See also" below.

Gilbert Aldana, American mixed martial artist, drowning
David Mark Berger, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
Nick Duncombe, English rugby union player, meningitis
Shane Drury, American rodeo performer, cancer
Ze'ev Friedman, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
Lane Frost, American rodeo performer, gored by bull after completing a ride
Eliezer Halfin, Israeli wrestler, Munich massacre
Paul Hunter, English snooker player, cancer
Flo Hyman, American women's volleyball player, aortic dissection caused by Marfan syndrome
Tony Lema, golfer, plane crash
Yossef Romano, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre
Richard Sanders, American amateur wrestler, car accident
Todd Skinner, American free climber, fell from cliff
Mark Slavin, Israeli wrestler, Munich massacre
Payne Stewart, American golfer, aboard private plane - pressurization failure
Vladimir Smirnov, Olympic champion fencer, accident during a match