20 Athletes Who Died Too Soon

20 Athletes Who Died Too Soon

Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for 20 athletes who unfortunately died too soon. For this list we’ll be looking at a mix of sporting icons who passed away in the middle of what should have been the prime of their life and career - and the ones who left us before they’d even truly started.

Davey Allison

NASCAR Hall of Famer Davey Allison came into the world already destined for greatness. Born on the eve of his father Bobby’s first Daytona 500 - an early step in a career that would leave him with his own Hall Of Fame career before his son took the wheel. Davey didn’t just get in on name value alone either… no, he was a natural. Over 9 years in NASCAR he was a constant at the elite level, winning the 1992 Daytona 500 and was eventually recognised as one of the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history in 1998. However, at the age of just 34 - Allison would be killed by injuries he sustained in a crash while trying to land his helicopter.

Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig was a true superstar for the New York Yankees back in the 1920’s and 30’s - regarded now as one of the greatest and most iconic baseball players to ever do it. He was an All-Star on seven consecutive occasions after a Hall Of Fame career, he was the first player in the sport’s history to have their shirt-number retired by their team. But his retirement wasn't exactly what it seemed - instead, his performances were being hampered by the yet-to-be-diagnosed amyotrophic[a] lateral sclerosis - known commonly as ALS - the incurable neuromuscular ailment that would claim his life two years later at the age of 37. To this day, ALS is still known generally by the name Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Florence Griffith Joyner

Florence Griffith Joyner was unanimously seen as the fastest woman alive when she was at the peak of her powers in the ‘80s. In the 1984 Olympics, she debuted with a silver medal at the 200 metre distance - before winning three gold medals in ‘88 - also setting a world record at 100m in that same year. Then, in 1989, she retired unexpectedly - stepping away from athletic competition to instead focus on other pursuits. Flo-Jo was already a cultural icon at this point with very little left to prove. But in 1998, she passed away at the age of 38 after an epileptic seizure. She would posthumously be declared Woman Of the Year by Time Magazine in 2020.

Steve Prefontaine [b]

Steve Prefontaine was the face of running in the ‘70s - a truly charismatic figure who had the knock-on effect of having a hand in what we now call the ‘running boom’. Prefontaine had it all, the charm, the look, and the result on the track. In his short career, he set American records at every distance between 2,000 and 10,000 meters, becoming a superstar before he had even reached his 25th birthday. And unfortunately, his life would be cut short before he ever did. Following an event on May 29, 1975 - Steve Prefontaine crashed his car after leaving and was pronounced dead on the scene. He was 24 years old at the time.

Jose Fernandez [c]

Jose Fernandez spent just four years playing for the Miami Marlins in the MLB - but in that time, he was clearly destined for greatness - winning the National League’s 2013 Rookie of the Year before finding himself in two All-Star teams in 2013 and 2016. On the very day that he told the world the news that his girlfriend was pregnant - he also pitched eight innings of shutout baseball, later claiming that it was the best he had ever pitched. But just a few days later, a horrible series of events would lead to this 24-year-old’s life getting cut short. Fernandez and two of his friends would be killed in a boating accident that saw the boat, which was driven by Jose, crashed and overturned.

Camille Muffat [d]

French swimming phenom Camille Muffat’s story is one that contains the highest of highs and unfortunately, the most brutal lows. In the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she found her way to the podium three times - taking home gold in the 400m freestyle, silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. However, in 2014, she abruptly announced her retirement from athletics - shocking the sporting world, given that she was just 24 years old. Just one year later, what should have been a fun and interesting dip into the French reality TV show “Dropped” resulted in Muffat being one of nine people killed when two helicopters owned by the show collided mid-air. There were no survivors. Camille was 25 at the time.

Roberto Clemente [e]

The word ‘prodigy’ gets thrown around a lot in sports - but for the young Roberto Clemente - his prowess and athleticism was clear from an early age. He was a track and field star in his youth - even being pegged as a future Olympian before eventually putting all his effort into baseball. What followed for Clemente was a seventeen-year career that saw him make 15 All-Star lineups - while also becoming a 2-time World Series champion. When he was 38, during a time when he was heavily involved in charity work - he boarded a small plane from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua to help out with earthquake relief. However, the plane was overloaded by 4200lbs and crashed on the Puerto Rican coast. No bodies were ever recovered.

Derrick Thomas

By the time his ten-year stint in the NFL was through, Derrick Thomas was already considered one of the greatest pass rushers of all-time. He earned Rookie of the Year honours in ‘89, set a single-game sacks record, and was named as part of the NFL’s 1990’s All-Decade Team. These are just some of the accomplishments that Thomas had racked up by the time he was 33. But upon driving to the airport in the middle of a snowstorm, Thomas - who was behind the wheel - crashed his SUV. One of his passengers was killed instantly - and Thomas was left paralysed from the chest down. Two weeks later he would pass away as the result of a pulmonary embolism at the age of just 33.

Owen Hart

The world of pro-wrestling is no stranger to tragedy - and even casual fans will remember how the death of Eddie Guerrero brought the community together and, of course, the harrowing circumstances that surrounded Chris Benoit[f]’s death in 2007. But for this entry, we’re going to focus on the legendary Owen Hart - a man who was at the front and centre for the company during a true golden era. Hart was a long-time pay per view star and a constant presence in pivotal stories. But on May 23, 1999 - during what should’ve been an extravagant entrance from the rafters during a WWF show - he fell 24 metres to his death in front of a packed arena - an event that shook pro-wrestling to its core.

Reggie Lewis

The story of Reggie Lewis marked a second tragedy in the history of the Boston Celtics in a very short time. Following the untimely death of another prospect, Len Bias[g], the Celtics knew they needed to try and inject some youth into the team. The result? ‘87 Draft Pick Reggie Lewis - and by early signs, he was growing into an important member of the team - averaging 20.8 points in his final two seasons. But it would be a career cut short when he collapsed during a match with the Hornets in ‘93. However, he persevered and resumed his training ahead of the ‘94 season. In doing so, he suffered a sudden cardiac death during off-season practice at the age of just 27.

Hank Gathers [h]

Hank Gathers looked to be the very definition of a blue-chip prospect when he became only the second player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both scoring and rebounding in one season. But his tale would take an unfortunate turn when he collapsed during a game - only to get diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat. Gathers was placed on medication and returned to training a few weeks later. Though his form took a hit - he remained confident that it was merely the result of his medication. But in the semi-finals of the 1990 WCC Tournament, just after scoring a dunk - Gathers collapsed once again - and this time, it would be fatal for the 23-year-old - who would be pronounced dead later that day.

Payne Stewart

Revered golfer Payne Stewart had more brushes with true greatness that most athletes will ever accomplish - winning eleven PGA tour events, a run that contained three major championships. He was also a popular figure among the fans - boasting a somewhat flamboyant sense of style, with him cited as the golfer who owned the biggest wardrobe in the entire sport. But in 1999, not long after he captured his third major world title - he was involved in a disastrous plane crash during a flight from Florida to Dallas that claimed the lives of all 6 people on-board. He was 42 at the time, and to this day, he is remembered fondly as a character and as a skillful golfer.

Dale Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt wasn’t just a major star for NASCAR during his prime years - he also remains one of the most successful drivers to ever do it - with a series of title wins that could rival anyone in the sport’s history. He was a determined competitor and he had the numbers to back up his success. But the dangers of competing in such a high-octane playing field eventually led to the worst possible outcome. In 2001, Earnhardt suffered a head-on collision with a wall - and the impact was enough to kill him. This was a huge watershed moment for the implementation of sterner safety measures for NASCAR. He was 49 at the time - and is survived by his son Dale Jr. - who races professionally.

Sean Taylor

If one thing was certain about Sean Taylor from his earliest days playing college football - and then later in the NFL, it’s that he was an absolute natural. He was given the nickname ‘Meast’ by those close to him… as in, ‘half man, half beast’ - and if you watched him play, it showed. But after four years in the NFL - this 24-year-old first-round draft-pick would sadly find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time - falling victim to a botched home invasion - where he was shot in the leg, severing his femoral artery. He died the following day - and within the week, the four men involved were all arrested and charged with second-degree murder - among other crimes.

Kobe Bryant

The death of Kobe Bryant still feels quite recent - and it likely will for some time to come. This Laker’s icon was beloved by many off the court - and revered for his work on it, boasting a career that included 5 NBA championships and 18 All-Star selections. But in 2020, Kobe and his daughter Gianna[i] were among the nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California - a crash that had no survivors. Bryant’s superstar status caused this to become the biggest news story in the world in a time when the headlines were dominated by the surge of COVID-19. Bryant was 41 at the time of his death - and it was a moment that saw all basketball rivalries dissolve for a brief time.

Pelle Lindbergh [j]

Pelle Lindbergh’s impact on the history books was immediate - becoming the first European-born goaltender to get drafted in the NHL entry draft, before then also carving out legit success in North America. He led the Philadelphia Flyers to the 1985 Stanley Cup and in the same season, was awarded the Vezina Trophy - given to the NHL’s top goaltender. But at the age of 26, just as it appeared that Lindbergh was on a fast-track to greatness - he was involved in a single-car accident, losing control of his vehicle - striking a wall. Though his two passengers survived, Lindbergh was declared brain-dead shortly after - passing away on November 11, 1985. He was chosen posthumously for the league’s All-Star Team the following year.

Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman was a football standout who made it all the way to the NFL, where he played for 4 seasons before deciding to make a change. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Tillman enlisted in the military and was first deployed in Iraq - and then later, Afghanistan. In a tragic turn of events, it was reported in April 2004 that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire in an ambush near the Pakistan border. The sporting world and the world at large were left understandably devastated by this news. But the truly shocking revelation did not come until after his burial - where it was revealed that friendly-fire was to blame for the 27-year-old’s death - with many critics claiming it was a cover-up.

Johnny Gaudreau [k]

The tragedy of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, is one that will continue to sting at the hearts of hockey fans for many years. Johnny was an ice hockey winger who spent ten years in the NHL - first with the Calgary Flames before then moving to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 - where he spent his final two seasons. In 2024, Johnny and his brother Matthew were out cycling together when they were both struck and killed by a drunk driver. The motorist was attempting to overtake them on a single lane rural highway but collided with them from the rear. Both men were killed instantly - and the hockey world came together in tribute to a pair of lives that were cut short.

Len Bias

One of the burning questions of the 1986 NBA Draft, was whether anyone could replicate the instant success brought about by Michael Jordan’s selection by the Chicago Bulls in ‘84. For the Boston Celtics, they and their fans seemed confident that Len Bias was about to set the world of basketball on fire… and it wasn’t a crazy notion. In his four years playing for the Maryland Terrapins[l], he had lit up college basketball - earning first team All-American honors in his final season. But just as he appeared set to introduce himself to a global audience, Bias died of an overdose - two days after he was drafted. He was 22 at the time, marking him as one of the great ‘what-ifs’ in NBA history.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Kelvin Kiptum[m]

Long-distance runner and world-record holder who tragically passed away at 24

Von Erich family

Legendary pro-wrestling family dynasty who all separately passed away at young ages

Howie Morenz

Morenz was a hockey star who passed away after complications from a broken leg

Phillip Hughes

This Australian cricket player was struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery - causing him to die from a brain hemorrhage

Erica Blasberg[n]

She was a promising young prospect in the sport of golf who tragically took her own life at the age of 25

Aryton Senna

The name Ayrton Senna was synonymous with Formula 1 during his decade-long time in the sport between 1984 and 1994. His legendary rivalry with Alain Prost thrilled audiences consistently during the time they shared on the track together. But Senna’s career would come to a truly tragic end at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola[o] - the result of an accident he suffered while winning the race. He had confided in his former rival Prost about how worried he was about this specific race - following crashes to several drivers, including one that killed Roland Ratzenberger just one day prior. In the end, his intuition was correct. He was 34 years old at the time of his fatal crash.

What’s your favourite memory of any of the athletes listed here? Let us know in the comments!

[a]ay-my-uh-TROH-fick / ay-mya-TROH-fick https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amyotrophic%20lateral%20sclerosis
[b]https://youtu.be/CO3tdslavPg?si=CWfsKvK6q5sFFt6X&t=10
[c]https://youtu.be/QlTNjQ_vk1A?si=pKnCu7Ei_hjb_kH7
[d]cam-MEEY moo-FAH https://youtu.be/3uec4S26mU8?si=Pg4-O43f4fq0oqAo&t=1
[e]cluh-MEN-tay/tee https://youtu.be/hYTZd32DX38?si=7B__kdk1gA-XsFTM&t=3
[f]ben-waw
[g]https://youtu.be/Afv_4Ku_CG4?si=H9imAC2sGVa7vje_&t=2
[h]https://youtu.be/Gk-GWuyx3G4?si=_zgaDSkSwvRFDlJX&t=4
[i]jee-AWNNA https://youtu.be/GSCLRbPfVp0?si=7T92cAc5Yov7g2qB&t=68
[j]pellay / PELL-eh https://youtu.be/b03IV0s6Ldw?si=cfmKA03WP4cGT5u5&t=3
[k]guh-DROH https://youtu.be/XkDBII3mbJg?si=tmUJI9_zEhKoAgoq&t=52
[l]https://youtu.be/nBQ22dyKQHI?si=IbGlTlHud2w6vJy1&t=4
[m]KIP-tum https://youtu.be/sIoHbNL-o20?si=QDAY5gaMeSKMrjim&t=4
[n]https://youtu.be/2TRE56dr21k?si=XOL7eXwvvU2ZnpHX&t=9
[o]IMMA-luh or EEMO-luh https://youtu.be/zRT1hw_-0a8?si=Vg5KlzhkS-uQa-Cr&t=61 OR https://forvo.com/search/Imola/
https://youtu.be/P9oK1k-q3nE?si=BNdykAdvJiGGc4zh&t=47