Sports is inspiring and captivating. Sporting icons become immortal to their fans, but life has to end for everyone one day. Several big names from the sporting fraternity, athletes and sports personalities, passed away in the year which is now about to come to an end.
We take a look at notable deaths in the sporting fraternity, as of 2022, and celebrate their legacies.
Pele
One of the greatest footballers of all time, Pele died on 30 January in a hospital in Sao Paulo due to multiple organ failure after a long battle with cancer. He was 82. The only player to win three football World Cups – 1958, 1962 and 1970 – Pele scored over 1,000 goals in his career and was also named the athlete of the century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
Pelé, the only man to win the #FIFAWorldCup three times.
A legend of our game.
Rest in peace, the Eternal King. pic.twitter.com/1MS3DPxPDF
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) December 29, 2022
The first global star of the game, Pele played the most significant role in making football a commercial powerhouse. More importantly, the footballing great was also a cultural icon who had fans in every corner of the world.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell, one of the greatest NBA players of all time, passed away on 31 July this year at the age of 88. He was part of the legendary Boston Celtics side of the 1950s and 1960s and won 11 NBA championship titles with the team including two as a player-coach. He was the first black coach in any major US sport. Russell also won MVP awards five times and All-Star MVP once.
NBA legend Bill Russell has passed away at the age of 88.
RIP. pic.twitter.com/htJmGDeJXw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 31, 2022
The biggest legacy of Russell is his work as a civil right activist. The legendary baller once marched with Martin Luther King Jr, supported Muhammad Ali and was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Shane Warne
The cricket world was in for a major shock on 4 March this year when the news broke that Shane Warne passed away at the age of 52. He was found unconscious in his villa at a Thailand resort and could not be revived. Later, the autopsy report stated that he died of “natural” causes.
The Pavilion Long Room fell silent at @HomeOfCricket this morning, on a day when the world of sport joins together in remembrance and celebration of the remarkable life of cricket legend and @MCCOfficial Honorary Life Member, Shane Warne.#ShaneWarne #Cricket #Australia #MCC pic.twitter.com/VACfvXW9f6
— MCC Foundation (@_MCCFoundation) March 30, 2022
Considered the greatest spinner of all time, Warne took 1,001 wickets in 339 international matches. More than that Warne is credited for reviving leg spin as an art of bowling and for being the greatest exponent of the skill.
Charanjit Singh
On 27 January this year, India lost its 1964 Tokyo Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team captain, Charanjit Singh. He died of cardiac arrest at 90.
SAI mourns the passing away of Padma Shri & Arjuna Awardee Charanjit Singh, former Indian Hockey Captain for 1964 Olympics (Gold medalist)
His contribution towards the great legacy of Indian Hockey will be forever remembered
Condolences to his family & friends 🙏#RIP pic.twitter.com/2vDQcnSDFe
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) January 27, 2022
Charanjit was also a part of the team that won the silver in the 1960 Olympics which was held in Rome and the one that won the second prize in the 1962 Asian Games.
Rod Marsh
Australia lost another great cricketer on the same day as Warne’s demise as Rod Marsh died at age 74. The former keeper-batter had suffered a heart attack and was put in an induced coma before passing away.
Vale Rod Marsh. Champion cricketer and seventies icon. Haven’t been many better behind the sticks. pic.twitter.com/7t0h43ZM1S
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) March 3, 2022
He was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in Test. Having played 96 Tests and 92 ODIs, he scored 4,858 runs across the two formats. Marsh made his name as a solid wicketkeeper who could score crucial runs.
Andrew Symonds
Things got worse for the cricketing world when legendary Australian Andrew Symonds was killed in a car crash on 14 May at age 46.
Very sad news from Australia as we heard of the passing of Andrew Symonds, the dynamic former allrounder, who played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is. We send sincere condolences to his family and friends from the West Indies cricket family. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/76FwahqKds
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) May 15, 2022
Considered to be one of the best all-rounders to play the game, Symonds played 26 Tests, scoring 1,462 runs and picking up 24 wickets. A big-hitter, he also played 198 ODIs, making 5,088 runs and taking 133 wickets. In 14 T20Is, he made 337 runs and took eight wickets.
Rudi Koertzen
One of the most known umpires in cricket, Rudi Koertzen died in a car accident on 9 August. He was aged 73.
R. I. P Rudi Koertzen.
The BCCI mourns the loss of one of the finest umpires to have officiated the game of cricket. pic.twitter.com/44Ztdhiioe
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 9, 2022
A reputed professional during his time Koertzen was part of the ICC’s elite panel of umpires for eight years from 2002 till his retirement in 2010. He officiated in 331 international matches.
Nick Bollettieri
One of the greatest Tennis coaches, Nick Bollettieri passed away on 4 December 2022. He was 91. According to the International Tennis Federation, Bollettieri helped at least 10 players become world No 1 in tennis including Andre Agassi and medallists Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova.
A pioneer, a visionary, a mentor, a coach, and a friend 💙
One of the biggest influences in the game of tennis, Nick Bollettieri, has passed away at the age of 91. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and everyone he impacted. pic.twitter.com/jQMWhar9FR
— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 5, 2022
As of now, six of Bollettieri’s coached players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Mino Raiola
The ‘super agent’ in football, Mino Raiola died on 30 April 2022 at the age of 54. Raiola was often criticised for the hefty commission that he charged but he also boasted a client list of some of the best footballers that included Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: “This Scudetto is for Mino Raiola. It’s the first title I win without Mino by my side.” 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/PTLJhUdwTc
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 22, 2022
Scott Hall
Scott Hall also known by his ring name Razor Ramon was one of the most recognisable faces in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the 1990s. He passed away on 14 March 2022 at the age of 63. Popular for his style and charisma, Hall won the Intercontinental Championship in WWF four times.
WWE is saddened to learn that two-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall has passed away.
WWE extends its condolences to Hall’s family, friends and fans. pic.twitter.com/jgqL3WizOS
— WWE (@WWE) March 15, 2022
He later joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and won the Heavyweight Championships twice. Hall is also remembered for being that part of the New World Order with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash.
Vin Scully
One of the best known broadcasters in US sport, Vin Scully died on 2 August 2022. He was aged 94. A Hall of Famer, Scully was known for calling games for Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers games for 67 years, beginning in 1950. He stopped calling games in 2016.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 3, 2022
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