Sports figures who died during competition

Sports

The tragic death of luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia has cast a grim shadow of the Winter Games. Kumaritashvili joins a long list of sports figures who have died during competition.

The sled belonging to Nodar Kumaritashvili of the nation of Georgia is seen just after he crashed during a training run for the men's singles luge at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, Friday. The 21-year-old Kumaritashvili died from injuries suffered in the crash and joins a long list of tragic sports deaths.

Los Angeles Avengers player Al Lucas lies on the ground after being injured trying to make a tackle on a first-quarter kickoff return against the New York Dragons at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, April 10, 2005. All attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, team physician Dr. Luga Podesta said in a statement. Lucas died from a presumed spinal cord injury. Lucas was from Macon.

Loyola-Marymount All-American Hank Gathers collapsed in the first half of a game against Portland and later died on March 4, 1990. Geathers suffered from a heart-muscle disorder, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt was killed during a wreck with Kenny Shrader during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2001.

On Sept. 17, 2005, IBF lightweight champion Leavander Johnson collapsed in the dressing room after his first title defense against Jesus Chaves was stopped in the 11th round. Johnson was taken to the hospital and would die five days later.

Professional bull rider Lane Frost died during the 1989 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo as a result of injuries sustained riding the bull "Taking Care of Business."

Eight Belles, the 2009 Kentucky Derby second-place horse, was euthanized following the race, after breaking her leg.

Baseball Umpire John McSherry, shown in this July 1995 file photo, died Monday April 1, 1996 after collapsing in the first inning of Cincinnati's opener against the Montreal Expos. The game was stopped when McSherry, 51, collapsed and was postponed about 75 minutes later.

Mike Coolbaugh, a minor league baseball coach for the Tulsa Drillers, was killed after being hit by a line drive in July 2007 game in Arkansas.

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The sled belonging to Nodar Kumaritashvili of the nation of Georgia is seen just after he crashed during a training run for the men's singles luge at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, Friday. The 21-year-old Kumaritashvili died from injuries suffered in the crash and joins a long list of tragic sports deaths.

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