Sports
2020.04.20 15:55 GMT+8

World's sportsmen lost to COVID-19

Updated 2020.04.20 15:55 GMT+8
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Lorenzo Sanz (C) lifts the Champions League trophy while celebrating with his Real Madrid players in Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 20, 1988. /VCG

Lorenzo Sanz

Lorenzo Sanz of Spain, former president of Real Madrid, who was hospitalized with COVID-19, died on March 21, at age 76.

Sanz was in-charge of the Spanish giants from 1995-2000, overseeing two Champions League titles.

Norman Hunter in 1969. /VCG

Norman Hunter

Norman Hunter of the UK, a former Leeds United defender who was part of England's World Cup-winning squad in 1966, died of COVID-19 on April 17, at age 76.

Nicknamed "Bites Yer Legs" for his tough tackling, Hunter made 726 appearances for Leeds in 15 years at the Yorkshire club.

New Orleans Saints' Tom Dempsey #19 moves up to kick a 63-yard field goal as teammate Joe Scarpati holds the ball during the game against Detroit Lions on November 8, 1970. The record-setting kick, with two seconds left in the game, gave the Saints a 19-17 win. /AP

Tom Dempsey

Tom Dempsey of the U.S., who once held the record for the longest NFL field goal, died of COVID-19 on April 4, at age 73.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot, joined the New Orleans Saints out of college in 1969 and in November 1970 set a record for the longest field goal with a game-winning 63-yard kick against the Detroit Lions.

He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills before retiring in 1979.

Carmen Williamson shows his honorary gold medal in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, U.S., July 20, 2012. /AP

Carmen Williamson

Carmen Williamson of the U.S., boxing's first black referee and Olympic judge, died on April 8, at age 94 due to COVID-19.

Williamson was a top-ranked U.S. amateur boxer in the 1940s and 1950s, compiling an impressive 250-14 record while fighting as a featherweight.

In 1984, he made history as boxing's first black referee and worked during the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, during which he earned an honorary gold medal. Later, Williamson began teaching boxing in worldwide tours and inspiring young people to engage in the sport. 

Sam Clayton Jr. /Courtesy of Clayton's family

Sam Clayton Jr.

Sam Clayton Jr. of Jamaica, a former reggae musician and sportsman, passed away at age 58 on March 31, after contracting COVID-19.

Clayton also worked as a railroad engineer and was part of the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada, and inspired the hit Disney film "Cool Runnings" (1993).

Ken Farnum at the 1952 Olympic Games /Courtesy of Ken Farnum Jr.

Ken Farnum

Ken Farnum of Barbados, a cycling legend who raced as Barbados' first Olympian, died from complications brought on by COVID-19, on April 4 at age 89.

Born on the Caribbean island of Barbados, Farnum began racing at age 10. He competed in the men's sprint and 1,000 meters time trial events at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland.

After the Olympics, he moved to New York and continued training during his non-work time.

He won the New York state championship for amateurs, predecessor to the U.S. Cycling event, in 1955, 1956 and 1957, becoming the first cyclist of color winning the state championship, and second after African-American cyclist Major Talyor in domestic races. 

Screenshot from Pakistan Cricket's account via Twitter

Zafar Sarfraz

Zafar Sarfraz of Pakistan, a former fist-class cricket in the country, died after contracting COVID-19 at age 50 on April 13.

Sarfraz, a middle-order batsman, played 15 first-class games in the Pakistani city of Peshawar and retired in 1994.

Screenshot from World Curing Federation's account via Twitter

Christian Leibbrandt

Christian Leibbrandt of the Netherlands, a technical officer and photographer at the World Curling Federation (WCF), also a member of the Dutch Curling Association, passed away after losing his fight with COVID-19, according to an obituary posted by WCF, on April 12.

Donato Sabia in 1984. /VCG

Donato Sabia

Donato Sabia of Italy, a former runner who competed in both 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, passed away at age 56 on April 8, following his father's death a few days earlier, both due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicknamed "Il Signore degli 800" marking his best ever time, 1:43.88, Sabia held the record for finishing 800 meters with the third best time for an Italian runner.

Roger Chappot in 1971. /VCG

Roger Chappot

Roger Chappot of Switzerland, a former ice hockey player, died on April 7, at age 79, after contracting COVID-19.

Chappot played more than 100 games for Switzerland's national team including at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. He was the Swiss league's leading scorer in the 1964 season.

The International Ice Hockey Federation said: "Chappot was a legend in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and one of the best centers in the country in the 1960s."

(With input from agencies)

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