Athletes We Have Tragically Lost So Far In 2023

It’s never easy to get a news bulletin that a celebrity you care about has passed away. Whether it was from natural causes or not, it’s hard to comprehend that they’re gone and won’t be coming back. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of life, and it makes us grateful for the time we do have with people on this planet.

2023 has seemed like quite a hazardous year for a lot of stars, including those who made their names in sports. When we found out that we’d lost these athletes earlier this year, it was quite a blow, especially as some of them still had a lot of life left to live.

Tori Bowie lost her life due to complications of childbirth at 32

One of the saddest losses we’ve experienced this year happened last month when it emerged that Tori Bowie had passed away at just 32 years old. She was probably best known for representing the US in athletics at the 2016 Olympic Games, ultimately walking away with three medals, including a gold. Unfortunately, she lost her life in the most heartbreaking way when she experienced complications of childbirth. She was found on May 2, but had allegedly been gone for more than a week following issues that may have included respiratory distress and eclampsia. Tragically, Bowie’s loss also meant that her child passed away with her.

Christian Atsu got caught up in the Turkey-Syria earthquake at 31

Another young and heartbreaking loss that came earlier this year was when 31-year-old Christian Atsu passed away in February. The professional soccer player, who had signed to play for Hatayspor in 2022, was caught up in the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake that ultimately claimed his life. Apparently, he’d been scheduled to fly away from the area hours before his passing. However, he chose to stick around after winning a game for his team. It was more than a week before the world received confirmation of what had happened to him in the wake of the earthquake. Sadly, on February 18, the news that no one wanted to hear was announced.

The Iron Sheik passed away in June at 80 years old

Long-standing fans of professional wrestling should remember the name The Iron Sheik. The only Iranian champion to ever emerge victorious in WWE, he’s part of the reason Hulk Hogan became such a huge name in the sport. While The Iron Sheik - real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri - was very much a villain in the ring, he still had a wide array of fans. So, many people were understandably devastated when the news broke about his passing on June 7. Thankfully, compared to some of the athletes we have tragically lost so far in 2023, The Iron Sheik lived quite a long life. He would have been 81 this September.

Dave Wilcox also lost his life at 80 earlier this year

Another sporting legend who passed away at 80 years old in 2023 is Dave Wilcox. We lost him on April 19, and there’s no indication that it was anything other than natural causes. Wilcox had understandably put his football playing days behind a long time before his passing, but he still had an incredible legacy on the field. His career was at its peak in the ‘60s and ‘70s, when he spent a decade as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. During that time, he made it to seven Pro Bowls and was selected for the All-Pro first team twice, with Wilcox since being entered into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Frank LeMaster left us in March 2023, shortly after turning 71

It seems that 2023 isn’t the best year for linebackers. Another NFL star who once played in this position and passed away this year is Frank LeMaster. He’d turned 71 years old a little more than a week before it emerged that he’d lost his life, again from natural causes. LeMaster was also actually a part of the San Francisco 49ers at one point too, although he and Wilcox never crossed paths. He only joined at the end of his playing career in 1984, having spent most of his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he only made it to one Pro Bowl, he was still inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 to honor his sporting achievements.

It’s hard to think that these people are all gone, especially given some of the cruel ways that they were taken from this world. Thankfully, we can always look back at what they achieved in their respective sports and remember the legacy they left behind. At least that’s something of a comfort.