The China Mail - Sporting deaths of the year -- Part II

GYMNASTICS

Bela Karolyi died aged 82 on November 15

The disciplinarian coach guided Romanian Nadia Comaneci to the sport's first "Perfect 10" at the 1976 Olympics.

The ethnic Hungarian from Romania coached Comaneci to gold at the 1976 Montreal Games and the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

He later defected with his wife and fellow coach Marta to the United States in 1981 and enjoyed more Olympic success.

Although some gymnasts complained of his sometimes harsh words, Comaneci paid him a heartfelt tribute.

"Almost 50 years ago he guided me to the historic performance of the First Perfect 10 in the Olympics... and that changed my life for ever," Comaneci told USA Today.

MOTORCYCLING

Pat Hennen died aged 70 on April 6.

He was the first American rider to win a Grand Prix, the Finnish in 1976. So unexpected was his victory -- world champion Barry Sheene sat it out -- the organisers did not have a copy of the Star Spangled Banner.

Hennen, who won a further two GPs (the British in 1977 and the Spanish a year later), finished third in his maiden season in 1976 and again in 1977 before a dreadful crash in the 1978 Isle of Man TT race -- which most GP riders swerved due to the risks -- prematurely ended his career aged 25.

RALLYING

Kenjiro Shinozuka died aged 75 of pancreatic cancer on March 18

The first Japanese driver to win the challenging Paris Dakar Rally in 1997, 'Lightning Shinozuka' did not cash in on his fame.

Employed by Mitsubishi his Rally excursions were listed as "overseas business trips".

He also finished third in the 2002 edition but once the Rally was moved away from Africa in 2009 he decided to call it a day -- his love of the continent was reflected by him financing the building of a school in Senegal.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Rob Burrow died aged 41 of Motor Neurone Disease on June 2.

He may have been known as "the smallest player in rugby league" but the scrum-half made light of his size to become a pivotal member of the Leeds Rhinos side that won eight Super League titles and two Challenge Cup trophies.

However, it was his courageous battle with Motor Neurone Disease that brought him wider fame.

Along with teammate Kevin Sinfield, he raised over £6 million ($7.5million) in funds and campaigned to raise awareness of the disease.

He left a poignant last message -- though he has also recorded messages for his and wife Lindsey's three children to be listened to at various stages of their lives.

"My final message to you is whatever your personal battle be brave and face it. Every single day is precious. Don't waste a moment. In a world full of adversity we must still dare to dream. Rob Burrow, over and out."

RUGBY UNION

Andre Boniface died aged 89 on April 9

Key member of four Five Nations winning championship sides (1954/1955/1959/1962) the dashing back scored 11 tries in his 48 Tests from 1954-66.

He played in the centres both at club and Test level with his younger brother Guy, the duo epitomising 'French flair' and together delivered Mont-de-Marsan their one and only French club title in 1963.

Guy's premature death in a car crash in 1968 was, said Andre, "the only scar of my life".

Barry John died aged 79 on February 4

Dubbed 'The King' by a New Zealand press pack never in a rush to praise non-All Black players, the Welshman earned the accolade for being the linchpin as fly-half to the historic British & Irish Lions Test series win over the All Blacks in 1971.

John astonished many by retiring a year later aged just 27 having won 25 caps between 1965-72 but he said he felt uncomfortable with the fame his brilliance had brought.

The breaking point came when he was asked to give a talk to people in a branch of the bank he worked for.

"Inside I said a few words and as I was being introduced to someone she curtsied," he recalled.

"That convinced me this was not normal, I was becoming more and more detached from real people. I didn't want this any more."

Geoff Wheel died aged 73 of motor neurone disease on December 26

Formed a hard-as-nails second row partnership with Allan Martin in a superb Wales side that dominated the Five Nations, winning the title four times including achieving the Grand Slam twice (1976 and 1978).

Nicknamed 'Gaffa', he made history in an unwanted way in becoming the first Welsh rugby international to be sent off, when he and rugged Irish opponent Willie Duggan were red-carded in the 1977 Five Nations match.

Despite his hardman image he was recalled differently by St Thomas Church where he fulfilled several functions including organist.

"He loved to serve the church in any way he could, from his musical talents... to giving free tuck away to the kids who didn't bring money, to collecting the food from the foodbank."

JPR Williams died aged 74 of bacterial meningitis on January 8

The Welsh full-back, with trademark sideburns and socks round his ankles, was a terrifying sight for his opponents as he bore down on them with or without the ball.

Like Wheel another pivotal player in the golden generation of Welsh rugby though he came on the scene a bit earlier winning his first of 55 caps in 1969 and was a member of three Grand Slam winning sides.

Arguably Williams's greatest achievements came in the British and Irish Lions tours.

He dropped the decisive goal in 1971, the only time the Lions have beaten the All Blacks in a test series.

Three years later the orthopaedic surgeon was part of "The Invincibles", who won 21 of 22 matches on a brutal tour of South Africa in 1974.

"The Lions trips were the pinnacle, they were marvellous," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"Just imagine, I was a young sports-mad medical student and I got to go on a four-month rugby tour when I could train or play every day, and every bit of food and drink was paid for."

Sid Going died aged 80 on May 17

Nicknamed 'Super Sid' he was a dynamic scrum-half for New Zealand -- some say the best ever -- scoring 10 tries in his 29-Test career from 1967 to 1977.

He played with his two brothers for Northland which provided TV and radio commentators with the opportunity to cry "Going, Going, gone."

Of Maori descent rugby, the All Blacks benefitted from Going's decision to return from Canada after a two-year stint as a Mormon missionary where he had gone aged 19.

Ronnie Dawson died aged 92 on October 11

A hooker, the Irishman captained the British & Irish Lions a record six times, guiding the team to their only win at New Zealand's Eden Park stronghold in 1959.

Dawson won 27 Irish caps from 1958 to 1965, as well as representing the Barbarians.

Dawson was part of the Lions coaching set-up in 1968 and also became Ireland's first national team coach in 1969, a role he held for three years.

SNOOKER

Ray Reardon died aged 91 of cancer on July 19

Nicknamed 'Dracula', due to his widow's peak and prominent teeth, the Welshman certainly drew blood on the green baize winning six world titles between 1970-78.

A former miner and policeman he was ranked world number one till 1981 -- reaching his last world final a year later when he lost to Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins.

In later years he was a consultant to Ronnie 'Rocket' O'Sullivan, who under his tutelage won the 2004 world crown -- the Englishman celebrating by donning a pair of fangs.

SWIMMING

David Wilkie died aged 70 of cancer on May 22

Became the first British swimmer in 68 years to win Olympic gold when he won the 200 metres breaststroke in Montreal in 1976 in style, breaking the world record by over three seconds.

He is the only swimmer to have held British, Commonwealth, European, world and Olympic swimming titles in the same race at the same time.

The Sri Lanka-born star -- his Scottish parents were based there -- made the most of his fame.

"A young guy, hanging around the King's Road (in London), few bob in the pocket... I wouldn't say I was an out-and-out reprobate, but if the opportunity was there we had a good time," he told the BBC in 2022.

"London was a swinging town. There was a lot to enjoy and, by God, you might as well enjoy it."

TENNIS

Neale Fraser died aged 91

Such was his status in Australia he received a state funeral.

Hailed as a "true legend" by Swiss icon Roger Federer, he won three major singles titles, including a memorable Wimbledon final in 1960 when he beat Rod Laver, and 16 Grand Slam doubles crowns.

In 1959 Fraser won all three US titles -- singles, doubles and mixed -– at Forest Hills and led Australia to glory in the Davis Cup, a competition with which he became synonymous.

He captained the team for 24 years, steering them to four tournament wins.

Speaking soon after his death, Laver called him "my dear mate" and "a true gem in a golden era of Australian tennis legends".

Robert Lansdorp died aged 85 on September 16.

Borin in Indonesia he came to the USA via the Netherlands and coached a 16-year-old Tracy Austin to the 1979 US Open title.

He also coached Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova.

Never a household name, he was comfortable with that.

"All I need is a basket of balls and a court," he told Inside Tennis in 2004.

"I don't need all the B.S. But I've always been the worst PR guy. I never talked. Other guys have PR people."

WRESTLING

Levian Tediashvili died aged 75 on February 17.

A two-time Olympic champion (1972 and 1976) in different weight classes, he beat American brothers John and Ben Peterson.

Son of a disabled Red Army World War II veteran and a mother whose first husband was killed in the same conflict, he inherited their warrior genes and fought in the Abkhazian War (1992-93).

However, while he survived his son did not.

He was also a deputy in the Georgian Parliament and an award-winning actor, collecting the best actor gong at the 2021 Tribeca Festival.

Q.Yam--ThChM