List of sportspeople who died during their career

This is a list of sports people who have died either during their respective careers or due to career-ending injury or disease at an age when they could still have been active. It includes both on-duty and off-duty deaths, although there are separate lists for the former in sports which have an especially high number. People who had announced their retirement from sport despite still being at an age when they could still have been active 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.
 * Carl Boenish, 43, American cinematographer (1984)
 * Patrick de Gayardon, 38, French skydiver and aviation pioneer (1998)
 * Rob Harris, 28, American skydiver (1995)
 * Roger Nelson, 47, American skydiver (2003)

Arena Football League

 * Johnathan Goddard, 27, Colorado Crush, Defensive End, motorcycle accident (2008)
 * Al Lucas, 26, Los Angeles Avengers, Defensive Tackle fatal neck injury (in-game) (2005)
 * Justin Skaggs, 28, Utah Blaze, Wide Receiver, brain cancer (2007)

National Football League
This table includes players who left the NFL for active military service. Each player is listed with team he last played for before death, rather than the team he spent most of his playing career with.

† Davis was under contract when he died though did not play in a game due to his illness. †† Johnson was injured in a pre-season game and did not play in a regular season game.

NFL Europe

 * Donald Sellers, 26, WR, Scottish Claymores, car accident (2001)

XFL

 * Troy Stark, 28, OL, New York/New Jersey Hitmen, complications from surgery (2001)

NCAA football

 * Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, 37 members died in an airplane crash (1970)
 * Wichita State University Shockers football team, most of the starting players and coaches died in an airplane crash (1970)
 * Cal Poly Mustangs football team, 16 players and 6 others died in an airplane crash (1960)

Association football (soccer)
Does not include footballers who died on the pitch during a game or training, or because of injuries or other health issues suffered on the pitch. Those names go in a separate article. Please refer to the article List of footballers who died while playing.

Major League Baseball
Players/umpires with an asterisk (*) are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Minor-league players are listed with their major-league affiliations.

International (men)

 * Miska Alanko, Pussihukat, car accident (1997)
 * Ángel Almeida, 25, Clube Portugal Telecom, heart attack (1997)
 * Davide Ancilotto, 23, Virtus Roma, brain hemorrhage (1997)
 * Paolo Barlera, 27, Virtus Bologna, leukemia (2009)
 * Alexander Belov, 26, Spartak Leningrad, cardiac sarcoma (1978)
 * Jonathan Bourhis, 19, JDA Dijon, car accident (2009)
 * Haris Brkić, 26, KK Partizan, homicide (shot) (2000)
 * Lavelle Felton, 29, Paderborn Baskets, homicide (shot) (2009)
 * Scott Fenton, 24, Perth Wildcats, car accident (1989)
 * Joan Filbá, 26, OAR Ferrol, car accident (1981)
 * Alphonso Ford, 32, Scavolini Spar Pesaro, Euroleague, leukemia (2004)
 * Valery Goborov, 24, CSKA Moscow, car accident (1989)
 * Chauncey Hardy, 23, CSS Giurgiu, heart attack following beating (2011)
 * Zoltán Horváth, 30, Falco KC Szombathely, car accident (2009)
 * Kenyon Jones, 27, Maroussi BC, heart attack (2005)
 * Yadgar Karimov, 20, UNICS Kazan, heart attack (2001)
 * Radivoj Korać, 30, Boario Padova, car accident (1969)
 * Kari "Kanni" Kulonen, FoKoPo, UU, car accident (1990)
 * Tapani Manninen, Pussihukat, car accident (1996)
 * Fernando Martín, 27, Real Madrid, car accident (1989)
 * Aidin Nikkhah Bahrami, 25, Saba Battery Tehran BC, car accident (2007)
 * Alexander Petrenko, 30, Khimki BC, car accident (2006)
 * Paulo Pinto, 27, Aveiro Basket, cardiac arrest (2002)
 * Trajko Rajković, 32, OKK Beograd (1970)
 * Enrico Ravaglia, 23, Pallacanestro Cantù, car accident (1999)
 * Gabriel Riofrío, 23, Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, heart attack (2001)
 * Chris Sandy, 28, Kouvot, car accident (2006)
 * Marvin Stone, 26, Al-Ittihad (Jeddah), heart attack (2008)
 * Robert Traylor, 34, Vaqueros de Bayamón (2011)
 * Gregory Vallenilla, 27, Marinos de Oriente, car accident (2007)
 * Heino Veskila, 22, World War II (1941)
 * Kevin Widemond, 23, Ovarense, heart attack (2009)

International (women)

 * Olga Yakovleva, 24, Chevakata Vologda, drowning (2010)

NBA

 * Ricky Berry, 24, Sacramento Kings, suicide (1989)
 * Len Bias, 22, Boston Celtics (drafted but never played in the NBA), cocaine overdose (1986)
 * Jason Collier, 28, Atlanta Hawks, cardiac arrest (2005)
 * Terry Furlow, 25, Utah Jazz, car accident (1980)
 * Eddie Griffin, 25, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident (2007)
 * Wendell Ladner, 26, New York Nets (prior to ABA-NBA merger), plane crash (1975)
 * Reggie Lewis, 27, Boston Celtics, heart failure, (1993)
 * Conrad McRae, 29, Orlando Magic (summer league), unknown but most likely heart failure (2000)
 * Dražen Petrović, 28, New Jersey Nets, car accident (1993)
 * Bobby Phills, 30, Charlotte Hornets, car accident (2000)
 * Malik Sealy, 30, Minnesota Timberwolves, car accident (2000)
 * Nick Vanos, 24, Phoenix Suns, plane crash (1987)
 * Lorenzen Wright, 34, Free Agent, homicide (shot) (2010)

NCAA (men)

 * Tony Penny, 21, Central Connecticut Blue Devils, heart attack (1989)
 * De'Andre Adams, 20, Winthrop Eagles, car crash (2007)
 * Warren Alston, 18, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Jerode Banks, 20, Baylor Bears men's basketball, car crash (1994)
 * Kevin Brophy, 21, Georgia Bulldogs, car crash (2006)
 * Arturo Brown, 21, Boston University Terriers, heart attack (1982)
 * Ray Comandella, 18, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Chris Daniels, 22, Dayton Flyers, cardiac arrest (1996)
 * Patrick Dennehy, 21, Baylor Bears, homicide (see Baylor University basketball scandal) (2003)
 * Mike Duff, 18, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Wayne Estes, 21, Utah State Aggies, accidental electrocution (1965)
 * Nate Fleming, 20, Oklahoma State Cowboys, plane crash (2001)
 * Ryan Francis, 19, USC Trojans, homicide (2006)
 * Hank Gathers, 23, Loyola Marymount Lions, cardiac arrest during a game (1990)
 * Kraig Heckerdorn, 19, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Mike Joyner, 19, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Kevin Kingston, 21, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Dan Lawson, 21, Oklahoma State Cowboys, plane crash (2001)
 * Barney Lewis, 18, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Jeron Lewis, 21, University of Southern Indiana Screamin' Eagles, enlarged heart (2010)
 * Steve Miller, 20, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Keith Moon, 20, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Jeff Muriel, 19, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, car crash (2005)
 * Tobi Oyedeji, 18, Texas A&M University, car accident (2010)
 * Danny Rumph, 21, Western Kentucky University, heart attack (2005)
 * Mark Siegel, 19, Evansville Purple Aces plane crash (1977)
 * Greg Smith, 18, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Chris Street, 20, Iowa Hawkeyes, car accident (1993)
 * Bryan Taylor, 20, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * John Ed Washington, 21, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)
 * Tony Winburn, 22, Evansville Purple Aces, plane crash (1977)

NAIA (men)

 * Brandon Oldenkamp, 21, Dordt College, climbing accident on Grand Teton (2010)

WNBA

 * Kim Perrot, 32, Houston Comets, cancer (1999)

NCAA (women)

 * Kurt Budke, 50, Oklahoma State University, coach, plane crash in Perry County, Arkansas (2011)
 * Maggie Dixon, 28, Army, coach, heart arrhythmia (2006)
 * Alisa Lewis, 20, University of California, bacterial meningitis (2004)
 * Shawntinice Polk, 22, University of Arizona, pulmonary embolism (2005)
 * Miranda Serna, 36, Oklahoma State University, assistant coach, plane crash in Perry County, Arkansas (2011)
 * Tina Stewart, 21, Middle Tennessee State University, stabbing (2011)
 * Shannon Washington, 20, Florida A&M, stabbing (2011)

Bobsleigh

 * Reto Capadrutt, 26, Swiss bobsledder, crashed during the four-man event of the 1939 FIBT World Championships
 * Yvonne Cernota, 24, German bobsled driver, crashed during practice run (2004)
 * Felix Endrich, 31, Swiss bobsled driver, crashed during 1953 FIBT World Championships
 * Max Houben, 50, Belgian bobsledder, crashed during practice run prior to the 1949 FIBT World Championships
 * James Morgan, 32, American bobsled driver, crashed during the 1981 FIBT World Championships at Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy
 * Anton Pensperger, German bobsled driver, race crash during 1966 FIBT World Championships
 * Sergio Zardini, 34, Italian bobsled driver, slid into retaining wall during a competition in 1966.

Bodybuilding

 * Mohammed Benaziza, 31, heart attack (1992)
 * Andreas Münzer, 31, liver and kidney failure (1996)
 * Brian Taylor, 38, heart attack (1980)

Deaths outside the ring

 * Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena, 33, Argentine heavyweight, homicide (1976)
 * Roberto Balado, 25, Cuban world super heavyweight champion in amateur boxing, died in a crash at a train crossing (1994)
 * Marcel Cerdan, 33, French middleweight champion, killed in plane crash (1949)
 * Billy Collins, 22, car accident (1984)
 * Diego Corrales, 29, American super featherweight and lightweight champion, motorcycle accident (2007)
 * Carlos Cruz, 32, Dominican lightweight champion, killed in plane crash (1970)
 * Tiger Flowers, 32, American world middleweight champion, complications from surgery (1927)
 * Vernon Forrest, 38, welterweight and light welterweight, homicide (2009)
 * Arturo Gatti, 37, Canadian world super featherweight champion, cause of death disputed (2009)
 * Harry Greb, 32, American world middleweight champion, complications from surgery (1926)
 * Stanley Ketchel, 24, American world middleweight champion, homicide (1910)
 * Julian Letterlough, 35, American light heavyweight, homicide (2005)
 * Sonny Liston, 38, American world heavyweight champion, cause of death disputed (1970)
 * Michael Murach, 30, German welterweight Olympic champion, military actions during World War II (1941)
 * Giselle Salandy, 21, Trinidadian boxer, car accident (2009)
 * Agapito Sánchez, 35, Dominican World super bantamweight champion, homicide (2005)
 * Salvador Sánchez, 23, Mexican world featherweight champion, car accident (1982)
 * Mzukisi Sikali, 34, South African flyweight, homicide (2005)
 * Edwin Valero, 28, Venezuelan lightweight champion, suicide by hanging (2010)
 * Pancho Villa, 23, Filipino world flyweight champion, Ludwig's angina (1925)

Canadian Football League

 * Norm Casola, 29, Toronto Argonauts, Running Back/Receiver, cancer (1998)
 * Travis Claridge, 27, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Offensive Guard, acute pneumonia (2006)
 * Cal Jones, 23, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, offensive guard, plane crash (1956)†
 * Tom Pate, 23, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, linebacker, brain aneurysm (in-game) (1975)
 * Gordon Sturtridge, 27, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Defensive End, plane crash (1956)†
 * Mel Becket, 27, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Tight End, plane crash (1956)†
 * Ray Syrnyk, 22, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Offensive Tackle, plane crash (1956)†
 * Mario DeMarco, 32, Saskatchewan Roughriders, offensive guard, plane crash (1956)†

† These five players were lost in the same plane crash.

Canoeing

 * György Kolonics, 36, Hungarian sprint canoer, heart attack during practice (2008)
 * Rich Weiss, 33, American slalom canoer, drowned in accident (1997)

Cricket

 * Abdul Aziz, 17, Pakistani cricketer, hit over heart by ball during a game (1959)
 * Tamim Bashir, 19, Khulna Division, malaria (2004)
 * Charlie Bull, 30, Worcestershire, car accident (1939)
 * Jock Cameron, 30, South Africa, typhoid fever (1935)
 * Cyril Christiani, 24, West Indies, malaria (1938)
 * Stanley de Silva, 23, Sri Lanka, motorcycle accident (1980)
 * Ron Doig, 23, Western Australia, as a result of injuries sustained while playing Football (1932)
 * John Dunn, Hong Kong, 30, drowned with the SS Bokhara (1892)
 * Ken Farnes, 30, England, flying accident on active service with the Royal Air Force (1941)
 * Ian Folley, 30, English cricketer, heart attack after being hit in the face by a ball during a game (1993)
 * Fred Grace, 29, English cricketer, pneumonia (1880)
 * Sajjadul Hasan, 28, Bangladesh, motorcycle accident (2007)
 * Ben Hollioake, 24, England, car accident (2002)
 * Archie Jackson, 23, Australia, tuberculosis (1933)
 * Graham Kersey, 25, Surrey, car accident (1997)
 * Raman Lamba, 38, India, died of internal hemorrhage suffered after being hit by a ball during a game (1998)
 * Trevor Madondo, 24, Zimbabwe, malaria (2001)
 * Tufty Mann, 31, South Africa, cancer (1952)
 * Scott Mason, 28, Tasmania, heart attack while training (2005)
 * Maurice Nichol, 29, Worcestershire, unknown (1934)
 * Dallas Page, 25, Gloucestershire car accident (1936)
 * Dudley Pope, 27, Essex, car accident (1934)
 * Rahatullah, 18, Peshawar, homicide (2008)
 * Manjural Islam Rana, 22, Bangladesh, motorcycle accident (2007)
 * Umer Rashid, 26, Sussex, drowned in Grenada (2002)
 * Sadashiv Shinde, 31, India, typhoid (1955)
 * Wilf Slack, 34, England, collapsed and died while playing cricket in Gambia (1989)
 * Collie Smith, 26, West Indies, car accident (1959)
 * Claude Tozer, 30, New South Wales, homicide (1920)
 * Haseeb-ul-Hasan, 25, Karachi, homicide (1990)
 * Maurits van Nierop, 25, Netherlands, accidental fall (2008)
 * Ken Wadsworth, 29, New Zealand, skin cancer (1976)
 * Dodger Whysall, 41, England, blood poisoning (1930)

Curling

 * Solène Coulot, 20, French curler, suicide (2010)
 * Marj Mitchell, 35, Canadian curler, cancer (1983)
 * Scott Patterson, 34, Canadian curler, car crash (2004)
 * Sandra Schmirler, 36, Canadian curler, oesophageal cancer (2000)

Cycling
Does not include those who died in wheeled sports such as cycling accident, as there is a separate list for such, please refer to List of professional cyclists who died during a race. All are road cyclists unless stated.

MTB

 * Jure Robic, 45, Slovenian MTB and road cyclist, car crash (2010)

Road Cycling

 * Franco Ballerini, 46, Italian, car accident (2010)
 * Beryl Burton, 58, British, heart failure (1996)
 * Fausto Coppi, 40, Italian, malaria (1960)
 * François Faber, 28, French, KIA during World War I (1915)
 * Joachim Halupczok, 26, Polish world champion in amateur cycling, heart failure (1994)
 * Carly Hibberd, 26, Australian, hit by a car while training (2011)
 * Jose-Maria Jimenez, 32, Spanish, suicide (2003)
 * Octave Lapize, 29, French, KIA during World War I (1917)
 * Andreas Matzbacher, 25, Austrian, car crash (2008)
 * Bert Oosterbosch, 32, Dutch, heart failure (1989)
 * Carlo Oriani, 29, Italian, pneumonia (1917)
 * Marco Pantani, 34, Italian, drugs overdose (2004)
 * René Pottier, 27, French, suicide (1907)
 * Dave Rayner, 27, British, a fund is his name has been set up to support British road racing cyclists. (1994)
 * Lucien Storme, 28, Belgian, accidentally shot by American servicemen during World War II (1945)
 * Carla Swart, 23, South African, hit by a truck while training (2011)
 * Xavier Tondó, 32, Spanish, accident with a garage door while preparing for training (2011)

Track Cycling

 * Yulia Arustamova, 24, Russian, suicide (2007)
 * Amy Gillett, 29, Australian, hit by a car while training (2005)
 * Albert Richter, 27, German track cyclist, execution by the Gestapo (1940)
 * Lucien Mazan, 35, French-Argentine track and road cyclist, road accident whilst in military action during World War I (1917)

Diving

 * Gavin Brown, 22, British diver, hit-and-run (2007)
 * Sergei Chalibashvili, 21, professional diver, accident during the World University Games (1983)
 * Loïc Leferme, 36, French free-diver, drowned (2007)
 * Audrey Mestre, 28, French free-diver, drowned (2002)

Fencing

 * Vladimir Smirnov, 28, Olympic champion fencer, accident during a match (1982)

Figure skating

 * Tony Austin, British, KIA in World War II
 * Jean-Pierre Brunet, 19, American, car accident (1946)
 * Walter Gregory, British, KIA in World War II
 * Sergei Grinkov, 28, Russian, heart attack during practice for Stars on Ice tour (1995)
 * Morgan Innes, 14, Australian, boating accident (2007)
 * Rob McCall, 33, Canadian, brain cancer (1991)
 * Freddie Tomlins, 23, British, KIA in World War II (1943)
 * The following Americans all died in the 1961 crash of Sabena Flight 548:
 * Roger Campbell, 19
 * Dona Lee Carrier, 20
 * Patricia Dineen, 24–25
 * Robert Dineen, 23
 * Ila Ray Hadley, 18
 * Ray Hadley, Jr., 17
 * Laurie Hickox, 15
 * William Hickox, 19
 * Gregory Kelley, 16–17
 * Bradley Lord, 23
 * Rhode Lee Michelson, 17
 * Laurence Owen, 16
 * Maribel Owen, 20
 * Larry Pierce, 23–24
 * Douglas Ramsay, 15–16
 * Dudley Richards, 29
 * Diane Sherbloom, 18
 * Stephanie Westerfeld, 17

Golf

 * Seve Ballesteros, 54, brain cancer (2011)
 * Erica Blasberg, 25, LPGA golfer, suicide by asphyxia (2010)
 * Heather Farr, 28, LPGA golfer, breast cancer (1993)
 * Tony Lema, 32, The Open champion, plane crash (1966)
 * Young Tom Morris, 24, The Open champion, heart attack (1875)
 * Payne Stewart, 42, PGA and U.S. Open champion, plane crash (1999)
 * Bert Yancey, 56, seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, suffered a fatal heart attack while competing in a Champions Tour event (1994)
 * Babe Zaharias, 45, LPGA golfer, colon cancer (1956)

Gymnastics

 * Alexander Beresch, 26, car accident (2004)
 * Joaquín Blume, 25, Spanish gymnast, plane crash (1959)
 * Julissa Gomez, 18, injuries due to a vaulting accident (1991)
 * Christy Henrich, 22, anorexia (1994)
 * Oxana Kostina, 20, car accident (1993)
 * Natalia Lavrova, 25, car accident (2010)
 * Yuri Ryazanov, 22, Russian gymnast, car crash (2009)

Handball

 * Marian Cozma, 26, Romanian handball player, homicide (stabbed to death) (2009)
 * Georg Dascher, 33, German handball player, military actions during World War II (1944)
 * Sebastian Faißt, 20, German handball player, heart failure (2009)
 * Arthur Knautz, 32, German field handball player, KIA during World War II (1943)
 * Heinz Körvers, 27, German field handball player, KIA during World War II (1942)
 * Oleg Velyky, 32, Ukrainian-born German handball player, skin cancer (2010)

Horse racing
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. Also, does not include horses.
 * Chris Antley, 34, American jockey, drug overdose (2000)
 * Fred Archer, 29, English jockey, suicide (1886)
 * Silvio Coucci, 27, American jockey, suicide (1942)
 * Ron Hansen, 33, American jockey, car accident (1994)
 * Frank Hayes, 34–35, American jockey, died from a heart attack while riding his horse Sweet Kiss to victory at Belmont Park (1923)
 * Don MacBeth, 37, Canadian jockey, cancer (1987)
 * Jamie Kyne, 18, Irish jockey, arson (2009)
 * Jan Wilson, 19, Scottish jockey, arson (2009)
 * Kim Hyung-chil, 47, Korean jockey, died in Dec 2006 while attending the equestrian race in 2006 Asian Games (2006)
 * Stathi Katsidis, 31, Australian jockey, cause of death unknown (2010)
 * Arron Kennedy, 34, Australian jockey, cause of death, suicide (St Patrick's Day 2007)

Ice hockey

 * Vitali Anikienko, 24, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Don Ashby, 26, NHL, car accident (1981)
 * Mikhail Balandin, 31, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Bill Barilko, 24, NHL, plane crash (1951)
 * Jeff Batters, 25, NHL, car accident (1996)
 * Derek Boogaard, 28, NHL, multiple drug intoxication (2011)
 * Luc Bourdon, 21, NHL, motorcycle accident (2008)
 * Michel Briere, 21, NHL, car accident (1971)
 * Martin Cech, 31, Czech Extraliga, car accident (2007)
 * Alexei Cherepanov, 19, KHL, heart condition (2008)
 * Steve Chiasson, 32, NHL, car accident/drunk driving (1999)
 * Gennady Churilov, 24, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Luděk Čajka, 26, Czech Extraliga, spinal injury (in-game) (1990)
 * Jonathan Delisle, 28, NHL, car accident (2006)
 * Pavol Demitra, 36, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Robert Dietrich, 25, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Yanick Dupré, 24, NHL, leukemia (1997)
 * Alexander Galimov, 26, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Bob Gassoff, 24, NHL, alcohol-related motorcycle accident (1977)
 * Joe Hall, NHL, 36, pneumonia related to influenza (1919)
 * Roland Hedberg, 62, Swedish linesman, puck shot (in-game) (2010)
 * Tim Horton, 44, NHL, car accident (1974)
 * Marat Kalimulin, 23, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Alexander Kalyanin, 23, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Peter Karlsson, 29, Swedish hockey player, homicide (1995)
 * Valeri Kharlamov, 33, Soviet hockey player, car accident (1981)
 * Andrei Kiryukhin, 24, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Nikita Klyukin, 21, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * John Kordic, 27, NHL, cocaine overdose (1992)
 * Pelle Lindbergh, 26, NHL, car accident (1985)
 * Stefan Liv, 30, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Roman Lyashenko, 24, NHL, suicide (2003)
 * Jan Marek, 31, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Bill Masterton, 29, NHL, brain hemorrhage (in-game) (1968)
 * Howie Morenz, 34, NHL, blood clot from broken leg (1937)
 * Stéphane Morin, 29, hockey, heart attack (1998)
 * Robert Müller, 28, hockey, cancer (2009)
 * Sergei Ostapchuk, 21, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Karel Rachunek, 32, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Mickey Renaud, 19, OHL, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (2008)
 * Darcy Robinson, 26, Serie A, heart failure (2007)
 * Rick Rypien, 27, NHL, undisclosed causes (2011)
 * Ruslan Salei, 36, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Terry Sawchuk, 40, NHL, heart failure from blood clot (1970)
 * Maxim Shuvalov, 18, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Babe Siebert, 35, NHL, drowning accident (1939)
 * Karlis Skrastins, 37, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Pavel Snurnitsyn, 19, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Dan Snyder, 25, NHL, complications of a car accident (2003)
 * Daniil Sobchenko, 20, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Dmitri Tertyshny, 22, NHL, boating accident (1999)
 * Ivan Tkachenko, 31, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Pavel Trakhanov, 33, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Yuri Urychev, 20, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Josef Vasicek, 30, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Alexander Vasyunov, 23, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Georges Vézina, 39, NHL, advanced tuberculosis (1926)
 * Alexander Vyukhin, 38, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Artem Yarchuk, 21, KHL, plane crash (2011)†
 * Sergei Zholtok, 31, NHL, heart failure (2004)

†These 26 players were lost in the same plane crash

Luge

 * Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypeski, 50, England, accident (1964)
 * Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, Georgia, practice crash (2010)

Martial arts

 * Gilbert Aldana, 29, USA, MMA fighter, drowning (2007)
 * André Brilleman, 25, Netherlands, kickboxer, gang related murder (2010)
 * Ross Clifton, 32, USA, MMA fighter, heart attack (2009)
 * Douglas Dedge, 31, USA, MMA fighter, brain injury (in-fight) (1998)
 * Justin Eilers, 30, USA, MMA fighter, homicide (2008)
 * Ryan Gracie, 33, Brazil, MMA fighter, drug overdose (2007)
 * Andy Hug, 35, Switzerland, karateka and kickboxer, myeloid leukemia (2000)
 * Justin Levens, 28, USA, MMA fighter, suicide (2008)
 * Evan Tanner, 37, USA, MMA fighter, hyperthermia (2008)
 * Sam Vasquez, 34–35, USA, MMA fighter, brain injury (in-fight) (2007)
 * Shelby Walker, 31, USA, MMA fighter, prescription pill overdose (2006)
 * Jeremy Williams, 27, USA, MMA fighter, suicide (2007)
 * Sergio Salcido, 25, USA, MMA fighter, homicide (2011)
 * Michael Kirkham, 30, USA, MMA fighter, brain injury (in-fight) 2010

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.
 * Johnny Aitken, 33, Indycar driver, Spanish Flu (1918)
 * Davey Allison, 32, NASCAR driver, helicopter crash at Talledega Superspeedway (1993)
 * Christian Bakkerud, 26, BF3, GP2, DTM driver, road accident near Wimbledon Common (2011)
 * Edgar Barth, 48, Formula One and sportscar racing driver, cancer (1965)
 * Norman Batten, 35, Indycar driver, shipwreck of the SS Vestris (along with fellow driver Earl Devore) (1928)
 * Walter Bäumer, 32, Grand Prix driver, freak road accident (1941)
 * René Le Bègue, 32, Grand Prix driver, asphyxiation by gas fumes of his bathroom boiler (1946)
 * Derek Bennett, 44, Formula 3 driver, owner & designer of Chevron Cars, hang gliding accident (1978)
 * Herbert Berg, Grand Prix driver, concussion following a fall in the street (1938)
 * Ulrich Bigalke, Grand Prix driver, KIA at Battle of Britain (1940)
 * Tim Birkin, 36, Grand Prix driver and member of the Bentley Boys, illness (cause of death varies from source to source) (1933)
 * Georges Boillot, 31, Grand Prix driver, military action during World War I (1916)
 * Possum Bourne, 47, Champion rally car driver, car accident (2003)
 * Charlie Bradberry, 24, NASCAR driver, car accident (2006)
 * Tony Brise, 23, Formula One driver, plane crash (1975)
 * Ernst Burggaller, 43, Grand Prix driver, KIA at Battle of Britain (1940)
 * Richard Burns, 34, World Rally Champion in 2001, brain tumour (2005)
 * Shaun Carlson, 35, drag racer, Brugada Syndrome (2009)
 * Jimmy Caruthers, 30, Indycar / Silver Crown driver, cancer (1975)
 * Spencer Clark, 19, NASCAR driver, car accident (2006)
 * Earl Devore, 39–40, Indycar driver, shipwreck of the SS Vestris (1928)
 * Christian Elder, 38, NASCAR driver, accidental methadone overdose (2007)
 * Ralph Earnhardt, 45, NASCAR driver, heart attack (1973)
 * AFP Fane, Grand Prix driver, aviation accident (1942)
 * Luis Fontés, Grand Prix driver, aviation accident (1940)
 * Elmer George, 47, (father of Indy Racing League founder Tony George), Indycar / Sprint car driver, murder (1976)
 * Peter Gregg, 40, sportscar racer, suicide (1980)
 * William Grover-Williams, 42, Grand prix driver, Killed during The Holocaust as a spy for the Special Operations Executive (1945)
 * Kevin Grubb, 31, NASCAR driver, suicide (2009)
 * Bobby Hamilton, 49, NASCAR driver, cancer (2007)
 * Rudolf Hasse, 36, Grand Prix driver, illness during military service during the Eastern Front (1942)
 * Matt Hawkins, 21, ARCA driver, gun accident (2009)
 * Mike Hawthorn, 29, Formula 1 World Champion, road accident (1959)
 * Ricky Hendrick, 24, NASCAR driver/owner affiliated to Hendrick Motorsports owned by his father Rick Hendrick, plane crash (2004)
 * Bogdan Herink, 46, Polish rally driver, heart failure (1998)
 * Graham Hill, 46, team boss of Embassy Racing and two-time Formula One World Champion as a driver in 1962 and 1968, plane crash (1975)
 * Jesse Hockett, 26, American sprint car driver, electrocution (2010)
 * Al Hofmann, 60, NHRA Funny Car driver, massive heart attack (2008)
 * Al Holbert, 41, IMSA champion, plane crash (1988)
 * Denny Hulme, 56, Formula 1 World Champion / sports car driver, heart attack while competing in the 1992 Bathurst 1000.
 * Bobby Isaac, 45, NASCAR driver and 1970 Cup champion, heart attack while competing at Hickory Motor Speedway (1977)
 * Camille Jenatzy, 44–45, Belgian racing driver, shot while impersonating a wild boar (1913)
 * Andy Kirby, 40, NASCAR driver, motorcycle accident (2002)
 * Erwin Kremer, 67, founder/owner of Kremer Racing, stroke (2006)
 * Janusz Kulig, 35, Polish rally driver, died in an accident after his car collided with a train on a level crossing (2004)
 * Alan Kulwicki, 38, NASCAR driver and 1992 Cup champion, plane crash in Tennessee (1993)
 * Atsushi Kuroi, 40, D1GP driver, motorcycle accident (2010)
 * Elmo Langley, 68, NASCAR pace car driver, heart attack during an evaluation run at a NASCAR exhibition race in Suzuka Circuit (1996)
 * Clarence Lovell, 26, NASCAR driver, car accident (1973)
 * Percy MacLure, Grand Prix driver, military actions during World War II
 * Willy Mairesse, 40, Belgian sportscar racer, suicide (1969)
 * Gerry Marshall, 63, British racing driver, heart attack while test driving Richard Petty's IROC Camaro (2005)
 * Colin McRae, 39, British rally driver, helicopter accident (2007)
 * Harry Melling, 53–54, owner of Melling Racing, heart attack (1999)
 * Dick Meyer, age unknown, NASCAR driver, crashed during illegal street race (1954)
 * Jimmy Miller, 20, Sprint car driver, killed in combat in Vietnam (1967)
 * Rob Moroso, 22, NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 1990, car accident
 * Mike Mosley, 37, Indycar driver, car accident (1984)
 * Gary Niece, 36, NASCAR driver, heart attack while competing in NASCAR Busch Series race (1991)
 * Gunnar Nilsson, 29, Formula One driver, cancer (1978)
 * Carlos Pace, 32, Formula One driver, plane crash (1977)
 * Benny Parsons, 65, NASCAR driver, cancer (2007)
 * Harvey Postlethwaite, 55, F1 engineer and Technical Director, heart attack while supervising a testing session for Honda (1999)
 * Tim Richmond, 34, NASCAR driver, AIDS (1989)
 * Dean Roper, 62, ARCA stock racer, heart attack while competing (2001)
 * Thierry Sabine, 36, founder and main organizer of Paris Dakar, helicopter crash (1986)
 * Bruce Sarver, 43, NHRA driver, Self inflicted gun shot (2005)
 * Carl Scarborough, 38, Indycar driver, heat exhaustion during the 1953 Indianapolis 500
 * Josef Schnitzer, 39, founder of Schnitzer Motorsport, road accident (1978)
 * Richard Shuttleworth, 31, Grand Prix driver, aviation accident (1940)
 * Chris Staniland, Grand Prix driver, aviation accident (1939)
 * Ryoji Takada, D1GP driver, truck loading accident (2005)
 * Joel Thorne, 41, Indycar driver / industrialist, plane crash (1955)
 * Lars-Erik Torph, 28, Swedish rally driver, died in a non-competitive accident during the Monte Carlo Rally (1989)
 * Chris Trickle, 24, NASCAR driver, drive-by shooting (1998)
 * Curtis Turner, 46, NASCAR driver, plane crash (1970)
 * Fermin Vélez, 43, sports car driver, cancer (2003)
 * Johnny Wakefield, 27, Grand Prix driver, aviation accident (1942)
 * Andreas Waldherr, 43, Austrian rally driver, crushed by a car in the workshop (2011)
 * Nick Whiting, British racing driver, murder (1990)
 * Carl Williams, 42, Indycar driver, motorcycle accident (1973)
 * Bob Wollek, 57, sportscar driver, cycling accident (2001)

Motorboat racing

 * Donald Aronow, 59, boat builder, murdered (1987)
 * Mike Thomas, hydroplane driver, construction accident (1967)
 * Dwight Bale, drag boat driver, drowned whilst riding in a rubber raft through a rapid (1973)
 * Bernard Marszałek, 31, Polish driver powerboat, asthma attack (2007)

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 Abe, 32, Moto GP rider, scooter accident (2007)
 * John Britten, 45, racing motorcycle designer/builder, cancer (1995)
 * Andy Caldecott, 41, From injuries whilst competing at the Dakar Rally (2006)
 * Kenny Carter, 25, British motorcycle speedway rider, suicide (1986)
 * Edward "Teddy" Carroll, 26, board track motorcycle racer, Tuberculosis (1920)
 * Frank Charles, 31, British motorcycle speedway rider, gliding accident (1939)
 * Robert Dados, 27, Polish motorcycle speedway rider, suicide (2004)
 * Matej Ferjan, 34, Slovenian motorcycle speedway rider, his cause of death has not been confirmed (2011)
 * Ricky Graham, 40, burns sustained from a house fire (1998)
 * Steve Hislop, 41, British Superbike rider, helicopter crash (2003)
 * Donald Jacks, 25, AMA superbike rider, road accident (1995)
 * Edward Jancarz, 45, Polish motorcycle speedway rider, murdered by his wife (1992)
 * Rafał Kurmański, 22, Polish motorcycle speedway rider, suicide (2004)
 * Juan López Mella, 30, Spanish road racer (1995)
 * Adam Neal, 35, AMA rider, suicide in late 2003 following paralyzing race crash in late 1999
 * Randy Renfrow, 46, AMA rider, fall from staircase (2002)
 * Billy Sanders, 29, Australian motorcycle speedway rider, suicide (1985)
 * Donny Schmit, 29, aplastic anemia (1996)
 * Dave Simmonds, 32, fire (1972)
 * Pascal Terry, 49, myocardial infarction, whilst competing at the Dakar Rally (2009)

Rowing

 * Herbert Adamski, 31, German rower, military actions during World War II (1941)
 * Hugo Strauß, 34, German rower, military actions during World War II (1941)

Rugby Union

 * Nicky Allen, 26, New Zealand rugby union player, head injuries sustained during a match (1984)
 * Sam Doble, 33, English rugby union player, cancer (1977)
 * Yves du Manoir, 23, French rugby union player, plane crash (1928)
 * Nick Duncombe, 21, English rugby union player, meningitis (2003)
 * Ivan Francescato, 31, Italian rugby union player, heart attack (1999)
 * Barry Holmes, 21, English/Argentinian rugby union player, typhoid (1949)
 * Aaron Hopa, 27, New Zealand rugby union player, death as a result of a heart defect, while diving (1998)
 * Roy Muir Kinnear, 38, Scottish rugby union/league player, heart attack (1942)
 * Shawn Mackay, 26, Australian rugby union player, spinal cord and other injuries suffered when struck by a motor vehicle (2009)
 * Alexander Obolensky, 24, Russia-born English rugby union player, plane crash during military training (1940)
 * Dick Stafford, 19, English rugby union player, spinal cancer (1912)

Rugby League

 * Sonny Fai, 20, New Zealand National Rugby League (NRL) player, disappeared off Te Henga (Bethells Beach) in Auckland while attempting to save a family member. His body has never been found. (2009)
 * Sam Faust, 25, Australian National Rugby League (NRL) player, acute myeloid leukemia (2011)
 * Hudson Irving, English rugby league player, heart attack (1947)
 * Frederick Kelsall, 24–25, English rugby league player, motorcycle accident (1931)
 * Roy Muir Kinnear, 38, Scottish rugby union/league player, heart attack (1942)
 * Harry Myers, 31, English rugby league player, injuries sustained in a collision while playing for Keighley (1906)
 * Terry Newton, 31, English rugby league player, suicide (2010)
 * Leon Walker, 20, English rugby league player, death was the result of a rare undiagnosed heart defect, and the coroner ruled that he died of natural causes. (2009)
 * Adam Watene, 31, Cook Islands rugby league player, heart attack (2008)

Sailing

 * Michael Bannister, drowned (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Glyn Charles, drowned (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Donald Crowhurst, 36–37, suicide (whilst competing in Sunday Times Golden Globe Race)
 * John Dean, drowned (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Bruce Guy, heart attack (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Hans Horrevoets, 32, drowning (whilst competing in 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race)
 * James Lawler, drowned (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Tony Philips, drowning (whilst competing in 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race)
 * Gerry Roufs, 43–44, drowning (whilst competing in 1996–97 Vendée Globe)
 * Felix Scheder-Bieschin, 40, military actions during World War II (1940)
 * Phillip Skeggs, drowned (competing in 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race)
 * Eric Tabarly, 66, lost at sea (1998)
 * Nigel Tetley, 47–48, strangulation by hanging (coroner recorded an Open Verdict) (1972)

Skateboarding

 * Tim Brauch, 25, American professional skateboarder, cardiac arrest (1999)
 * Shane Cross, 20, Australian skateboarder, motorcycle accident (2007)
 * Harold Hunter, 31, American professional skateboarder and actor, accidental cocaine overdose (2006)
 * Keenan Milton, 26, American professional skateboarder, drowned (2001)
 * Jeff Phillips, 33, American professional skateboarder, suicide (1993)
 * Dave Vanderspek, 24, American skateboarder, suicide (disputed as some believed it to be autoerotic asphyxiation) (1988)
 * Van Wastell, 24, American professional skateboarder, fell from a hotel balcony (2008)

Skiing
Does not include skiers and snowboarders who died in competition or practice crashes. Please refer to List of skiing deaths.

Cross-country skiing

 * Kalle Jalkanen, Finnish cross-country skier and World Champion, military action during the Continuation War (1941)

Ski jumping

 * Paul Ausserleitner, 26–27, Austrian ski jumper who crashed in Bischofshofen (1952)
 * Pavel Karelin, 21, Russian ski jumper, car accident in 2011

Alpine skiing

 * Richard Kröll, Austrian alpine skier, car accident
 * Rudolf Nierlich, 25, Austrian alpine skier, car accident (1991)
 * Spider Sabich, 30, American alpine skier, homicide (1976)

Freestyle skiing

 * Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, 29, American freestyle skier, suicide (2011)
 * Sandra Schmitt, German freestyle skier, Kaprun disaster (2000)
 * Sergey Shupletsov, 25, Russian freestyle skier, motorcycle accident (1995)

Snowboarding
Craig Kelly, 37, American snowboarder, trapped in avalanche near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada (2003)

Speed skiing

 * Nicolas Bochatay, 27, speed skier, accident at the 1992 Winter Olympics

Surfing

 * Eddie Aikau, 31, drowning (1978)
 * Mark Foo, 36, surfing accident (1994)
 * George Freeth, 35, the "Father of Modern Surfing", influenza (1919)
 * Nick Gabaldon, 24, surfing pioneer, surfing accident (1951)
 * Andy Irons, 32, three-time American World Champion, undisclosed illness after an event in Puerto Rico (2010)
 * Malik Joyeux, 25, surfing accident (2005)
 * Rick Rasmussen, 27, homicide (1982)
 * Zeca Scheffer, Brazilian surfer, car accident (2006)
 * Robert Wilson Simmons, 35, drowning (1954)
 * Yancy Spencer III, 60, the "Father of Surfing on the Gulf Coast," heart attack (2011)

Swimming

 * Shigeo Arai, 27, Japanese swimmer, military actions during World War II (1944)
 * Fran Crippen, 26, American long distance swimmer, heart attack while competing in an open water swimming race in the United Arab Emirates (2010)
 * Victor Davis, 25, Canadian swimmer, car accident (1989)
 * James Rigg, 22, American swimmer, drowned in campus  pool at Arizona State University (2011)
 * Edsard Schlingemann, 23, Dutch Olympic swimmer, car crash (1990)

Freestyle wrestling

 * Eliezer Halfin, 24, Israeli, Munich massacre (1972)
 * Richard Sanders, 27, American, automobile accident (1972)
 * Dave Schultz, 36, American, murdered by John Eleuthère du Pont (1996)
 * Mark Slavin, 18, Israeli, Munich massacre (1972)
 * Mikael Ljungberg, 34, Sweden, suicide (2004)

Professional wrestling
The list includes wrestlers who were still active, or at least were of an age when they could reasonably be assumed to still be active if they had been fully healthy. Wrestlers who were semi-retired at the time of their deaths, or who had fully retired while healthy, are not included.

The best-known ring name of each wrestler, which may be his or her birth name, is indicated in bold type.

Sumo wrestling

 * Maruyama Gondazaemon, 35, probably dysentery (1749)
 * Tanikaze Kajinosuke, 44, the flu (1795)
 * Tamanoumi Masahiro, 27, heart attack during a delayed appendectomy (1971)
 * Daishōhō Masami, 32, pancreatic cancer (1999)
 * Takashi Saito, 17, heart failure following hazing (2007)
 * Tamanishiki San'emon, 34, delayed appendectomy (1938)
 * Kenkō Satoshi, 30, pulmonary embolism (1998)

Table Tennis

 * Andrzej Grubba, 47, Polish table tennis player, lung cancer (2005)

Tennis

 * Henner Henkel, 27, German tennis player, KIA during Battle of Stalingrad (1942)
 * Joe Hunt, 24, American tennis player, plane crash (1944)
 * Daniela Klemenschits, 25, Austrian tennis player, stomach cancer (2008)
 * Karen Krantzcke, 31, Australian tennis player, heart attack (1977)
 * Federico Luzzi, 28, Italian tennis player, leukemia (2008)
 * Mathieu Montcourt, 24, French tennis player, heart attack (2009)
 * Arthur O'Hara Wood, 27–28, Australian tennis player, KIA during World War I (1918)
 * Menno Oosting, 34, Dutch tennis player, car accident (1999)
 * Rafael Osuna, 30, Mexican tennis player, plane crash (1969)
 * Ernie Parker, 34, Australian tennis player, KIA during World War I (1918)
 * Michael Westphal, 26, German tennis player, AIDS (1991)
 * Tony Wilding, 31, New Zealand tennis player and Wimbledon champion, KIA during World War I (1915)

Volleyball

 * Arkadiusz Gołaś, 24, Polish volleyball player, car accident (2005)
 * Flo Hyman, 31, American women's volleyball player, aortic dissection caused by Marfan syndrome (1986)
 * Agata Mróz-Olszewska, 26, Polish women's volleyball player, infection following a bone marrow transplant (2008)

Water polo

 * Iss Lajos, Romanian water polo player, massive stroke

Weightlifting

 * David Mark Berger, 28, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre (1972)
 * Ze'ev Friedman, 28, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre (1972)
 * Siarhei Lahun, 22, Belarusian weightlifter, car accident (2011)
 * Waldemar Malak, 22, Polish weightlifter, car accident (1992)
 * Yossef Romano, 32, Israeli weightlifter, Munich massacre (1972)

Other sports

 * Harry Chamberlin, 56–57, American show jumping rider, unknown illness (1944)
 * Jill Costello, 22, American rowing coxswain, University of California, lung cancer (2010)
 * Patrick Dinsmore, 16, (Gaelic footballer), undetected heart condition (2010)
 * Shane Drury, 27, American rodeo performer, cancer (2006)
 * Lane Frost, 25, American rodeo performer, gored by bull after completing a ride (1989)
 * Kurt Hasse, 36, German show jumping rider, KIA during World War II (1944)
 * Tommy Hitchcock, Jr., 44, American polo player, test plane crash (1944)
 * Michael Hogan, 23–24, shot by British forces in the Croke Park massacre on Bloody Sunday (1920)
 * Paul Hunter, 27, English snooker player, cancer (2006)
 * Zdzisław Kawecki, 37, Polish show jumping rider, Katyn Massacre (1940)
 * Yeardley Love, 22, American lacrosse defender, University of Virginia, murdered (2010)
 * Jesse Marunde, 27, American strongman, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (2007)
 * Cormac McAnallen, 24, Irish gaelic football player, undetected heart condition (2004)
 * Takeichi Nishi, 42, Japanese show jumping rider, KIA during Battle of Iwo Jima (1945)
 * Todd Skinner, 47, American free climber, fell from cliff (2006)
 * Jón Páll Sigmarsson, 32, Icelandic strongman, heart failure (1993)
 * Jannes van der Wal, 39, Dutch Draughts (or Checkers) player, leukemia (1996)