NBA legend and sports icon Kobe Bryant made it to retirement, but his life was cut short at 41 years old, following a helicopter crash in California on January 26, 2020. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of eight others, including Gianna Bryant, Kobe's 13-year-old daughter, who was a promising basketball player herself.

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Colby Cave -

NHL star Colby Cave, who played for the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers, passed away on April 11, 2020 at just 25 years old. After having been put in a medically induced coma four days earlier, following a surgery to remove a colloid cyst causing pressure on his brain, Cave's cause of death was a brain bleed. His family, and wife of less than one year, were unable to be with him in his final moments because of COVID-19 hospital regulations.

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Patrick Day -

Boxer Patrick Day passed away on October 16, 2019, aged 27, days after a fight with fellow American Charles Conwell in Chicago. He died as a result of his head injuries, this after falling into a coma.

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Maxim Dadashev -

On July 24, 2019, days after his fight with Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias, Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev passed away in a US hospital from sustained injuries. He was just 28 years old.

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Gabriele Grunewald -

Gabriele Grunewald was an elite American distance runner, and the 12th fastest American woman to run the 1500 m in history. While she boasted an impressive resumé, she was battling cancer through it all, enduring radiation therapy and surgery several times since she was diagnosed in 2009, but continuing to run. She died June 11, 2019, at just 32 years old.

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Kelly Catlin - Kelly Catlin was a sensational US cyclist, who scored a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics. The athlete committed suicide in her Stanford dorm room on March 7.

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Hank Gathers - This college basketball star collapsed and died during a game in 1990. The 23-year-old played against legends like Shaquille O'Neal, but never made it to the NBA.

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Ayrton Senna - The thrilling Brazilian racer was a world champion of Formula One, but died at the age of 34 in an explosive crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

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Miklós Fehér - Fehér was a heroic Hungarian striker, who played for Portuguese clubs Porto and Benfica. During a game with Benfica, he suffered a cardiac arrest, and died in the hospital at age 24.

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Emiliano Sala - The world of football was shocked with the passing of Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash in January. He was 28 years old.

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Aaron Hernandez - Aaron Hernandez had a revered NFL career, which ended after he was convicted of murder. He was acquitted of a connected double homicide, but committed suicide in his cell at the age of 27.

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Erica Blasberg - Blasberg was a pro golfer who reportedly committed suicide when she was 25. Some suggested foul play from a Dr. Thomas Hess, who says he had a "flirty" relationship with Blasberg. But he was ultimately cleared in a wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit stemming from Blasberg's passing.

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Oscar Taveras - The 22-year-old Dominican-Canadian was primed to be a star with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, "El Fenómeno" and his girlfriend were both killed in a car crash.

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Sarah Burke - Sarah Burke was a breathtaking Canadian skier. However, she fell on her head during training, and died of injuries that she sustained. She was 29 years old.

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Drazen Petrovic - The Croatian basketballer played for Portland, Real Madrid, and the New Jersey Nets. He died in a car accident in Germany, aged 28.

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Camille Muffat - The French swimmer won bronze, silver, and gold at the Olympics. She joined the TV show 'Dropped,' but died aged 25 along with nine other people in a helicopter crash.

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Ed Sanders - Sanders was a US Olympic champion of boxing. His last fight was against Willie James, who beat the boxer beyond repair. He was stretchered out of the ring, and pronounced dead at a hospital aged 24.

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Darrent Williams - This NFL star started 14 games for the Denver Broncos in 2006. However, Williams was gunned down in a drive-by shooting during a 2007 New Year's Eve celebration. He was 24.

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Steve Prefontaine - This Oregon-born Olympic runner died in a car accident when he was 24.

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Andrés Escobar - During the 1994 World Cup, the Colombian central defender accidentally scored an own goal in a 2-1 loss against the US. The country turned on the player, who was murdered at age 27. Many have made connections between his mistake and his murder.

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José Fernández - Fernández was an exciting star with the Miami Marlins, but died in a boating accident when was 24, five days after announcing that his girlfriend was pregnant with their child.

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Francisco Lázaro - Lázaro's day job was doing carpentry in Lisbon, and he also represented Portugal as an Olympic marathon runner. He died from dehydration aged 21, during an Olympic marathon before which he reportedly said "either I win or I die."

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Nick Adenhart - Nick Adenhart had a great start with the Los Angeles Angels. However, he was killed at age 22 in a car crash not far from the Angels stadium.

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Salvador Sanchez - Despite his short career, Salvador Sanchez is still seen as one of boxing's greatest featherweight fighters. He died at age 23 in a car accident.

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Antonio Puerta - Puerta was a star player for Seville, winning five titles with his only club. He collapsed during a La Liga match in 2007, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

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Bernardo Ribeiro - The Brazilian attacking midfielder died at 26, after suffering a cardiac arrest following a game with an amateur club.

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Pat Tillman - Tillman got his start with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. However, he joined the military after 9/11, and was killed in a friendly-fire accident aged 27.

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Christian Benitez - Otherwise known as "Chucho," this Ecuadorian striker played around the world, before dying of cardiac arrest complications at the age of 27.

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Edvin Hodžić - This Austrian midfielder played for many clubs in his country, and was contracted to play for German club SV Schalding-Heining. However, he passed away at the age of 23.

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Sean Taylor - Sean Taylor was a star on the rise with the Washington Redskins. However, he was fatefully shot in the leg during a robbery attempt at his home. He died aged 24 at the hospital.

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Renato Curi - During the '60s and '70s, Curi played midfield for Italian clubs like Como, Perugia, and Giulianova. However, he died suddenly, aged 24, during a game against Juventus in 1977.

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Victims of the Munich air disaster - One of the most shocking accidents in the history of soccer, a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed in Munich in 1958. In total, 23 people died, including eight United players in their prime.

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Bill Barilko - Otherwise known as "Bashin' Belly," the Toronto-based hockey player was 24 when he vanished in August 1951. He apparently died in a plane crash, and the wreckage was found 11 years later.

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Ernie Davis -

He was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, but Davis' career was cut short after he was diagnosed with leukemia. He died of the disease at 23.

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Sports stars who died too young

Vincent Jackson, former NFL star wide receiver, found dead at 38

16/02/21 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Deaths

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 NFL San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson had made it to retirement in 2018, but was found on February 15 at a hotel in Florida. The athlete, who was once one of the best wide receivers in the league, was just 38 years old.

His cause of death is being investigated, though there were no signs of trauma. Jackson had reportedly checked into the hotel on February 11, a day after his family had reported him missing. Police closed the case after they checked on his well-being. He leaves behind his wife and their three children.

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.