GREENVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — BMX legend Dave Mirra was found dead here of an apparant suicide late Thursday, according to multiple news reports. Mirra, who was 41, was married with two children.
Mirra was one of the few BMX athletes to become known in popular culture, outside the sport. He was best known for his success at the X-Games, where he won 14 gold medals and 24 medals total. In 2000, he landed a double backflip in competition, a BMX first. Later he hosted an MTV show and had two video games named after him.
He worked with many brands in the BMX world, including a long association with Haro. He later launched his own company, MirraCo, which was offered bikes that were distributed by Trek Bicycle for eight years, and then by Dynacraft.
In recent years, after retiring from BMX, he took up road cycling and triathlon and competed in several events with the goal of qualifying for the Ironman World Championships. In 2014 he joined a four-man team that won the relay competition in the Race Across America.
ESPN released a statement about Mirra on Thursday. “Dave Mirra, your courage, determination and natural skill in everything you pursued pushed the world of action sports to become a better place. From all of us at X Games and ESPN, we salute your contributions. Our sincere condolences go out to Dave’s wife, Lauren, his daughters Mackenzie and Madison, the BMX community and friends of Dave Mirra.”
