Olympic deaths

As of February 2010, six, possibly seven, athletes have died at the Olympic games while either competing or practicing in their sport. In addition, another 11 participants have died at the Olympic games from events which were not connected with sports.

Summer Games deaths (sports)

• Knut Jensen, Denmark – Cyclist – 1960, Rome - Heat stroke ^[1]
• Francisco Lazaro, 21, Portugal – Runner – 1912, Stockholm -Electrolyte imbalance ^[2]
• Nicolae Berechet, Romania – Boxer - 1936, Berlin - Blood poisoning^{[3] [4]}

Winter Games deaths (sports)

• Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, Georgia – Luge – 2010, Vancouver - Luge crash ^[5]
• Nicolas Bochatay, 27, Switzerland – Speed Skiing – 1992, Albertville - Collision while skiing ^[6]
• Jorg Oberhammer, 47, Austrian Team Doctor – Ski Collision – 1988, Calgary^{[citation needed]}
• Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypecki, Britain – Luge – 1964, Innsbruck - Luge crash ^[7]
• Ross Milne, 19, Australia – Downhill Skiing – 1964, Innsbruck - Ski collision ^[8]

Other deaths

Main article: Munich massacre

In 1972, during the Munich Olympics, 11 members of the Israeli team were killed during a terrorist attack by Palestinian extremists called Black September.

The 11 Israeli Olympic Team members who died in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich are:

• Mark Slavin, 18, Wrestler
• Eliezer Halfin, 24, Wrestler
• David Mark Berger, 28, Weightlifter
• Ze'ev Friedman, 28, Weightlifter
• Yossef Romano, 31, Weightlifter
• Andre Spitzer, 27, Fencing coach
• Moshe Weinberg, 33, Wrestling coach
• Amitzur Shapira, 40, Track coach
• Yossef Gutfreund, 40, Wrestling referee
• Yakov Springer, 51, Weightlifting judge
• Kehat Shorr, 53, Shooting coach

Deaths of non-participants at Olympic-related events

1996 Olympic Park Bombing

Main article: Centennial Olympic Park bombing

On July 27, 1996 (the eighth day of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games), a bomb exploded at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, killing one and wounding another 111 persons.

Notes

1. ^ "Danish Cyclist Died of Heat Stroke, Not Drug". New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C10FD395F13738DDDAF0A94DB405B818AF1D3&scp=2&sq=knud%20enemark%20jensen&st=cse. Retrieved 3 June 2011. 
2. ^ "FORUM OLIMPICO DE PORTUGAL" (in Portuguese). http://www.forumolimpico.org/?q=node/242. Retrieved 3 June 2011. 
3. ^ Berechet died four days after losing his bout against Evald Seeberg. His death was officially recorded as being due to blood poisoning but it has been suggested that damage caused in the fight may have been have a factor in his death
4. ^ (Estonian) Kuningas, Tiit; Tiit Lääne (2005) (in Estonian). Olümpiamängude ajalugu II, suvemängud 1920-1944 (en: History of the Olympic Games II, Summer Games 1920-1944). Tallinn: Maalehe Raamat. ISBN 9985-64-255-4. 
5. ^ Zinser, Lynn (2010-02-12). "Luge Athlete Killed in Training Crash at Olympics". New York Times (New York City). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/sports/olympics/13luge.html?hp=&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 2010-02-12. 
6. ^ Eskenaz, Gerald (23 February 1992). "Albertville; Swiss speed skier killed during a practice run". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/23/sports/albertville-swiss-speed-skier-killed-during-a-practice-run.html. Retrieved 15 February, 2010. 
7. ^ Judd, Ron C. (2009). The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and The Games. The Mountaineers Books. pp. 29. ISBN 9781594850639. 
8. ^ John E. Findling, Kimberly D. Pelle, Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement, Greenwood Press, 2004, ISBN 0313322783, p. 347.

References

• www.nowpublic.com
• Kas Eesti poksija löök põhjustas vastase surma? (Did hit from the Estonian boxer caused opponents death?) Eesti Päevaleht (Estonian)