20 Horribly Tragic Sports Deaths

These shocking deaths shook the sports world to its core. For this list, we’ll be focusing on the most horrific tragedies that have occurred during sporting games, resulting in the deaths of athletes and/or spectators. Our countdown includes Alexei Cherepanov, Benny "Kid" Paret, Ayrton Senna, Owen Hart, and more! What has been your most devastating loss in sports history? Let us know in the comments.
Watch more great sports videos here:
Top 10 Worst Decisions In Sports: • Top 10 Worst Calls In ...
Top 20 Most Scandalous Olympic Controversies Ever: • Top 20 Most Scandalous...
Top 10 Athletes Who Ruined Their Careers With One Play: • Top 10 Athletes Who Ru...
Become a channel member to get access to special perks:
/ @watchmojo
Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!
www.watchmojo.com/play/id/64052
Have your idea become a video!
wmojo.com/suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/watchmojo-subscribe
Visit our shop for awesome merch!
shop.watchmojo.com/
Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news
#Sports
#Deaths
#Tragic
#Horrible
#History
#Athletes
#Accidents
#Injuries

[@WatchMojo]

Did you witness any of these tragedies? Let us know in the comments. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5XChKyCoJ6XrpI Become a channel member to get access to special perks: kzbin.info/door/aWd5_7JhbQBe4dknZhsHJgjoin

[@vanessastegall]

I was watching the Daytona 500 on TV when Dale Earnhardt Senior died.

[@Rusherevansfan1996]

I remember watching Dale Earnhardt crash in 2001 I was 4 and half years old when he died me, my mom and my late dad we watched it on television and I didn’t know what was going on all I remember is Darrel Wartrip asking is Dale ok😢😢😢 when he was asked that I realize that he was dead absolutely devastated

[@Rusherevansfan1996]

@@vanessastegall me too me, my mom and my late dad watched that I was 4 and a half years old when he died 😢😢

[@bobzip8717]

😊😊😊p⁰😊😅0

[@Dtrain10.]

I never personally witnessed any but I do remember hearing about Earnheart, Owen Heart and the snowmobile landing on the rider

[@sharyageorge]

Seeing Benny “Kid” Paret’s son embracing the man who fought his father and not blaming him is some next level of maturity and I love it. He doesn’t blame him nor was he angry, he helped Griffith with his guilt and he didn’t even have to. I can’t imagine how that must have felt for the both of them.

[@andrewleah1983]

Well why should he? Boxers literally beat each other up. There are consequences from that. I’m sure his son knows that.

[@sharyageorge]

@@andrewleah1983 even then, they don’t expect their parent to die

[@andrewleah1983]

@@sharyageorge No but it’s understandable why you wouldn’t hold any hostility to the man. It’s different if it was some random guy on the street.

[@pauladee-lx3om]

that part had me bawling.... i was born in the 80s and did not hear about this until about 10 years ago or so, but seeing that.. wow, i m sure the man felt so bad that Benny was killed...

[@pauladee-lx3om]

@@sharyageorge ot they way that he did anyway

[@melanieameele6875]

I would like to add the name Jules Bianchi here. He was an f1 driver who died in 2015 as a result of an accident during the race in Suzuka, Japan 2014. Because of the rain an other car went of the track causing a yellow flag. While the other car was being towed, the car of Jules slide beneath the towing car. Causing severe injuries and a coma from which he never woke up.

[@ailsasublett9885]

That was so sad.

[@sether199]

I watched it live, what a sad story.

[@diamondmasterxd9940]

Massive respect to you for mentioning this. His passing changed the face of racing forever because we then got the halo device.

[@JF-sb5mo]

Watched it live. Didn't have a clue what was happening because they had his name as out of the race although it was Sutil (maybe?) who stopped. Absolute shambles and so easily avoidable

[@MaksB.]

And then they almost caused the same thing a few years later...

[@isaacmartinez6904]

Ayrton Senna's death really changed the course of F1. Had safety regulations were placed during the 1994 season, Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, the rookie F1 driver, would have survived with little to no injuries.

[@maxmazzotti6651]

Sempre Senna

[@MoneyHoneyBunny]

Everyone told him not to go too. I mean, the conditions were fucking terrible. It just sucks he didnt listen. Could say the same about Kobe and the pilot that flew the helicopter, they were told the air quality wasnt up to standards to fly, and again, they didnt listen.

[@AngelH91]

@@MoneyHoneyBunnyThe opposite Senna was actively trying to have the race cancelled due to safety concerns over Ratzenbergers death and also Rubens Barrichellos horrible accident at the start of the weekend. He was ignored by everyone. Hindsight.

[@richardhobbs7360]

@@MoneyHoneyBunny Lol, love it when people have no idea what they are talking about, yet say it with such certainty

[@nightstorm5914]

@@AngelH91 same was with Niki Lauda, who dont wanted to race on the Green Hell/Nürnburgring but was ignored too and had then his hard impact, that effected his later live

[@dawnieangel76]

Thank you for including Owen Hart. Wrestling is overlooked & dismissed so much, but the night we lost Owen will never be forgotten by us fans.

[@hb1338]

Wrestling is not a sport - it's light entertainment.

[@dawnieangel76]

@@hb1338 You have to be in good health & be strong to do it. I consider it a light sport. I mean, people consider cheerleading a sport.

[@Gg_gaming-unit]

@@dawnieangel76so true nah wrestling is MY sport you have to be good have good health and people get injured and in this case die

[@thompsonwelds]

There is a sport called wrestling. And that ain't it. That's entertainment.

[@Dingbat42069]

@@hb1338the definition of sport: “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Sounds like wrestling to me. Crybaby.

[@HerbertAckermans]

It is tragic that Roland Ratzenberger continues to be just a footnote in the tale of Senna's death. While Senna was a highly rated and successful F1 driver, Ratzenberger was in just his 3rd raceweekend in F1 when he died.

[@kami_narisama]

I understand that many think of it like that, however it may surprise you that Rudolf Ratzenberger, his father, doesn't think so. He doesn't think Senna's death overshadowed his son, but rather, it made sure that his son will always be remembered, as whenever someone mentioned Senna, they also mentioned Ratzenberger. It's comforting to know in a way

[@andrewwinslow9315]

Dan Wheldon's death still haunts me to this day. 5 minutes before he died, he was joking with the Booth guys, and then he was gone.

[@jmed412]

I remember watching the race and having a feeling a disaster was going to happen.

[@andrewwinslow9315]

@@jmed412 I mean with that amount cars and those pack racing on that track, It's a miracle we didn't lose more. Both Will Power and J.R. Hildebrand went to the hospital that day, and Paul Tracy and Jody Scheckter Retired that day. That day was the worst in the entire Modern history of IndyCar racing, even worse than the day the split happened

[@whisperecho7815]

One for any future lists: Julissa Gomez. She was an American gymnast who was hoping to earn a spot on the 1988 Olympic team, but three months before the Olympics she broke her neck in a vaulting accident at the Goodwill Games. While in the hospital, she suffered permanent brain damage due to a ventilator malfunction and died three years later at the age of just 19. This led to some pretty significant changes in the sport (most notably, the complete redesign of the vault apparatus; if you've ever wondered what the deal with that was, this is a huge part of it) to prevent other gymnasts from being injured like Julissa was.

[@NCGiantsfan72]

Dale Earnhardt’s death really changed the safety precautions for NASCAR, but the redemption of his loss came in the following months and years for his son who won at the same track few months after his father’s death and winning the Daytona 500 in the coming years

[@andrewwinslow9315]

Wish NASCAR took safety as serious as the did 20 years ago. I swear someone is gonna die before 2026

[@whaduzitmatr]

@@andrewwinslow9315 what do you mean? the cars are safer now than they have ever been

[@penguinbrony2415]

The fact that it took Earnhardt's death for NASCAR to do something about the safety of their league is repugnant. 3 drivers lost their lives due to basilar skull fractures in 2000, and they should have done more that year to prevent it.

[@andrewwinslow9315]

@@whaduzitmatr Not the Gen 7. The Car of Tomorrow was the safest car, with no injuries. Gen 6 had a handful of them, but Gen 7 in only a year and a half has ended a career, and caused 3 drivers to miss races with injuries. For the Gen 6, the only drivers who missed a race due to a cup crash was Denny Hamlin in 2013 and Dale Jr in 2016. These new cars are really not built well.

[@alexspitznaugle6387]

It’s extremely upsetting that he had to die for NASCAR to take safety as seriously as they do today. However, there are many drivers after Dale who would’ve likely died if not for the HANS device and SAFER barriers.

[@MrLender89]

The footage of Roger Williamson basically being burned alive at Zandvoort in the 1973 GP will forever be etched into my brain. Tragic footage.

[@rotary_7812]

And David Purley being inconsolable as he tried to rescue his friend.

[@serialmiller1987]

The preventable tragedy of Owen Hart's death affected me when I was a kid in 1999, but as I've gone on into adulthood and became a father msyelf, I grew to understand what a tragic loss Owen Hart truly was to not only his fans, but espeically his family, and his legacy truly lives on in both of his children along with the Owen Hart Foundation.

[@Jennifer-jt9cb]

The story about the boxing match between Griffith and Paret, then Griffith him meeting Paret's son made me cry. I could see his pain, and guilty feelings. I don't have enough words in my vocabulary to express the amount of respect I have for that man. I wish him nothing but the best life can offer, and that he finds the peace to live that life. I also hope he forgives himself, as it wasn't intentional.

[@kennywilkinson913]

It was intentional, paret called him a homophobic slur as Griffiths was known to dress up at the time, he swore vengeance in the ring and knee he was put cold but carried on punching a defenseless kid who died and Griffiths later come out as bisexual

[@_________.]

@@kennywilkinson913you better have a source to back that statement up. Post your source.

[@kennywilkinson913]

@@_________. Its common knowledge, Google it ffs

[@kennywilkinson913]

The jonny cash song ring of fire is also about this fight

[@richardhobbs7360]

@@kennywilkinson913 Post it then, come on, common knowledge, shouldn't be hard to find a source

[@thedukeofallsaiyans1369]

The 1955 le Mans disaster literally wiped out entire bloodlines.... it was far more tragic than mentioned here..

[@christophermonroe2055]

As a life long race fan and Indycar fan, Dan Wheldons death at Las Vegas in 2011 hit me just like Dale Earnhardt’s death.

[@davesoverthere]

Greg Moore too

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Yeah and Denny Morrison. His death was unintentionally documented in the Discovery Channel show Nerve Centre. The episode was supposed to just show behind the scenes of an Indycar race, but it also documented Morrison’s tragic death

[@susanrobinson910]

I bet there are kids out there saying, “there was a time hockey was played without helmets?!” Sadly, this is true…safety is an evolving thing in sports.

[@treytheriot825]

Can’t forget boxer Kim Duk Koo. His death was so influential in boxing they changed the maximum number of rounds from 15 to 12

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Anther one that his family didn't have hatred for Mancini and actually told him it's to let go.

[@samclark3651]

Boom boom held that pain for so long. But I'm glad it changed the 15 to 12 rule and really made refs wake up on what a boxer can take

[@DEADLOK69]

What hurt me more in this case of that Doo Koo's mom and the referee Richard Green who both committed suicide. Both could not handle the loss of the fighter.

[@spiritchronic]

You miss Jules Bianchi death. His death is the reason why Romain Grosjean ia still alive today

[@solstice2149]

Same for Zhou Gyanyu

[@mr.jewell]

Glad someone else remembers him ❤

[@pooky-changaming4089]

Who’s Jules Bianchi? How did he die?

[@pooky-changaming4089]

And who’s Zhou Gyanyu? And how did he die?

[@SteveHarrellRally]

@@pooky-changaming4089 Jules Bianchi was a F1 driver. During the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix he went off the course and collided with the back of a tractor that was helping recover another car. His car went under the tractor and his head made contact with the larger vehicle at about 130 mph. He spent nine months in a coma before finally dying in July 2015. Zhou Gyanyu is a Chinese driver currently competing for Alfa Romeo in F1. Last year he had a bad crash during the British Grand Prix where flipped then went into the catch fence. He was unharmed, which he attributed to the cockpit safety halo, which was made mandatory on F1 cars after the death of Bianchi

[@turdwranglers2517]

Greg Moore deserved to be on here. He died Oct 30, 1999 at Fontana Speedway in California doing what he loved and had his IndyCar career cut too short.

[@rotary_7812]

I heard his story in Josh Revell's channel and damn he deserved to be the next big thing in motorsports...

[@Hammerhead547]

There's a few that should be on this list: Swede Savage: killed at the 1973 Indy 500 when his car hit oil in turn four then shot across the track into the grass retaining wall at 220 MPH, causing it to split in two and explode into flames, savage was still alive and trapped in what remained of the cockpit of his car when the fuel that was pouring from the ruptured fuel tank which was right behind him ignited and he was burned alive in front of 250.000 people at the venue and another 4.000.000 watching on television. Henri Toivenen/Sergio Creesto: killed in a horrific crash during the 1986 Tour De Course Rally in corsica, his car veered off road and plunged down a cliff face before crashing into a stand of trees and instantaneously exploding into flames. No one knew anything was wrong until toivenen didn't turn up at the end of the stage, at whcih point another driver radioed in saying that he'd seen smoke alongside the road about 2/3's of the way into the stage so he turned around and went to investigate, that's when they found the smouldering spaceframe chassis of toivenen's Lancia Delta S4 Evo and the mangled remains of cresto and toivenen. This accident was the death knell for the group b monsters which toivenen had actually complained were too difficult to drive the distances they were being made to drive them during stages just 8 hours before his death. Stefan Belloff: killed during the 1986 24 Hours Of Spa Francorchamps, about two hours into the race during his second stint he made an attempt to pass Jacky Iyx at Eau Rouge (the most dangerous corner in racing) which ended with them making contact which caused belloff's porsche 956 to hook left and slam head on into the wall at 225 mph. The impact was so violent that the entire nose of the car folded backwards which effectively cut his body in half killing him, it took 35 minutes to cut him out of the car. Jo Schlesser: killed on the second lap of the 1968 French Grand Prix when the Honda RA302 he was driving was sent out of control turned over and landed upside down against a grass berm causing a massive fuel leak which instantly ignited and set the entire car (which had an all magnesium body) alight, being unable to but the fire out the car was left to burn until it burned itself out after 35 minutes leaving a two foot deep hole in the ground under the car alongside a melted engine block nd cremating schlesser alive. As a direct result of this specific accident the use of magnesium for body panels or chassis construction (or any combination of the two) was banned by every single racing sanctioning body on earth within 48 hours.

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Don’t forget Nodar Kumaritashvili. A tragedy just before the 2010 Olympics. Georgian athletes almost didn’t compete in the games due to the loss of a fellow athlete, but decided to March into BC Place anyway, leaving a gap where the fallen luger would’ve been had he not died in the accident

[@ursulap.6722]

They didn't forget him

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

My late mom and I were watching the luge on TV, we were supporting Nodar because he was the underdog. Being South African, we don't have many of our countrymen and women competing in Winter Olympics, so we get to pick and choose our favourites.

[@pooky-changaming4089]

Such a tragedy… It cast a shadow over not just the 2010 Games, but also over every Winter Olympics since…

[@91mrpogi]

14:03

[@bannon1994]

One that definitely should have been on the list was Dan Wheldon, one of 5 drivers to die in the same year as winning the Indy 500.

[@chiefkeef74]

You forgot Justin Wilson's death at Pocono.

[@billythekid3234]

@@chiefkeef74 AND GREG MOORE, IT WAS BRUTAL.... AS WAS GORDON SMILLEY.

[@jeffmiller8020]

The true horror of Wheldon’s death was that it was preventable if they only had installed the catch fence correctly, with poles outside the fencing.

[@sleepingwitharia]

I still remember Marco Simoncelli's accident. I was very little at the time and not really interested in racing, but my dad was (still is, and so am I now) and race weekend was a staple in our family. It's one of the first memories I have in general, and I clearly remember being deeply disturbed at the sight of race marshals transporting his lifeless body. The fact that it was one of his best friends who ran him over...still gives me chills to this day. We miss you Sic, the world lost a beautiful soul and amazing racer that day.

[@sambennett563]

I witnessed this like you motogp is and has been a staple in m life for 20+years. This incident gave me nightmares for months after each time trying to save him. It broke my heart. I hate the fact that it's still on KZbin, it seems to be all that simoncelli has been remembered for 😔

[@abdzire_94]

​@@sambennett563 Also Daijiro Kato no 74 Telefonica Honda met with deadly fate in MotoGP 2003 Japanese GP in Suzuka 6th April 2003 at lap 3 where race never stopped due to his accident with severe head injuries before Valentino Rossi 46 Orange Repsol Honda won the race ...

[@cammurray255]

The saddest part of the Senna death was probably the fact that just 1 year before at the same track, a racer span off and hit the very same wall that Senna did, but probably at twice the speed as Senna did, and he climbed out completely unscathed. When you watch the Senna crash, it looks like such an underwhelming crash that the last thing you would have expected was for him to have died

[@andrewleah1983]

The saddest part of this video is the butchering of his name.

[@PredxMarvel]

The same was with Dale Sr. Wreck at Daytona in 2001. When you watched that wreck you thought nothing of it, because Dale and many other drivers had been in worst and walked away. However when we learned later that day that he was killed everyone was left in utter shock.

[@aquamarinerose7639]

​@montanabown3476 when I was a kid I watch a massive wreck happen where one of the drivers went into the fence where the spectators are the driver got out completely unscathed and ran to the finish line all Sr did was hit a wall which happens all the time it's crazy to think how such a common wreck killed one of the greatest Nascar drivers

[@KayoMichiels]

You mean Gerhard Berger's crash in '89?

[@PredxMarvel]

@@aquamarinerose7639 reminds me of Carl Edward's wreck in 08 went up in the fence got out and ran across the finish line at Talladega.

[@Garland042]

As a swede I must mention Ronnie Pettersson, a national icon and the closest Sweden have ever been to have a champion. My mother attended the event when he crashed...

[@TrevorMoses312]

Tom Pryce's death at Kyalami in 1977 and the spectators who died at Hillsborough are sports deaths that will haunt me forever.

[@Posirep]

Tom Pryce's death was completely avoidable if they just told the "safety" team to not run across a hot track...

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Tom Pryce and the track official who ran across both died here at Kyalami.. tragic.

[@verenaschmid1673]

The video of that incident is so haunting. It makes it worse to know how avoidable it was

[@nightstorm5914]

many death in racing will haunt you, because of their wild outcome

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

I've seen video of Pryce's crash. It is ugly.

[@OLMAGE]

Owen Hart was such a talented wrestler and one of my personal favorites growing up. his death is one of the most devastating death is the world of wrestling it may be sad that he died in the ring but at least he died doing what he loved R.I.P Owen Hart you will be missed

[@Jonkin715]

Big facts. Man, that death was just surreal. Like I didn't want to believe it.

[@OLMAGE]

My baby brother got me hooked on the harts i had posters and everything and his death hit me hard

[@fourwingsweepa1705]

Wrestling isn't a sport it is softcore homosexual porn

[@outstretchedwings]

And people wonder why the Hart family wants nothing to do with the WWE.

[@OLMAGE]

@@outstretchedwings for real im pretty bret stayed for a while but everyone else didn't care

[@ARIXANDRE]

As a Brazilian, the loss of Ayrton Senna at Ímola, in 1994, was a huge blow to our country and still upsets me to this day.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Senna is legend.

[@chiefkeef74]

Rubens Barracello was almost the third casualty during practice.

[@NaturalHigh21]

A couple of people should be honorable mentions: Gernot Reinstadler didn’t die during a race, but he died during training for the 1991 Lauberhorn ski race. His death was caught on video and it’s extremely tragic. The race was cancelled due to his death. Chuck Hughes is another. He remains as the only player to die during an NFL game. The last person is Corey Scott. He died performing a dirt bike stunt at a Monster Jam event in 1997. Over 30,000 people witnessed his death

[@mikeyt3784]

Reinstadler's is gnarly. The definition of "tearing you a new asshole."

[@patmanbnl]

One other change from Chapman's death was that any ball that became stained or otherwise blemished was immediately replaced. Before this it was common for one ball to be used for much of the game and become stained and discolored, making it harder for the batter to see. One side effect of this was the explosion of home runs in the 1920s

[@313gwar]

Marc-Vivien Foé, Cameroonian Soccer player who died while on the pitch during a match against Colombia in 2003. I was watching live on tv as a child, was so confused.

[@stargrays7237]

This shows how dangerous car racing can be

[@jolaciapounds]

I watched the movie “8 seconds” with my dad when I was younger and it always stuck with me, when I saw the Lane Frost part, it clicked. I never knew it was a true story 😭 RIP🙏🏾

[@BJWanlund]

For me, even though it wasn’t in competition it was still a death doing something that they loved: Sergei Grinkov. After that tragedy I never again had the same passion for watching ice dancing at the Olympics as Gordeeva and Grinkov were my favorite ice dancing team of all time. Even though I was raised in America, the artistry and chemistry of Katerina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov was UNDENIABLE.

[@pooky-changaming4089]

What happened? How did he die?

[@BJWanlund]

@@pooky-changaming4089 Sergei Grinkov died of a heart attack after a practice session on the ice with his skating partner and spouse, Ekaterina Gordeeva. For me, that is very tragic. Not technically in competition (which I think was their criteria for “tragic sports deaths”) but still a tragic sports death that I really feel was a turning point for my own interest in the sport in question.

[@pooky-changaming4089]

@@BJWanlund Oh… That’s so sad…

[@iammumawaldi]

This was my first thought too. I adored him.

[@MsJoanie67]

That was so sad. His daughter and wife are on Instagram.

[@pandorasbox4238]

The boxer situation... I can only imagine how badly that affected him afterward. It was a fight - no one's supposed to die. The guilt... talking to the other man's son and being told 'there's no hard feelings' must have felt amazing.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

The referee was most at fault. He should've stopped the fight long before he did

[@erikbrantly4015]

Imagine that man living with guilt(having done nothing wrong, mind you) for years and then be forgiven by the son of his fallen opponent. What a moment.

[@christiankresse2048]

There are so many other deaths where people should be reminded of Jules Bianchi for example or Stephane Morin how died 1998 at October the 6th in Oberhausen where he had a game with his team the Berlin Capitals and collapsed on the bench.

[@Fanofl4ndo]

Fact about the huber crash : the guy he crashed with (Juan Manuel Correa) is back in racing, he was in F3 in 2021 and now is doing his first full season back in formula 2 with Van Amersfoort Racing

[@jeremywilliams5141]

Honorable mentions: 1. Perro Aguayo Jr. (wrestling) 2. Kevin Ward Jr. (auto racing) 3. Malik Joyeux (surfing)

[@CYCLONEFAN88]

Sadly Ward pretty much killed himself, obviously very tragic

[@Posirep]

Ward was basically a suicide.

[@glennstarkey7087]

Suicide harsh but I get what you mean certainly a Darwin award to approach a moving race car! But incidents like that where drivers would get out to shake their fist at others they felt wrecked them.was growing Believe the name was Mike rich but the bill Elliott pit crew member essentially mowed down by a speeding car is why all races have speed limits on pit road now

[@glennstarkey7087]

Others Duk koo Kim title bouts are now only 12 rounds after his death Erik medlin is why drag racing isn't a full quarter mile anymore in funny car and top fuel Dan wheldon...just the scale of it given how he was in the race as a gimmick to begin with Greg moores death tilted the favor from CART to IRL almost overnight Perro Jr is a good wrestling add but iid instead add Misaharu Mishawa basically the heir to Inoki in Japanese wrestling before dying after landing a simple suplex wrong and breaking his neck

[@karlsmith2570]

Dale Earnhardt's death hit pretty close to home with me, because of the fact that he'd literally died the day after my brother

[@4specialkinggaming807]

I am so sorry

[@Stanty16]

If there's ever a follow up of this video, Dan Wheldon should certainly be featured. Passing only a week before Marco Simoncelli, when he was killed in an Indy race in Las Vegas

[@scottbaker5851]

Greg Moore.

[@Posirep]

​@@scottbaker5851Greg Moore shouldn't have even been allowed to race. Huge fail on CART's part there

[@andrewwinslow9315]

IndyCar has a long long list of drivers who died. I hope we never see one again

[@FreddyKrueger744]

For wrestling fans they start talking about Owen Hart at 12:06

[@TinkSalsa]

For Dale Earnhardt, it should be noted that his son had a scarily similar accident many years later, and he walked away with very minor cuts and bruises due to the new safety measures

[@kwofficial5962]

One death I would add here is Roger Williamson's death. It happened during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. A possible tyre failure in his March F1 car caused him to hit the barrier at high speed and flip upside down. As a result, the fuel tank caught on fire, with Williamson trapped in the car. The only one who tried to help him was fellow driver David Purley, who witnessed the crash, but was unable to do much himself, and the marshals didn't have the right equipment. Even more tragic is the fact that other drivers assumed Purley was the one who crashed and had kept going, unaware of Williamson's crash. As a result, Williamson died of asphyxiation. Definitely one of more tragic deaths in history.

[@Spud607]

Craig Breen - April 13th 2023. A truly tragic accident. Whilst rallying in Croatia, he slid off the road and the car struck a pole. The pole snapped and struck him in the car. It wasn't even that bad of an accident, just a slide off the road. Truly tragic. He was taken way too soon.

[@deftonesplayer420]

Greg Moore, he was a great driver that could have won many championships in Indy or CART racing. Great young driver that we lost to early

[@drewfarbridge7046]

I was surprised that he wasn't included on this list. He was from my neck of the woods. I have maybe watched 1 or 2 races since then.

[@chrisholden615]

Owen Hart and Dale Earnhardt...😢 I remember vividly from childhood RIP to two greats gone way too soon

[@FHL-Devils]

Regarding the soccer / lightning strike - one team used metal cleats that allowed the current to go thru the body and ground. One team wore plastic cleats and because there was no path to ground, those players weren't struck. Metal cleats were internationally banned only a few weeks later once the cause was discovered.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

In Africa, witchcraft is taken very seriously. It doesn't matter if there is a rational Western explanation.

[@Posirep]

Dan Wheldon or Justin Wilson should have been on here. Their deaths changed IndyCar and open wheel racing forever. IndyCar got their new chassis named after Dan and Justin's death along with other incidents such as Henry Surtees lead to the FIA and IndyCar speeding up process on their Halo/Aeroscreen development and implementation. Also, Wheldon was the defending Indy 500 champion

[@AuraBlue2792]

Nodar Kumaritashvili’s was so horrifying to watch. When i saw him make impact with the metal pillar i knew there was no way he could survive and injury of that magnitude

[@tigremalabarista3461]

I remember watching it live. It was horrifying and sad. I definitely did not fault anyone doing the luge or skeleton withdrawing that year after it.

[@pooky-changaming4089]

It cast quite a shadow over not just the 2010 Winter Olympics, but also every Winter Olympics since… What a tragedy…

[@JZJ7777]

As an NHL fan, I’m glad you included Bill Masterton. It was an absolutely horrific accident, and I don’t hold animosity towards either of the players that were involved. Just reading about what happened to him is heartbreaking. I couldn’t imagine what the fans at the game and especially the players there were going through. However, I’m glad the NHL did the responsible thing by making helmets mandatory. Im also glad you included Alexis Cherepanov. I hadn’t really heard of him, but the news of his death left me heartbroken. I just wish you could’ve included the tragic death of young Blue Jackets goalie Matīss Kivlenieks. His death wasn’t during a game, but that doesn’t make it less tragic. He died on July 4th, 2021, in a freak fireworks accident. He jumped in front of a mortar that misfired in an attempt to save his fellow goalie teammate Elvis Merzlikins and Merzlikins’ wife, and saved not only them, but many others in his brave sacrifice. He died a hero, and his loss is mourned by fans and players alike.

[@LennoxMatt1]

I was watching the Daytona 500 when Earnhardt was killed. Also remember the luge crash in Vancouver 2010, i saw the early video of the crash that still included the sound his body made when it hit the steel beam, and how his spine wrapped around it

[@Trix897]

That crash was brutal and I remember being in shock when it was announced that he was dead.

[@drewofearth6681]

Thank you, WatchMojo. I needed these tragedies explained by an optimistic bro.

[@adri0095]

What about f1 driver Jules Bianchi? His death was very tragic, especially considering the fact he would have most likely been a Ferrari driver later on

[@did81dk]

What about Ulrike Maier 🇦🇹 who had a shocking accident during a skiing race in 1994? I remember watching it live as a kid 😢

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

Yo that lightning strike one is crazy 😨

[@Grace1957-]

Did they seriously investigate the witchcraft accusation?

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

@@Grace1957- I have no idea

[@eddieherrera5314]

Some say it’s because the other team wore iron studs But the whole situation might be a lie of exaggerated

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Thanks for these lists

[@foolofatook1271]

Your welcome

[@StanHalen1936]

Bot

[@user-dt8vy2yb3d]

My condolences to those 20 athletes who tragically passed away. Rest in Eternal Paradise

[@bonnieparker9584]

Chuch Hughe’s death in an NFL game was my first memory of a fatality, it was particularly memorable because lived in El Paso, TX and he played at UTEP. His death was unrelated to the game. Unfortunately he failed to react to symptoms that warned him of a heart problem.

[@pooky-changaming4089]

Damar Hamlin is extremely lucky that he didn’t suffer the same fate as Chuck Hughes. BTW, I’m not a football fan.

[@diegofranco5760]

They may be dead but their legacy will never die.😔

[@dennistrusty5145]

I know one you left out for sure, Juan Saez at 17 years old was a jockey and got graced with being the next rising star winning 90 races in the span of less than 5 months which is a ton in the horse racing world. Clipped heels in a race at Indiana Grand (now known as Horseshoe Indianapolis) and died tragically. I hope he is included in the next list.

[@cba_2442]

Dan Wheldon should be in this list. Died months after winning the Indy 500, entered in a one off race to split 5 million with a fan if he won.

[@SiVlog1989]

One small detail about the chain of events that culminated in the 1955 Le Mans Disaster. Mike Hawthorn, driving the race leading Jaguar, was not only battling to stay ahead of the Mercedes of Juan Manuel Fangio and Sterling Moss, but was trying to overtake both the second Mercedes driven by Pierre Leveigh and the Austin Healey of Lance Macklin. But in doing so, Hawthorn realised that the entry to the pit area (at the time not separated from the race track in any way by a wall) was right in front of him. In panic, he braked to try and make the pit entry, but he pulled in front of Macklin to try and make the pits, this caused Macklin to swerve to avoid Hawthorn, but instead went straight into the path of Leveigh. In other words it was off Macklin, not Hawthorn, that Leveigh's Mercedes was launched into the air, causing the disaster. That being said, it was not the sole cause of the crash. The cars approached a slight right hand corner which wasn't a corner when taken in single file, but caused a bottleneck when multiple cars were close together. The layout used at the time dated back to 1923, the first staging of the Le Mans 24 Hours, but while the track layout and safety precautions barely changed, the cars became faster and faster. The result of the crash and the subsequent inquiry was that the entire pit and paddock complex was completely rebuilt, no longer public roads, chicanes (known as the Ford Chicanes) slow the cars down before the pit straight, a wall separates the pit lane from the race track and the main grandstand (where so many died) was moved further away from the side of the track. Forget Jackie Stewart and his safety crusade in the 1960's, the 1955 Le Mans Disaster was the true start of the push for greater safety in Motorsport

[@awzthemusicalreviews]

One of Leveigh's teammates that day ended up creating barriers that are meant to help dampen the impact of a crash, iirc

[@SiVlog1989]

@@awzthemusicalreviews it was either that or a type of seat belt, I can't remember which, I'll have to double check

[@zoegray123]

Anthoine's passing is the one that will stay with me the most. I remember watching it live on tv - and for some reason I wanted to be alone for that race (I NEVER asked to be alone for races before that day!). Maybe it was my subconscious knowing that something would happen - I don't know - but I remember the moment the accident happened, and it was larger than anything I'd ever seen. And the moment the statement from the FIA dropped - I still remember the feeling in my gut, I couldn't believe what I was reading really. I'm glad JM Correa is still racing on now in F2, in Anthoine's honour, the fact he's fighting still is just incredible. Hopefully he'll be back to the podium very soon

[@wrestling1013]

I 100% say with confidence Spa is one of the most dangerous tracks on the calendar just because of eau rouge.

[@kazrii]

Man I miss Tonio, I think he had a solid chance of reaching F1. One of the worst parts of his death was that the FIA learnt nothing from it and let the Freca grid race at Spa this year in very poor sight conditions, resulting in the death of 18 year old Dilano Van 't Hoff. I wonder how many more young talent need to pass before the FIA actually does something about Eau Rouge and Raidillon. Rest in peace, Tonio & Dilano! 🕊

[@ezioauditoredafirenze9789]

Thank you soo much for mention it May they both rest in peace 🙏🕊

[@hb1338]

Van 't Hoff's accident occurred on the Kemmel straight, a quarter of a mile from Eau Rouge and Radillon; the original cause of the crash was a driver going too fast for the conditions.

[@kazrii]

@@hb1338 The crash actually occurred on the exit of Raidillon and the FIA shouldn't have let them race in such poor conditions.

[@kris77879]

Amazing to see Sarah not ignored on big channels like this. She was an amazing person.

[@espo7182]

As a lover of hockey my whole life and a huge NY Rangers fan, I'm pretty positive that "The first NHL draft" was NOT in 2007. I don't know what you were getting at there, unless you meant First Round of the draft??

[@averyyoung9088]

are you sure? im pretty sure that hockey was released like 15 years ago.

[@Jamietheroadrunner]

You’re right. They f’ed up, big time! The first NHL draft was in 2019.

[@mbkim8]

Think he misspoke and meant first round

[@krissolson7043]

*first round

[@JZJ7777]

I’m keen to believe that’s what they meant.

[@jsmith1746]

Ulrike Maier, Austrian ski racer. Killed after crashing in to either a snowbank or a wooden post (it is debated) during a race in Garmisch, Germany in 1994. Broadcast on live television. Another ski racing death was another Austrian, Gernot Reinstadler who was killed during a televised training run for the Lauberhorn Downhill in Wengen, Switzerland in 1991. His was downright gruesome. Towards the end of the run, he went wide to the right of the track and caught a ski tip in the safety netting. It literally ripped him in half internally and left a streak of blood down the last part of the course and into the finish area. Before losing consciousness, he was reaching for his leg to try and pull himself back together.

[@ES-nq8uu]

I believe the reason the entire team of soccer players died from the lightning strike was explained as a difference in cleat spikes. The spikes on the bottom of the players shoes, to give them traction. If I remember correctly, those that died had metal spikes while those that didnt had plastic composite spikes.

[@samuelthacker7413]

Yes a new video

[@martinbielby334]

My sporting loss was when ayrton senna was killed at San Marino gp 1st May 1994

[@snailie]

Greg Moore‘s fatal accident at the Fontana race back in 1999 will haunt me forever… RIP to one of the greatest talents in CART/IndyCar racing and a remarkable human being! 😢

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

A rather grim fact associated with this is that the race was won by Adrian Fernandez. It was his second win; his first came at Toronto in 1996, an event marred by the fatal crash of Jeff Krosnoff.

[@snailie]

@@DinsdalePiranha67 You're right, that's a fact I tend to forget, even though Adrian Fernandez has also always been one of my favorite drivers back in the day...

[@David_Theisen]

That accident and Jeff Krosnoff’s were both scary as hell!! I recorded that Toronto race and saw that car go up into the air and into that catchfence! When I seen someone struck by it I knew that person was dead! Moore’s car was going more than 200 mph when he hit the wall! I knew right away he would not survive that

[@lincroyableprocrastinateur5414]

Phillip Hughes' death absolutely tore my heart out. It was just so perfectly unlucky.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

The fact that he was on the verge of breaking back into the Australian team made it worse

[@toreneighdough8345]

I was 7 years old watching wwf live and waiting for my favorite wrestler to make his appearance, the Blue Blazer. I will never forget seeing that moment. There was a 7 second delay in the network so of course the actual incident wasn't shown, but even at 7 I knew something wasn't right. I had just watched my then hero lose his life before me. Like the millions of others that loved him the same, it still breaks my heart to this day 24 years later.

[@Kari2025]

Owen Hart's death still resonates with me. What a senseless, preventable death. His episode of "Dark Side of the Ring" with his widow and kids is the saddest episode I've ever seen, except for maybe the Benoit one.

[@SteveHarrellRally]

Two I kind of expected to be on the list: Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto's fatal crash at the 1986 Tour de Corse rally, and the 1986 Rally Portugal tragedy, which killed 3-5 (reporting is inconsistent on this number) and injured about 30 others.

[@Jenny010132]

The video of Hank Gathers’ death is horrific. His mom was obviously hysterical with grief.

[@mattjohnson8266]

Adam Johnson. Video occurred before his passing, but the incident 100% belongs here. RIP Adam, and may the new neck guard rules change the future of hockey

[@sondragramse1770]

I was thinking the same

[@manuelgrothe608]

In 2011 IndyCar series champions in Las Vegas, Dan Weldon was on pole, but then there’s this freak crosswind at the O’Riley auto parts sign in lap 11, his two sons, his wife & team was there, but they don’t know what to do, The best father best husband and his team’s good friend was gone, and his sons thought their lives were over, they didn’t lose help, cause they got trained and well race it with Andretti auto sports, Dan Wheldon will be remembered in Saint Petersburg/Tampa Bay, Florida

[@ripleyfry2107]

Nice to see a fellow winnipeger. Rip masterton

[@56postoffice]

Aryton Senna's death at Imohla I remember seeing live on Eurosport. And that was 24hrs after Austrian Roland Ratzenberger was killed in the same spot. RIP to Aryton, Roland and all those mentioned in the video.

[@derpyderp1991]

It's a shame that death is what it takes for safety to be improved

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Even then it takes years to get safety gear issued, or agreed to.

[@GamerFunOriginallyAarush]

That was very tragic!

[@alexissmith5589]

I'm glad Owen Hart was on this seeing as some people stupidly don't regard wrestling as a "real sport."

[@fourwingsweepa1705]

It's not sport it's softcore homosexual porn

[@andrewleah1983]

WRESTLING is a real sport. The WWE isn’t. There’s a difference.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

The matches are worked (99.9% of the time), but no person with a brain doesn't respect the athleticism and toughness of nearly all professional wrestlers. In fact, many have gone on to fight in MMA, as well as several MMA fighters going into prowrestling, and quite a few esteemed amateur wrestlers going into pro wrestling as well.

[@andrewwinslow9315]

Pro Wrestling is scripted (at least WWE) But Wrestlers are Athletes and they do risk their lives every time they get in the ring, but they do it for the sport they love.

[@thompsonwelds]

​@@andrewleah1983exactly.

[@whytebearconcepts]

Has to be Henri Toivonen (and Sergio Cresto) for me. As an American I was a rare breed in the mid 80's because I lived for WRC. His loss messed me up for months. And even though Colin McRae's death was not caused by an on-track incident, it also shook me pretty hard.

[@rotary_7812]

That's also the death of Group B, where Toivonen and co. raced

[@honestlycastle]

Although it happened during training, Régine Cavagnoud's death always stayed with me. She was a French alpine ski racer and World Champion in Super-G in 2001. She died later that year after colliding with a German ski coach as he was crossing the piste.

[@Mean-Z86]

I would like to add Brandon Burlsworth. He was a football player at Arkansas who lost his life in 1999 just days before he would have played his first NFL game for the Colts.

[@KLondike5]

The luge one came to mind. The sound of that collision is haunting.

[@florencebolduc539]

Missing Gilles Villeneuve 1982

[@OGDanielF]

Good footage...lots of effort put into the program, I think.

[@pandorasbox4238]

My friend's nephew was at the stadium for that wrestling event the night Hart died. He was up close.... it really bothered him for a while.

[@Kari2025]

7:08 I remember watching his crash live on ESPN. Soooo sad. His brother Colten won the Gold medal the year after his brother's death.

[@gedhoughton9523]

To the motorsport deaths, it’s dangerous but that’s part of the thrill and adrenaline rush. Going that fast and surviving is such a buzz.

[@erinlanning9800]

Another thing to add about Chapman’s death: it also is what put the rule in place that whenever the ball gets dirty, it gets replaced. This was during the era in baseball where pitchers purposely got the balls dirty to enhance the grip

[@mojo3318]

These deaths sure are horrible! I don't know any of the athletes, but it is so sad how they passed away! It is hard losing a family member. If only they could all be saved. I feel so bad for all these athletes. God bless them.🙏

[@bonotheist]

Yes; it's always pretty tragic when these totally preventable and expected deaths occur...

[@Posirep]

I mean...Earnhardt's death was tragic but 100% avoidable. He chose to wear equipment that was less safe than what was available. NASCAR likes to talk about Earnhardt's death leading to HANS devices. But there were drivers IN THAT RACE that were already wearing them. HANS devices had been on the market for years before Earnhardt's death. Plus the fact he was blatantly blocking for his cars on the last lap.

[@SteveHarrellRally]

I think what NASCAR means is Earnhardt's death led to the HANS device being mandatory instead of an option, and it really was a turning point in that regard, and not just in NASCAR. There weren't many series that mandated the HANS before his death, but it was made compulsory in majority of series within a year or two after his passing.

[@amyparker9816]

It's very well known that Dale Sr. didn't like the HANS device, I don't know why you're acting like NASCAR was keeping that fact a secret. No one is saying that his death led to HANS devices themselves, they're saying that his death forced NASCAR's hand to make them mandatory instead of optional. Also, cars are constantly blocking each other in NASCAR, it's not like it's something that not allowed. Maybe don't comment on things you clearly know nothing about.

[@DEADLOK69]

This year in this month and last month will mark 8 years since the passing of Jules Bianchi and Justin Wilson. But just 2 days after Bianchi was laid to rest, there was a tragedy that occurred in the AMA Superbike series. Riders Dani Rivas and Bernat Martinez were to begin the 2nd race in 2015 Supersport category at Laguna Seca. At the start the big one occurred. Multiple bikes just crashed right past the finish line. Rivas and Martinez were involved in that accident that took their lives. 1 month later, Wilson would later die due to his injury after part of the nose of Sage Karam's car struck him in the head. It was the Dark Summer of Motorsports.

[@sheilabloom6735]

In 1961the entire US figure skating team went down in a plane crash on the way to the World Championship. The top skaters, coaches, trainers, families all perished. The team had to be rebuilt. Carlos Fassi, an Italian coach and his wife moved to the US to coach. This event goes unnoticed except in the skating community.

[@walover165]

Yes, this one is a very undermentioned tragedy. Not just skaters and coaches, but the judges, too! The development of US skating was set back for more than a decade.

[@sondragramse1770]

Supposedly, that's how Peggy Fleming got on the team and won. The team was deceased

[@FungiRy91]

Owen Hart's equipment didn't fail, the equipment WWE provided wasn't the proper equipment needed for what they were doing.

[@whaduzitmatr]

correct, in Martha Hart's book she said the carabiner was designed for a sailboat and that it was meant to release with as little as 10 pounds of force applied

[@thompsonwelds]

Fun fact, it also wasn't a sports related death and therfore has no place on this list.

[@anncase8673]

Let's not forget that the Le Mans crash led to several nations straight up banning motorsports and nearly ending motorsports in Europe all together

[@SteveHarrellRally]

Yep, to this day Switzerland doesn't allow most forms of motorsport

[@cheatergt4020]

​@@SteveHarrellRally Actually, I've heard they recently lifted the ban there.

[@SteveHarrellRally]

@@cheatergt4020 well hot damn, you're right. They lifted the ban last year