15 Athletes With Incredible Stories

15 Athletes With Incredible Stories

If you’re a true sports fan, then there’s nothing you love more than supporting athletes with incredible stories – even if they play for a team you don’t like. There’s nothing quite like a good comeback story or underdog story where an athlete overcomes odds en route to greatness.

It’s something we witness in every sport and it’s something that will inspire anyone with a heart and soul. These athletes with incredible stories prove that anything is possible, even the unthinkable and improbable. They give millions of people around the world hope and faith. 

The human race is capable of some incredible things, but those capabilities are only explored by those brave enough to test themselves. Even those that fail can say they tried, which is enough to inspire someone else to try – if not yourself. That type of resilience will reciprocate to others.

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You Won’t Believe These Athletes With Incredible Stories

15 Athletes With Incredible Stories
tishomir / Shutterstock

There’s no shortage of athletes with incredible stories – they’re everywhere, they aren’t going anywhere, and they’ll continue to shock those that bear witness to their achievements. Just when you think you’ve seen everything in the sports world, someone new proves you wrong.

We saw a perfect example of this a few weeks ago when Adonis Lattimore, a high school senior who was born without legs and only one finger on one of his hands, won the Virginia High School League Class 6 state wrestling championship. His story quickly spread on social media. 

And that’s just one of the many athletes with incredible stories. If you’re looking for some more inspiration or motivation, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’re going to detail 15 unique athletes with incredible stories that will make you rethink what’s possible and what’s not. 

15. Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda is a former Formula One driver from Vienna, Austria. He made his debut in 1971 and eventually emerged as one of the sport’s premier drivers after winning the F1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1975 with Ferrari. The 1976 season looked to be going much the same way. 

On 1 August, 1976, Lauda was involved in a devastating crash during the second lap in which his Ferrari 312T2 swerved off the track and burst into flames. Trapped in the wreckage, he was finally pulled out of the car by a fellow driver, but he suffered severe burns and inhaled toxic gas.

Despite his injuries, Lauda was back behind the wheel in just six weeks, finished the 1976 season, and came one point away from a back-to-back championship. Nonetheless, he returned in 1977 to win his second championship and eventually won his third in 1984. 

14. Sandeep Singh

Sandeep Singh is an Indian field hockey player that some people might recognize if they’ve seen the 2018 biographical film Soorma, directed by Indian filmmaker Shaad Ali and released in 2018. Field hockey might not be the most popular sport today, but his story will live on forever

Between 2004 and 2006, Singh was making a name for himself with India’s national team, but his career came to a screeching halt after he was hit by an accidental gunshot in August of 2006. He was just 20 years old and was on his way to join his team for the World Cup in Africa.

Singh was nearly paralyzed and spent a year of his life in a wheelchair, but eventually worked his way back to field hockey. By 2008, he was the top scorer of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He continues to play to this day, is a former captain, and has even embarked on a political career.

13. Vince Papale

If you’ve seen the 2006 film Invincible, directed by Ericson Core, then you know the name Vince Papale. Even if you haven’t seen the film, Papale is a very recognizable name to any football fan that roots for the underdog – which is exactly what he was when he joined the NFL in 1976

Prior to 1976, Papale was a college track and field athlete that found himself playing in the World Football League in 1974. Though he was a wide receiver, his strength was on special teams. In fact, his special teams play caught the eye of Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Dick Vermeil. 

Despite working as a part time bartender, nightclub doorman, and substitute teacher at the time, Papale earned an invitation to a free agent tryout in 1976. He eventually made the team and played in 41 games for the team over the next three years, primarily on special teams. 

12. Tom Brady

We all know who Tom Brady is. He’s the greatest football player of all-time that has more Super Bowl rings than any franchise in the NFL and is the league’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and wins by a starting quarterback – just to name a few. 

While most football fans are aware of his story, many people on the outside looking in might not understand that Tom Brady was a sixth round draft pick in 2000 – he was the 199th overall pick in a draft with just over 250 picks. At the time, not many people knew who Tom Brady was. 

That stayed true his rookie season, having appeared in one game as a backup for the Patriots. In 2001, however, he started a legacy no one could’ve ever imagined. Over the next 21 years, Brady appeared in 10 Super Bowls and won seven of them. He had a 243-73 record as starter.

11. Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente is one of the greatest baseball players of all-time. Over his 18-year career in the MLB, the Puerto Rican right fielder recorded 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, 1,305 runs batted in, and 1,416 runs scored with a .317 batting average. He won two World Series and one MVP. 

During the offseason, Clemente made it a tradition to do humanitarian and volunteer work in Caribbean countries that needed it most. Whether it was delivering baseball equipment to inspire younger generations or delivering food to those in need, Clemente was always ready to help.

Clemente would’ve achieved much more in his life if he hadn’t passed away during the 1972 offseason. He was involved in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. It was a tragedy then and it’s a tragedy today, but he remains an inspiration to all.

10. Shaquem Griffin

Shaquem Griffin was born in 1995 with amniotic band syndrome in his left hand. The syndrome caused his fingers to not develop properly and introduced a great deal of pain in his life. By the age of four, the pain was so unbearable he threatened to cut his hand off with a butcher knife. 

His mother interjected and decided to amputate his left hand the next day. Despite his disability, Griffin played sports his entire childhood alongside his twin brother Shaquill Griffin. The two would later play football for Central Florida University – Shaquem Griffin was a linebacker. 

Shaquem was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and entered the 2018 NFL Draft as an interesting prospect. He had an impressive combine and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round. He’s a free agent right now, but he does have two career sacks.

9. Jim Abbott

Before the sports world had Shaquem Griffin, it had Jim Abbott. Despite being born without a right hand, the only thing Abbott wanted to do was play baseball. Unfortunately, baseball is largely viewed as a two-handed sport – one hand for the glove and one for throwing the ball. 

As a child, he would throw a rubber ball at the wall and try to put his glove on in the time it took the ball to come back to him. The better he got at this, the closer he would move to the wall. He became so good at this that he began playing little league baseball at the age of 11 years old. 

10 years later, Abbott was one of the best amateur pitches and was selected in the second round of the 1988 MLB Draft. He started 254 games in the MLB and had a record of 87-108. Not many people can say they have 87 wins as a pitcher in the MLB – Abbott did it with one hand.

8. Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman started focusing on football in his sophomore year of high school and eventually earned a football scholarship to play at Arizona State University. He was a star both on the field and in the classroom, earning honors in both roles – including Arizona State’s MVP in 1997. 

Despite a successful college career as a linebacker, Tillman wasn’t drafted until the seventh round and made the move to safety his rookie season. He played in all 16 games that year and even started in 10 of them, recording 73 tackles and one sack for the Arizona Cardinals. 

He spent the next three seasons with the Cardinals, but put his football career on hold following the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001. He joined the United States Army in 2002 and served several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before being killed in action due to friendly fire on April 22, 2004. 

7. Ted Williams

Ted Williams is one of the greatest baseball players of all-time and is the last MLB player to record a season batting average above .400. Over a 19-year MLB career, Williams was a two-time MVP, two-time Triple Crown winner, 19-time All-Star, and won six batting titles.

When he wasn’t carving up pitchers with his consistent and precise batting, he was serving his country as a member of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. He served for three years during World War II. At the time, he was just 23 years old and finished his fourth MLB season.

In his first season back from war, he won his first MVP award and won his second just three years later in 1949. During the 1952 and 1953 seasons, he returned to service as a Marine combat aviator during the Korean War. He played seven more seasons before retiring. 

6. Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner had a unique and inspiring path to the NFL – similar to that of Vince Papale, but with far more glory on the sport’s biggest stages. He played football in high school, but was a third string in college up until his senior year, at which point he was the starter and played well. 

Despite being named Gateway Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, Warner went undrafted in the 1994 NFL Draft. Over the next four years, he tried out for the Packers, was released by the Packers, worked at a grocery store, and played in the Arena Football League.

In 1998, he signed a futures contract with the St. Louis Rams. By 1999, he was the team’s starter and led them to a 35-8 record over the next three years – which included two MVP trophies and a Super Bowl victory. After a 12-year career, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

5. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and helped revolutionize the position for future generations. At 6-foot-9, he was taller than most point guards and showed off his versatility as a passer, shooter, rebounder, defender, and leader on the basketball court. 

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the first overall draft pick in 1979. Over the next 12 seasons, Johnson helped lead the Lakers to five championships and won three MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, and two All-Star MVP awards. He was a 12-time All-Star.

Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short after a physical revealed he tested positive for HIV ahead of the 1991-92 season. He retired immediately, but returned in 1995 and played 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for good. He’s now one of the richest athletes in the world.

4. Michael Jordan

We all know who Michael Jordan is. Even those who aren’t fans of the NBA know who Michael Jordan is. He’s one of the most recognizable and profitable brands in all of sports and is one of, if not the greatest basketball player of all-time. His talent and competitiveness are unmatched.

Many people know of his greatness at the NCAA and NBA level, but not many people know the adversity he faced in high school. After failing to make the varsity team as a sophomore, he played a year on the junior varsity team and lit it up with several 40-point games in the process. 

He made the varsity team the next two years, tearing it up as a junior and senior. He then played three years at North Carolina before being drafted third overall in 1984 – which is when his legacy really took off. He even dabbled in the professional baseball scene for several years. 

3. Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton has become one of the most inspirational figures in the surfing community. You might recognize her if you’ve read her autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board or watched the subsequent film Soul Surfer.

Hamilton learned how to surf at the age of three, started competing at the age of eight, and was a sponsored surfer by the age of 10. Unfortunately, she was involved in a tragic shark attack at the age of 13, leaving her without her entire left arm. It happened along Tunnels Beach, Kauai. 

Despite losing over 60% of her blood during the attack (in addition to her arm), she was back on her board one month later. Just a few months after that, she entered her first competition since the attack. She still competes to this day, though she hasn’t won a competition since 2007. 

2. Michael Oher

Michael Oher didn’t have an easy life growing up. His mother was an alcoholic and drug addict. His father was frequently in prison and eventually died in prison. He didn’t have anyone to look up to or guide him until Tony Henderson, a local mechanic, stepped in to help the young boy.

Henderson allowed Oher to stay in an extra room in his house. During that time, Oher started to attend school and play football. While he excelled at football, his grades were abysmal. Nonetheless, he managed to increase his grades high enough to play Division I college football.

He played for the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, for four years before declaring for the NFL Draft in 2008. He was a first round draft pick and played eight seasons in the NFL, eventually winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.

1. Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson had one of the most historical and legendary baseball careers of all-time. When he made his MLB debut in 1947, he became the first African American to play in an MLB game, effectively breaking the color barrier that plagued the sport of baseball since the 1880s. 

Not only was a key contributor to the civil rights movement, but Robinson displayed his talent in a major way during his 10-year MLB career. He won Rookie of the Year in 1947, the MVP award and batting title in 1949, and was named a World Series Champion during the 1955 season.

Robinson’s No. 42 was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1972 and later retired by all MLB teams in 1997. In 2004, the MLB adopted ‘Jackie Robinson Day’ where every player on every team wears the No. 42 in-game. It goes to show the impact he had on the baseball community. 

Which Athletes With Incredible Stories Inspire You?

The athletes with incredible stories that we highlighted above are so inspirational that their legacies will live on forever. They’ve inspired young athletes around the world and many of those young athletes will have or already have had successful careers in their respective sports. 

From Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in the mid-1940s to Niki Lauda recovering from a massive Formula One crash in the mid-1970s and most recently Adonis Lattimore winning the state wrestling championship without legs and only one finger in one of his hands in 2022. 

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There’s so much inspiration in the world of sports and history is being written on a daily basis. If you’re ever feeling down about yourself or need a source of motivation, you can always turn to some of the amazing athletes with incredible stories that overcame extreme odds in life.

Indonesian Soccer Match Stampede Leaves 125 Dead; Here Are 20 Other Sports Tragedies

After a 3-2 defeat to Persebaya Surabaya, fans of Arema FC stormed Kanjuruhan Stadium – leaving 125 people dead in what is one of the worst sports tragedies of all-time. Fans grew angry after the game because it was the team’s first home loss to Presebaya in 23 years.

Within seconds, chaos erupted and thousands of angry fans took to the pitch, where they were seen throwing objects at players. The stampede also left five police vehicles toppled over and set ablaze, which caused the officials to respond with tear gas – as well as using brute force.

One spectator, named Ahmad Fatoni, explained how it all went down. “Officers fired tear gas directly at spectators in the stands, forcing us to run toward the exit. Many victims fell because of shortness of breath and difficulty seeing due to tear gas and were trampled. It was mayhem.

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Taking a Look Back at Some of the Biggest Sports Tragedies

Indonesian Soccer Match Stampede Leaves 125 Dead; Here Are 20 Other Sports Tragedies
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Sporting events are supposed to provide a positive, uplifting, and momentous experience for those that wish to attend. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned and sometimes chaos takes over. With thousands of fans in attendance, it doesn’t take long for it to turn ugly.

With that being said, the Indonesian soccer match stampede is certainly one of the worst sports tragedies we’ve ever witnessed. Most sports tragedies don’t end with triple-digit fatalities, but that was the grim reality with this horrific tragedy and we can only hope it doesn’t happen again.

It’s going to take a while for this story to die down, especially considering all the loved ones that are currently mourning the loss of their friends and family members. While we find a way to cope with the lives lost, let’s take a look back at some of the other sports tragedies in year’s past. 

20. Zambia Football Team Plane Crash, 1993

On April 27, 1993, a plane carrying the entire Zambia national football team crashed into the water about 500m from the Libreville Airport. All 25 members of the team were killed, as well as all five crew members – they were on their way to a World Cup Qualifier vs. Senegal in Dakar.

After a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, it was concluded that the pilot turned off the wrong engine after experiencing engine failure. It happened during the plane’s climb after leaving the Libreville Airport and was attributed to pilot fatigue and a faulty warning light. 

19. Southern Airways Flight 932, 1970

On November 14, 1970, a domestic plane crashed into a hill near the Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 passengers – including 37 football players who played for Marshall University, eight coaches of the team, 25 boosters, and the plane’s crew. It’s the deadliest air tragedy in sports history. 

The team was on their way back home after suffering a 14-17 defeat to East Carolina – they were 3-6 at the time. The story was depicted in a film called We Are Marshall, starring Matthew McConaughey. The team canceled the rest of their season, but returned to the field in 1971.

18. Boston Marathon Bombing, 2013

One of the more recent sports tragedies in the United States, the Boston Marathon Bombing took place on April 15, 2013 during the Boston Marathon. It was a terrorist attack carried out by two individuals, who planted two bombs roughly 200 yards apart near the finish line of the race. 

As a result of the bombing, three people were killed and 264 others were injured – including more than a dozen that were left without at least one limb. The two terrorists – Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev – were brothers and were motivated by wars overseas.

17. Munich Massacre, 1972

During the 1972 Summer Olympics, a group of Palestinian terrorists overtook Olympic village – killing two Israeli athletes and taking another nine Israeli athletes hostage. The group, who were part of the terrorist group Black September, made several demands during the negotiation. 

Eventually, the West German police force moved in on the terrorists in an attempt to rescue the hostages. Unfortunately, the rescue attempt failed and all hostages were killed – and one police officer. While three suspects were arrested, they were later released in a hostage exchange. 

16. Metrodome Collapse, 2010

On December 12, 2010, the Minnesota area was involved in a huge snowstorm that dumped nearly 20 inches of snow on the city the night before. The weight of the snow caused the Metrodome roof – the home of the Minnesota Vikings – to collapse just hours before a game.

Unlike the other sports tragedies on this list, the collapse of the MetroDome didn’t result in any injuries or fatalities. In fact, the roof was replaced and the stadium was open for business just four months later – though it cost $23 million to fix and they lost a lot of revenue as a result. 

15. Luzhniki Disaster, 1982

On October 20, 1982, 66 people died towards the end of a soccer match between FC Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem during a 1982–83 UEFA Cup match. With the game coming to an end, fans started to rush towards the exit in hopes of beating traffic to the Metro station. 

During the rush, a woman lost her shoe and caused a traffic jam of people towards the exit. Not long after, the stairs to the exit were crushed and people started to topple over each other. As more people got backed up, the tragedy only grew worse – most of the victims were teenagers.

14. Bradford City Stadium Fire, 1985

On May 11, 1985, 56 people were killed and more than 260 others were injured when a fire trapped hundreds of innocent spectators in their seats during a Football League Third Division match. The fire started small, but quickly set the entire stand ablaze within just four minutes. 

One of the major reasons the fire spread so quickly was because the stand was primarily made out of wood and other antiquated materials – the windy conditions didn’t help. It resulted in the UK banning wooden grandstands and replacing them with steel structures, which were safer. 

13. Stade Armand-Cesari Disaster, 1992

On May 5, 1992, SC Bastia and Olympique de Marseille were preparing for a semifinal match in Bastia, France during the French Cup. In anticipation of a lot of spectators, the board of Bastia decided to build a temporary terrace to ensure everyone had a seat – it quickly backfired. 

Before the match began, the temporary terrace collapsed due to poor construction – leaving 18 spectators dead and another 2,300 spectators injured. It took four years for major improvements to finally be made and several decision makers faced sentences for their incompetence. 

12. Houphouet-Boigny Stampede, 2009

On March 29, 2009, Malawi and Ivory Coast were preparing for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium. Roughly 40 minutes before the game started, a stampede broke out as ticketless fans tried to get inside the stadium to watch. 

Fighting broke out between fans, which resulted in police officers firing tear gas into the crowd. As a result of the stampede, 19 people were injured and another 135 people were injured. Once the stampede was neutralized, the game started and Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0 at home. 

11. Liberia Soccer Stadium Crush, 2008

On June 1, 2008, Liberia and Gambia were playing a World Cup qualifier match at Samuel K. Doe stadium in Liberia. Roughly 35,000 tickets for the match were printed, which was the capacity of the stadium at the time. Unfortunately, many spectators printed fake tickets. 

This resulted in overcrowding with more than 50,000 and as much as 60,000 fans entering the stadium. It didn’t take long for the stadium to give out – leaving eight people dead and many more injured. Most of those who died were young men, some of whom died of suffocation.

10. Port Said Stadium Riot, 2012

On February 1, 2012, Masry and Ahly had just completed an Egyptian Premier League football match when Masry fans stormed the pitch following a 3-1 victory. Thousands of fans started to brutally attack hundreds of Ahly fans, who were trapped in the El Ahly section of the stadium. 

The riot resulted in 74 deaths and another 500 injuries – Masry fans were using anything to attack the opposition, including clubs, stones, bottles, and fireworks. Many people blamed the police for the escalation, considering they refused to open the stadium gates to let Ahly fans out.

9. Yaoundé Olembe Stadium Disaster, 2022

On January 24, 2022, Cameroon and Comoros were preparing for a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations football match at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon. As fans were entering the stadium, security started directing them towards a locked entrance, causing people to pile up at the gate.

When the gate was finally opened, the incoming surge of people started to trample one another – leaving eight people dead and 38 people injured. Of those that were injured, seven of them were in critical condition at the time of the stampede. The game was rescheduled and relocated.

8. Superga Air Disaster, 1949

On May 4, 1949, the Grande Torino soccer team was on their way home after playing a friendly football match against S.L. Benfica in honor of Francisco Ferreira when their flight crashed into the Basilica of Superga. All 31 people aboard the plane were killed, including the soccer team. 

Among those that died were the entire active Torino team (which included most of Italy’s national team), the team manager, the coach, three journalists, and a refugee. The team’s full-back, reserve goaltender, radio commentator, and president weren’t on the plane. 

7. Accra Sports Stadium Disaster, 2001

On May 9, 2001, Accra Hearts of Oak defeated Asante Kotoko 2-1 in Ghana after scoring two late goals – leaving most Kotoko fans angry. After fans started throwing debris onto the pitch, police responded by firing tear gas into the crowd, which resulted in panic and a stampede. 

With limited exits in the stadium, many were calling it a ‘death trap’ for fans stuck in the rumble. By the end, more than 115 people died, mostly due to compressive asphyxia and trauma. One fan was thought to be dead and was nearly buried alive, but regained consciousness in time.

6. Oppenheimer Stadium Disaster, 1991

On January 13, 1991, the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were playing a friendly match at Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney, South Africa. With the stadium more than 7,000 fans above capacity, Pirates’ fans started to grow angry when the Chiefs scored a questionable goal. 

Pirates’ fans started throwing things at Chiefs’ fans, with some attacking the opposing fanbase with knives. Fans that were trying to leave were trampled and crushed to death. By the end of the ordeal, 42 spectators were killed – it’s one of the worst sports tragedies in South Africa. 

5. Heysel Stadium Disaster, 1985

On May 29, 1985, 39 people were killed and another 600 were injured in what became known as ‘the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions.’ Juventus and Liverpool had a game scheduled at Heysel Stadium in Belgium, but chaos erupted an hour before kickoff. 

Drunk and angry Liverpool fans started attacking Juventus fans as they tried to run away for safety. As a result, 14 Liverpool fans were convicted of manslaughter. The game was still played and authorities eventually declared a state of siege on Brussels when Juventus won 1-0.

4. Dasharath Stadium Disaster, 1988

On March 12, 1988, the Janakpur Cigarette Factory were playing the Bangladeshi side Liberation Army in the second-largest football tournament in Nepal, the 1988 Tribhuvan Challenge Shield. Early weather reports showed mostly sunny skies, but it didn’t last long.

When hail started to drop on the fans, they immediately started to search for cover. The buildup of people and sudden rush caused a crush near a tunnel exit, resulting in 93 deaths and more than 100 other injuries. The stadium wasn’t renovated until 1999, for the South Asian Games. 

3. Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, 1989

On April 15, 1989, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were scheduled to play an FA Cup Semi-Final football match. Unfortunately, the game had to be rescheduled and relocated after a human crush developed due to overcrowding in the stands – there were more than 50,000 fans. 

An exit gate was eventually opened to ease some of the overcrowding, but this led 3,000 people into a room designated for about 1,600. The crush killed 97 people and another 160+ people were injured. Some fans were seen trying to help and even revive other fans in acts of heroism.

2. Ellis Park Stadium Disaster, 2001

On April 11, 2001, South Africa experienced its worst sports tragedy of all-time – surpassing the Oppenheimer Stadium Disaster in 1991. It was once again a match between the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, but this time at Ellis Park Stadium – another tragic day for the country.

With a stadium capacity of 60,000, some people say more than 30,000 extra were trying to enter and some reports said as many as 120,000 were admitted. This caused overcrowding with many fans being crushed to death. All in all, there were 43 fatalities and another 250+ injuries.

1. Guatemala Stadium Disaster, 1996

On October 16, 1996, Guatemala and Costa Rica were scheduled to play a World Cup qualifying match at Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala City. With a capacity of roughly 45,000, reports suggested as many as 60,000 fans making their way into the stadium to watch. 

This caused overcrowding, which resulted in people being trampled and fist fights breaking out. The overcrowding turned into a stampede, which resulted in 84 people dying and another 100 facing injuries – the fatalities included both adults and children. The game was called off.

Let’s Hope We’re Done With Sports Tragedies for a While

Sports tragedies never get easier to watch and while we can hope we never have to witness one again, the reality is that tragedy will strike again. The best we can do is stay prepared for when that day comes and minimize the amount of damage it causes – it’s sad, but it’s true.

Whether it’s a plane crash, a stampede or riot, an active shooter, a serious injury, or a death, there will never be a place for tragedy in sports. Too many lives are lost every year to events that could’ve been avoided or prevented. At a certain point, the devastation has to end. 

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As for the victims of the Indonesian soccer match stampede, our hearts and prayers are with you and your families. Life should never end this way for anyone and it’s on us to do better, be better, and expect better out of our peers. Let’s hope we learn from this horrible, tragic event.

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