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Famous sporting personalities who died in 2004
Famous sporting personalities who died in 2004
Dutch athletics legend died in a nursing home aged 85 after suffering from serious heart and brain problems over the past few years. Blankers-Koen, known as the 'flying housewife' and who was named athlete of the 20th century by the sport's governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 1999, won four gold medals at the 1948 Olympics in London.
She won the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and the 4x100m relay in London and is the only female athlete to have won four Olympic titles at the same games.
Won 800 meters Olympic silver in 1956 in what has been described, as one of the most thrilling races in the Games history died aged 71.
Johnson was edged out of gold by American Tom Courtney by 0.1sec in Melbourne, where he had also gained notoriety and his nickname of the 'Angry Young man' of British athletics because he objected to the daily allowances for the athletes.
He was instrumental also later as an administrator in successfully fighting against then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's calls for the team to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics following the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
BASEBALL
Pitched the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 American League pennant and won that year's World Series died aged 83. A left-handed knuckleballer, Bearden was 20-7 in 1948.
His 20th win was an 8-3 triumph over the Boston Red Sox in a one-game playoff for the AL title. "Indians' fans will always remember his contributions to the Tribe's last World Series title in 1948," owner Larry Dolan said in a statement.
"His victory in the 1948 AL playoff game against the Boston Red Sox still ranks as one of the greatest wins in franchise history."
Fiery reliever who won world championships with the 1969 New York Mets and 1980 Philadelphia Phillies, died of brain cancer aged 59.
McGraw, the father of American country music star Tim McGraw, had a 96-92 record with 180 saves and a 3.14 ERA during a 19-year career.
He retired after the 1984 season and is best known for his heart-pounding relief appearances and coining the phrase, "Ya gotta believe" during the Mets' 1973 pennant run.
CRICKET
Former dashing Australian Test batsman who had been coaching the Victoria state cricket side died aged 48 of massive head injuries when a bouncer allegedly struck him to the ground during a dispute in the Melbourne suburb of Saint Kilda.
He played for Australia between 1977 and 1986, scoring 1,306 runs at an average of 34.36. He also played 39 One-Day Internationals for 826 runs.
Rated one of cricket's greatest and crowd-pleasing all-rounders, died aged 84. Miller played in Don Bradman's invincible team on the 1948 tour to England.
He was a magnificent attacking batsman, averaging almost 37 in 55 Tests and claimed 170 wickets at 22.97. Miller had the perfect riposte when asked if he ever felt under pressure on the cricket field.
"Pressure, I'll tell you what pressure is," he said. "Pressure is a Messer Schmitt up your arise, playing cricket is not," he said in reference to his flying combat experience in World War II.
Vijay Samuel Hazare
The former Indian captain Vijay Hazare, who led the country to their first ever Test victory, died on December 18, 2004 following a prolonged illness.
Aged 89, Hazare was suffering from intestinal cancer and breathed his last at a private clinic where he was kept on life support system.
Born on March 11, 1915 in Sangli, Maharashtra, Hazare played for Maharashtra, Central India and Baroda in the domestic circuit.
Considered as one of India's finest batsmen ever, Hazare played at the highest level for six years - between 1946 to 52 - during which he represented India in 30 Tests scoring 2,192 runs at an impressive average of 47.65 runs. He was India's greatest cricketers and the mainstay of India's batting after the Second World War.
He scored seven centuries - two of them coming in the same match against Australia at Adelaide in 1947-48, and two more in his first two matches as captain, against England in 1951.
An effective right-arm medium pacer, Hazare captured 20 wickets at 61 run apiece.
CYCLING
Outstanding cyclist who tragically died of a heart attack aged 34 due to a cocaine overdose in a hotel room on his own after battling depression. Pantani's Giro and Tour double in 1998 was the first by an Italian since Fausto Coppi became the first man to do it in 1949.
Pantani, the rider, had the perfect capacities for the world's toughest races and it was his Tour and the Giro successes in 1998 - on both of which he won eight stages and the race overall - which endeared him to fans, as well as his colorful bandanas and earrings which earned him the nickname of 'Il Pirata'.
The 1978 world cycling road race died of a heart attack aged 53 while out riding a bike. Knetemann's career spanned 15 years (1974-89), which saw him win 10 stages in the Tour de France and he was regarded as one of the finest classics riders in the world, winning the Amstel Gold Race twice and the Paris Nice once.
He left a wife and two children recorded 130 victories in all and after his retirement became the selector for the Dutch cycling team, a post he still held at the time of his demise.
FOOTBALL
Former Scotland goalkeeper who played in Tottenham's 1961 Double-winning team died at the age of 73 after a long illness. Brown began his career with Dundee, making 214 appearances but he made his name with Tottenham under manager Bill Nicholson.
Brown represented Scotland schoolboys and went on to win 28 senior caps, 24 of them while with Spurs. He twice won the FA Cup, as well as a League championship and a European Cup Winners' Cup medal during Spurs' glory years under Nicholson.
Died aged 72. Wales's greatest-ever footballer, brilliant all-rounder and still loved and revered in Turin where he became a Juventus legend. Charles scored 93 goals in 155 matches for Juventus and achieved the notable feat of never being booked or sent off throughout his career.
He won 38 caps for Wales and scored 15 goals. He played in the last Wales team to qualify for the World Cup, when he starred at the 1958 finals in Sweden.
One of the all-time great football managers died aged 69. Led unfashionable Nottingham Forest to two European Cup titles. A great motivator and tactician who led Forest to two European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980, he was a controversial character but also universally admired for his contribution to English football.
Died of a shotgun wound aged 43. Member of the 1986 Argentinian World Cup winning team. Cucciuffo received a fatal wound to the abdomen when a gun went off within the vehicle in which he was traveling with a friend.
He was capped 21 times for the national side between 1985 and 1989, but shone during the World Cup when he played six of Argentina's seven matches on their way to the title beating the then West Germany in the final.
Hungarian international striker collapsed and subsequently died aged 24 during a Portuguese championship match between his side Benfica and Vitoria Guimaraes. Feher moved to Portugal in the 1998/98 seasons from Hungary's Gyor Eto to play for FC Porto. He scored seven goals for Hungary in 25 appearances.
Died aged 71. Controversial president of Atletico Madrid football club, building tycoon, demagogic politician and utterly corrupt mayor of Marbella. Changed managers like people change shirts and once famously told one of them that his successor was sitting in the opposing team's changing room down the corridor.
Former Belgium national coach and European Cup winning manager died aged 83 after a long illness. The Belgian won the 1993 European Cup with French side Marseille - the only time a side from France has captured European club football's premier trophy - and the 1978 Cup Winners Cup with Belgian giants Anderlecht. His tactics gained him the nicknames of 'Raymond the Scientist' and the 'Sorcerer'.
Died aged 90. Brazilian footballer, leading scorer in the 1938 World Cup and inventor of the spectacular bicycle kick.
Died aged 72. Scottish football manager whose sunny optimism that his side would win the 1978 World Cup in Argentina came badly unstuck with defeat by Peru and a draw with Iran.
The Scots did eventually defeat future finalists the Netherlands in one of the best games of the tournament but it was too late in the day to salvage the wreckage.
Died aged 86. Acrobatic goalkeeper in the Uruguay team that caused a major upset in 1950 by beating Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.
Died aged 73. Energetic Scottish goalkeeper for the "Lisbon Lions", the Glasgow Celtic team that won the European Cup in 1967 with a famous victory over Inter Milan.
Died at 73 on the same day as MacLeod. Manager of Second Division Sunderland in 1973 when they caused the biggest English FA Cup final upset in history by beating the then mighty Leeds United.
Former England international midfielder died aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. Weller made his reputation as one of the most exciting midfielders in English football winning the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup in 1971 with Chelsea over Real Madrid. However it was at his next club Leicester City where he moved only months after lifting the Cup Winners Cup that he really found his feet.
Another great manager who died aged 84 after a long illness. He inspired Spurs to a famous league and cup double in 1961 - the first time it had been done in the 20th century.
Spurs successfully defended the FA Cup the following year and triumphed in the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1964, the first in Europe by a British side. He followed that with another FA Cup win in 1967, the Football League Cup in both 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup of 1972.
Playing career interrupted by army service in World War II and became Spurs manager in 1958 staying for 16 years in the post.
GAELIC FOOTBALL
Star Gaelic footballer died suddenly at his parent’s home aged 24 less than a year after he led Tyrone to an historic triumph in the most prestigious prize in the sport the All-Ireland trophy. His death left Ireland in shock. He was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the country - winning the young player of the year award in 2001.
ICE HOCKEY
Russian ice hockey legend died of a heart attack aged 63. The only player to win 10 world titles during his career. Also won nine European gold medals and three Olympic titles in 1964, 1968 and 1972 with the Soviet national squad.
Czech national ice hockey team coach died of injuries sustained in a car accident aged 54. Guided the Czechs to gold medal victory in the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998 and the world championships in Norway one year later.
Served a second term starting in May after the Czechs were knocked out of this year's world hockey championships by the United States in the quarterfinals.
MOTORCYCLING
Three-time Dakar Rally winner killed aged 34 in an accident in the desert during the fourth stage of the Rally of the Pharaohs in Egypt.
The Frenchman won the Paris-Dakar three times, riding for BMW in 1999 and 2000, and KTM in 2003, and was runner-up this year. He also rode for Japanese teams Kawasaki and Honda in his early career.
RACING
Australian riding legend and the only jockey to win a Melbourne Cup, English Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe died aged 76 after a short illness. While Glennon - who rode his first winner aged 13 in 1941 - won two Melbourne Cups he will be forever associated with the remarkable French horse Sea Bird, regarded as perhaps the greatest flat performer of all time.
Died aged 67 after a long battle with cancer. British racehorse owner and breeder who for eight years had a stranglehold on the big races in Britain, Ireland and France. Formed a fearsome partnership with Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien and legendary jockey Lester Piggott.
Had not been well since suffering a stroke in 1988 and died in April aged 77. The only man to both ride and train winners of the Grand National, the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup died early Monday after being taken to hospital last Thursday. Winter was champion jump jockey four times and top trainer on eight occasions.
RUGBY UNION
Died aged 74. England centre in 28 successive internationals from 1953 to 1959 and sometime captain, who starred in the historic British Lions tour to South Africa in 1955.
Died aged 73. England rugby international, one of the most impressive wing three-quarters in the game and scorer of a famous winning try against Australia in 1958.
Springbok forward capped 11 times died aged 100. Retired after 1931-32 tour of British Isles and became a clergyman who famously denounced apartheid after a Moral Rearmament conference in then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1953 which led to being branded a traitor but his fellow whites.
SNOOKER
Died aged 75. Grindingly boring, defensive Australian snooker player whose matches lasted for hours and, it was said, "provided hypnotic relief for insomniacs". Nevertheless reached the world snooker final three times, however failed to put to sleep his opponents as he lost them all.
