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X Games And BMX Icon Dave Mirra Takes His Own Life At 41

By William Gomez
Published on: 14:55 PST, Feb 4, 2016

Authorities in Greenville North Carolina have reported that iconic X Games biker Dave Mirra was found dead of an apparent suicide Thursday.

ESPN reported that the Greenville police identified Mirra’s body in his truck earlier in the day with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Reports state that Mirra had been in the area where his truck was found visiting friends and yet to have any indication as to why the former BMXer took his life. The incident is said to be under further investigation by Greenville officials.

Hours before his death Mirra posted two Instagram photos on his account, one which was a photo of him and his wife.

Mirra leaves behind a legacy that many will continue to admire and attempt to replicate. He held the record for the most X Games medals (24) until Bob Burnquist surpassed him in 2013. Along with Shaun White, he is the only athlete to win multiple gold medals over three X Games and is also tied with Tony Hawk and Joe Parsons as the fastest athletes to win 14 X Games medals.

His website lists some of his hobbies as boxing, swimming, cycling, and running, which explains his transition from the BMX world to his most recent passion of taking part in triathlons and Ironman competitions.

“Ironman competitions are an entirely different ballgame. The level of competition is much higher, and there are way more athletes,” Mirra told Sports Illustrated back in June of 2015.

“It was extremely satisfying to look around and see what I consider the best athletes in the world as my competition,” Mirra told the publication.

Mirra’s rise to fame started in his hometown of Chittenango, New York where he and his older brother would endure their share of bumps and bruises attempting BMX tricks over dirt jumps by the age of five. It didn’t take long for Mirra to pursue a career in the sport, turning pro right out of high school.

Dave had a huge scare early in his career that nearly ended his dream when a drunk driver struck him in 1993, but was able to come away from the incident without any major injuries and continued to work to become one of the greatest BMXer’s of all-time.

Mirra has gone on to accomplish more in his sport than most individuals. The late BMX legend has taken awards for “Freestyler of The Year” by BMX Magazine along with the ESPN Action Sports and Music Award for BMX Rider of the Year in 2010.

He hosted MTV’s popular series “Real World/Road Rules Challenge” for two seasons before he and his wife settled down in Greenville, N.C. where he established a community where fellow BMX riders could thrive.

Greenville’s Mayor, Allen Thomas, considered Mirra “a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift.”

“He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon,” Thomas said.

Fellow BMX legend and good friend T.J. Lavin told TMZ earlier today “I just wish he would have called me. I would have jumped on a plane in a second. There’s always another way. If anyone needs help, just please get it. I feel sick about this.”

[AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File]

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