Sports stars who died too young
The life of an athlete can be fast and furious. They typically start young and quickly prove themselves at a national, and even international, level. While sometimes this leads to fame and an impressive career, unfortunately not all athletes make it that far. Former Australian surf star Chris Davidson has died after being punched in the face outside of a pub in a small town north of Sydney on September 24. The 45-year-old athlete reportedly hit his head on the pavement, and though he received treatment at the scene, he passed away in a hospital soon after. The 42-year-old man who threw the punch was arrested and charged with assault causing death, BBC reports. Davidson struck early fame at just 19 years old, when he was given a wildcard entry into the 1996 Rip Curl Pro. It's there that he famously beat reigning world champion Kelly Slater in two consecutive heats. After hearing news of Davidson's death, Slater wrote on Instagram, "Had many a good battle with this guy. One of the most naturally talented surfers I ever knew." Unfortunately, many athletes who have shown immense dedication to their sport have had their careers fatefully cut short. Click through this gallery to discover other sports stars who died too young.
2022-07-18T12:00:00Z