Forever Young: Athletes Who Died in Their Early Twenties

Duncan Edwards (October 1, 1936 – February 21, 1958)

Duncan Edwards was an English footballer who was one of eight Manchester United players who perished on their way home from a European Cup match on February 6, 1958 in an airplane crash, an event that became known as the Munich Air Disaster. He survived the crash, but died 15 days later at age 21.

Terry Fox (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981)

At age 18, Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma cancer that resulted in the amputation of his right leg. In his determination to overcome his disability, he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, in what became known as the Marathon of Hope. Unfortunately, Fox died without finishing the run. He was only 22.

Maribel Owen (April 25, 1940 – February 15, 1961)

(Owen and Richards’ gold-medal-winning free skate from the 1961 US National figure skating championships)

Maribel Owen was a pair skater, who, with her partner Dudley Richards, was a member of the US team in the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California. Tragically, just a month after winning the 1961 US Pairs National Figure Skating Championships, the 20-year Owen perished along with her mom, sister, and the rest of the US team in the Sabena plane crash near Belgium while on their way to participate at the World Championships in Prague.

Luc Bourdon (February 16, 1987 – May 29, 2008)

Noted not only for being strong defenseman, but also one who can contribute on offense, Luc Bourdon overcame childhood arthritis to become one of the most promising ice hockey players. He played for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL and Manitoba Moose of the AHL, and represented Canada in three World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (2005 – 2007), winning 2 golds and a silver. Tragically at age 21, he lost his life when he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a tractor trailer near his hometown of Shippagan, New Brunswick.

Christy Henrich (July 18, 1972 – July 26, 1994)

(Christy Henrich on uneven bars event finals during the 1989 Stuttgart World Championships, where she placed fourth with a score of 9.950)

Christy Henrich was a gymnast of near-Olympic caliber, having made the US national team in 1986 and gradually rising through the elite ranks over the next four years. Unfortunately, she developed an eating disorder when told by a judge during the 1989 World Championships that she needed to lose some weight. Her extreme desire to shed a few pounds led to full-blown anorexia nervosa. At 4′ 11″ tall, she weighed only 47 pounds when she died of multiple organ failure just eight days after her 22nd birthday.

Archie Jackson (September 5, 1909 – February 16, 1933)

Archibald “Archie” Jackson was an Australian cricketer very much distinguished for his graceful batting style. In his test debut against England in 1929, he became the youngest player to score a Test century at the tender age of 19. Plagued by ill-health throughout his short career, he collapsed during a game and eventually succumbed to pneumonary tuberculosis a few days after his admission to a hospital.

Francisco Guilledo (August 1, 1901 – July 14, 1925)

Before Manny Pacquiao was born, there was Francisco Guilledo, the legendary Filipino boxer better known by his nome de guerre, Pancho Villa. Standing only 154 cm. (5 ft. 1 in.) tall and never weighing more than 51 kg (114 lbs), he rose to fame by winning the World Flyweight Boxing Championship in 1923. Pancho Villa was never knocked out in his entire career that was abruptly cut short when he died from complications following a series of tooth extractions just 18 days shy of his 24th birthday.

Lillian Board (December 13, 1948 – December 26, 1970)

Considered one of the finest of her generation, Lillian Board was a British track athlete who clinched a silver medalist in the 400 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics and a two-time gold medalist at the 1969 European Championships in Athens. However, her promising career tragically ended in 1970 when she died of terminal colorectal cancer only 13 days after she turned 22.

Forever Young Series:

• MUSICIANS Who Died in Their:

  • Early Twenties
  • Mid-Twenties
  • Late Twenties

• ACTORS Who Died in Their:

  • Early Twenties
  • Mid-twenties
  • Late Twenties

• SPORTS PERSONALITIES Who Died in Their:
  • Early Twenties
  • Mid-Twenties
  • Late Twenties

• HISTORICAL PEOPLE Who Died in Their:

  • Early Twenties
  • Mid-Twenties
  • Late Twenties

More articles you might be interested in:

• 10 Bizarre Deaths in History
• 10 (more) Bizarre Deaths in History
• 10 (ultimate) Bizarre Deaths in History
• Unusual Wills and Testaments