Athletes who died at the top

douglas burke wrote:

i was waiting for someone to bring up maybe the best athlete ever to die on top, cant believe no one has mentioned.

SALVADOR SANCHEZ

I think the OP meant somebody people had actually heard of.

I have to disagree with the great wiki on this statement

"With that victory, Salvador was an unknown to the casual boxing fan no more. He became a household name all over the United States that night."

I was a casual fan at the time and never heard of the guy. Of course, at that time, nobody cared unless you were a heavyweight or a U.S. Olympic champion.

arton senna

Tom Simpson's death would be my pick:

Tom Simpson (30 November 1937–13 July 1967) was the most successful English road racing cyclist of the post-war years. He infamously died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in 1967. The post mortem found that he had taken amphetamines and alcohol, a diuretic combination which proved fatal when combined with the heat, the hard climb of the Ventoux and a stomach complaint.

Bill Barilko.

The last goal he ever scored (in overtime) won the leafs the cup.

Kokichi Tsubaraya, 3rd in 1964 Olympic marathon.

Ancient Marathoner wrote:

Thurman Munson- Yankees

Glen Beckert- Cubs

SORRY- The Cub's second baseman who passed in his prime was Kenny Hubbs.

Pottymouther wrote:

Seth says this... wrote:

Good god. Pete, the dude who won the local fun run died too.

How did you know Pete wrote that?????????????????????????

The use of "Pete" was totally co-incidental to the fact that a "Pete" posted previous to my post. I should have inserted a comma after fun run.

David Kimani (not at the top internationally but by NCAA standards at the top)

Has anyone mentioned Jerome Brown, an All-Pro Defensive Tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, who died in a car crash in his 20's? His Number 99 is retired.

Bill McChesney!

'72 Olympic Israeli lifting team[quote]Lip Kitten wrote:

BARBARO

Lance was lucky wrote:

Tom Simpson's death would be my pick:

Tom Simpson (30 November 1937–13 July 1967) was the most successful English road racing cyclist of the post-war years. He infamously died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in 1967. The post mortem found that he had taken amphetamines and alcohol, a diuretic combination which proved fatal when combined with the heat, the hard climb of the Ventoux and a stomach complaint.

A Danish cyclist died during road race at 1960 Rome Olympics of heat exhaustion. Believe he also had "something" in his system.

Andres Escobar, soccer player from Columbia. ESPN did a great 30 for 30 documentary on him, Columbia soccer, and the drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Owen Hart- WWF

Corey Stringer - Olineman for the Vikings.

Interesting because he died from the very act of getting to his peak. Died from heat stroke after a long physical training camp practice.

chris benoit-wwe wrestler

chris benoit-wwe wrestler

Ivo Van Damme

Ryan Shay

The entire US Figure Skating team was killed in an airplane crash on the way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabena_Flight_548